Gianandrea Noseda, the conductor, has served as Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra since 2017 and is also the General Music Director of the Zurich Opera House.
Composition History
Sinfonia No. 2 by George Walker was commissioned by the Koussevitzky Foundation, a prestigious organization promoting contemporary music in memory of Serge Koussevitzky, former music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Composer Biography
George Walker was the first Black instrumentalist to play a recital in New York's Town Hall and the first Black soloist to perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy.
Composer Biography
George Walker holds the distinction of being the first Black composer to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for music in April 1996, for his composition Lilacs for Voice and Orchestra.
Composer's Artistic Vision
George Walker, the composer, refused to be pigeonholed as simply a Black composer, preferring his mature style rooted in European modernism.
Composer Biography
George Walker was a child prodigy who enrolled in Oberlin Conservatory at age 14 and became the first Black student to receive the Artist Diploma in both piano and composition from the Curtis Institute of Music.
Recording & Production
This album is part of a digital recording cycle celebrating George Walker's work, featuring performances from the National Symphony Orchestra.
