New Piece Commissioned by PJ for the CSO

Paavo in white tie at his first weekend as CSO Music Director, September 14-15, 2001 (Photo: Cincinnati Enquirer)

Wow. Sometimes I even surprise myself -- I just can never tell what might turn up next! After just deleting what appeared to be a potentially dangerous (virus-laden) message from Charles Coleman, I decided to take a look at his website again for old times sake. If you were around here when Paavo began his tenure with the Cincinnati Symphony, you may remember the weekend following September 11, 2001. It was opening weekend for the new symphony season and Paavo's first one as CSO Music Director and was to have been a time of celebration. Paavo had commissioned a new work for the orchestra by New York composer Charles Coleman. Entitled Streetscape, it was inspired by the long walks around the city that Coleman is so fond of making. Due to the tragic events of 9/11, Coleman was almost unable to make it for the world premiere of his new piece until his parents volunteered to drive him to Cincinnati. Streetscape was a great success, lifting the spirits of those of us in attendance and proving to be the embodiment of New York's diversity and life at a time when the city and the nation mourned so many deaths.

And now, according to his website, "Charles Coleman has been commissioned once again by Paavo Järvi and the Cincinnati Symphony to write a 15 minute work for full Orchestra. [It is s]cheduled for performance during their 2006-2007 season."

We'll be looking forward to it!