At First Sight (inspired

The National Symphony Orchestra looks forward to releasing Beethoven’s remaining symphonies over the course of 2023 and 2024. The cover designs for this cycle feature the work of Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence Mo Willems. Inspired by the genius of Ludwig van Beethoven, Willems created a series of large-scale abstractions influenced by each of the composer’s nine symphonies.

From my very first visit in the summer of 1980, the city of Barcelona fascinated me in all it's senses, from Montjuic, Las Ramblas and the monumental cathedral of La Sagrada Familia to the Palau de la Musica, La Boquer a market and Plaza de Espa a. This must have influenced positively in my relationship with the members of the "Barcelona Clarinet Players," which was love at first sight that began in 2018 during my conversation with the outstanding Cuban-Spanish pianist Pepe Rivero at the AIE headquarters in Barcelona.

Again Grainger amazes, amuses, arouses, intrigues. These 'Songs for mezzo' originate in Britain (with an excellent sequence of Scottish songs), Jutland and Australia. Some are folksongs collected in the early years of the century; two have words by Kipling, five by Ella, Grainger's wife, and some have no words at all.