J'Nai Bridges is a leading figure in classical music's shift toward conversations of inclusion and racial justice, and was named one of the Kennedy Center's NEXT50 cultural leaders in 2022.
Performer Biography
Gianandrea Noseda, the conductor, is the seventh Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra, which makes its home at the Kennedy Center.
Composer Biography
Carlos Simon, the composer, grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, in a family that encouraged his love of music, particularly through his father's African American Pentecostal church.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Carlos Simon believes in music's power to give voice to the marginalized and to shape aspirations for a better world, often addressing issues of social justice and racial inequity in America.
Recording & Production
This album features four symphonic works by Carlos Simon, recorded live at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., between 2021 and 2024.
Composer Biography
Carlos Simon compares his role as a composer to that of his father, a preacher, stating, "Music is my pulpit. That's where I preach."
Performer Biography
J'Nai Bridges, the mezzo-soprano on this album, is a two-time Grammy Award-winning artist known for her 'plush-voiced mezzo-soprano' and 'calmly commanding stage presence.'
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