NSO's "Echoes of America": A Powerful Prelude to the Season

The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) presented a compelling preseason concert titled "Echoes of America" at the Kennedy Center on September 14, 2024. This event, occurring two weeks before the official season opening, showcased a diverse range of American musical voices and perspectives.

The program commenced with Jessie Montgomery's "Banner," a piece composed in 2014 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Montgomery's work, which interweaves various American songs, including "Lift Every Voice and Sing," reflects on the complex relationship between national identity and personal experience. This composition, written by Montgomery, who was born in 1981, exemplifies the ongoing dialogue about representation in American music.

Following Montgomery's piece, the orchestra performed selections from Aaron Copland's "Old American Songs" and the suite from his 1939 "Billy the Kid" ballet. Morris Robinson, a renowned bass-baritone who made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 2002, delivered a powerful rendition of the songs. Copland, born in 1900 and active until his death in 1990, significantly influenced the sound of American classical music throughout the 20th century.

The concert's centerpiece was the East Coast premiere of "Here I Stand: Paul Robeson," an oratorio by Carlos Simon, the Kennedy Center's current composer-in-residence. This work, featuring Robinson as the soloist, explores the life of Paul Robeson, a multifaceted artist and activist born in 1898. Robeson's remarkable career and his fluency in at least 15 languages underscore the diversity of American talent and experience.

Eugene Rogers, who became the Artistic Director of the Washington Chorus in 2020, conducted the performance with precision and sensitivity. The chorus, founded in 1961, joined forces with the NSO to bring Simon's oratorio to life, demonstrating the power of collaborative musical storytelling.

"The angels in heaven done signed my name"

This concert, part of the approximately 3,000 events hosted annually at the Kennedy Center, exemplified the institution's commitment to showcasing diverse American voices. The NSO, founded in 1931, continues to evolve under the leadership of Gianandrea Noseda, who became music director in 2017.

As the audience joined in singing the final verse of Simon's oratorio, the moment encapsulated the complex emotions surrounding American identity—a blend of celebration and reflection that resonates with the nation's ongoing cultural conversations.