Literary Soundscapes

Enjoy the enchantment of musical storytelling as Berkeley Symphony presents a captivating concert bringing literature to life. Witness the West Coast premiere of Joel Puckett's orchestral song cycle, featuring the extraordinary tenor Nicholas Phan, inspired by Walt Whitman's poetic childhood account. Immerse yourself in the whimsical melodies of Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream, capturing the essence of one of Shakespeare‘s most revered comedies. These works are bookended by an extraordinary fusion of Langston Hughes' epic poem and Laura Karpman's interdisciplinary creation, Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz, Part 1 and Part 3, conveying a rich blend of American voices.

JOSEPH YOUNG conductor

NICHOLAS PHAN tenor

JOEL PUCKETT There Was a Child Who Went Forth (WEST COAST PREMIERE)

Nicholas Phan, tenor

LAURA KARPMAN Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz, Part 1

MENDELSSOHN Selections from A Midsummer Night‘s Dream

LAURA KARPMAN Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz, Part 3

*programming is subject to change*