Pastoral Symphony

“The awakening of joyful feelings upon arriving in the country” was how Beethoven described the first movement of his Sixth Symphony. The Pastoral Symphony is among the most visual of all orchestral works. In it, we “see” sun-drenched fields, a brookside idyll, a peasant dance interrupted by a violent thunderstorm, and a prayer of thanksgiving. Stella Sung’s Rockwell Reflections—commissioned by the ASO in 2008—are musical likenesses of five Norman Rockwell paintings. They match his art in character, tone, humanity, and humor. Knight Arts Challenge winner Amber Kempthorn unveils Ordinary Magic: A Sunday in the Cuyahoga Valley,  a unique blend of traditional hand-drawn and contemporary computer animation inspired by the moody musical seascapes of Benjamin Britten’s opera Peter Grimes.