Symphonic III: ENDURING STORIES

No work is as lush as Rimsky-Korsakov's masterpiece Scheherazade, as Berkeley Symphony weaves and performs three tales of its own based upon strong women. Scheherazade's 1,001 tales changed her life and the lives of all those around her and Rimsky-Korsakov's vivid and imaginative orchestration is a perfect pairing with Carlos Simon's Portrait of a Queen which, through spoken word and music, tells the history of Black America from the vantage point of a strong black female narrator. We are also thrilled to present the world premiere of a new work entitled Lotus Prayerby Chinese-born composer Xi Wang. An evocative evening of colorful and powerful works elevating the musical portraits of trailblazing women.

XI WANG
Lotus Prayer
World Premiere made possible through the League of American Orchestras' Women Composers Commissions generously supported by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation

CARLOS SIMON
Portrait of a Queen
Leontyne Mbele-Mbong, narrator

NIKOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
Scheherazade

*programming subject to change*