Conductor Tito Muñoz (“elegant,“ New York Times) leads the Skaneateles Festival Orchestra in Beethoven’s beloved “Pastorale” Symphony, a perfect fit for the surroundings at the Robinson Pavilion. The first half of the program honors Central New York refugee communities by featuring Syrian clarinetist Kinan Azmeh in his own dynamic Suite for Improviser and Orchestra, based on Syrian folk music, as well as Forbidden Dances and a world premiere by young Afghan composer Arson Fahim.

Program:

Arson FAHIM  Memories from a Place I’ve Never Been

World Premiere Commissioned by The Skaneateles Festival*

FAHIM Forbidden Dances (2023)

TRADITIONAL AFGHAN  En Gham Be Haya

World Premiere, commissioned by The Skaneateles Festival

Kinan AZMEH Suite for Improviser and Orchestra 

INTERMISSION

BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6 (“Pastorale”) 

Allegro ma non troppo: Awakening of cheerful feelings on arrival of the countryside

Andante molto mosso: Scene by the brook

Allegro: Merry gathering of country folk

Allegro: Thunder, Storm

Allegretto: Sheperd’s song. Cheerful and thankful feelings after the storm

* this piece is part of the Commissioned Works Series, made possible with the generous support of Doug Sutherland and Nancy Kramer through their Creative Endeavors Fund.