Program Book: Gershwin & Bernstein, Oct 19-24, 2023

Read the program book for Gershwin & Bernstein, Oct 19-24, 2023.

Pianist Conrad Tao made a standout CSO main series debut on Thursday with Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F, showcasing an impressive virtuosity and range of techniques. The program, led by James Gaffigan, also transported audiences back to 1950s New York City with songs from Bernstein’s beloved score to West Side Story. Bookending these two works, the Orchestra brought to life the stories of Samuel Barber’s The School for Scandal Overture — which evokes the spirit of an 18th-century comedic play by the same name — and Silvestre Revueltas’ Sensemayá, which portrays the ritual sacrifice of a snake in an Afro-Cuban folkloric tale.

Photography by Todd Rosenberg