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June 19, 2024

Orchestra of the Americas Residency Recap

By UMS

Applause for Yo-Yo Ma, Kayhan Kalhor, Carlos Miguel Prieto, and the Orchestra of the Americas after the preview premiere of Venus in the Mirror, June 11, 2024. Photo by Eric Bronson.

In the summer of 2023, Yo-Yo Ma’s management team approached UMS about an opportunity to host a one-of-a-kind musical gathering at the University of Michigan. This project would bring together talented young musicians from around the world to rehearse, workshop, and perform an all-new concerto in advance of its official world premiere at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Germany.

The Orchestra of the Americas, a Latin Grammy-winning ensemble led by conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto, would also invite approximately 20 students from the U-M School of Music, Theater & Dance in a week of workshops for this new double concerto, written for cello and kamancheh (spiked fiddle) by composer Kayhan Kalhor. The piece celebrates 25 years of musical friendship between Ma and Kalhor, who were both original members of the Silkroad Ensemble.

After months of complex planning and preparation during our 23/24 season, this project came fully to life with a weeklong residency and culminating performance in Hill Auditorium on June 11, 2024. Enjoy this recap of an unforgettable week!

Welcome to Ann Arbor

Thursday, June 6

More than 60 musicians from 18 countries arrived in Ann Arbor for the start of the residency. A morning orientation allowed the Orchestra of the Americas musicians to meet the participating U-M SMTD students and explore the beautiful University of Michigan campus.

A group of Orchestra of the Americas musicians in front of Hill Auditorium on their campus tour.

Sectional Rehearsals Across Campus

Thursday-Saturday, June 6-8

Musicians worked together over three days of sectional rehearsals led by faculty from OA and U-M SMTD, as well as OA conducting fellows. They ensured the collective ensemble was well prepared before the arrivals of conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto and soloists Yo-Yo Ma and Kayhan Kalhor.

In addition to the new Kalhor concerto, their performance repertoire included Gabriela Ortiz’s Téenek, plus Ottorino Respighi’s Roman Festivals and Pines of Rome.

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All Together On Stage

Sunday, June 9

After an exciting first rehearsal with the full orchestra and guest artists, Yo-Yo Ma joined the musicians for a quick photo op!

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An Insider’s Perspective

Monday, June 10

U-M SMTD oboist Mark Doerr took over UMS’s Instagram account to give us an insider’s look (and listen!) of the final day of rehearsals with his colleagues. In this clip, he tackles a passage from Respighi’s Pines of Rome…

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A Packed Audience

Tuesday, June 11

Audiences began to fill the 3,500-seat Hill Auditorium in eager anticipation of the residency’s culminating performance. This concert sold out within a week of its public on-sale in January!

Audience filling Hill Auditorium. Photo by Peter Smith.

Venus in the Mirror Debuts

Yo-Yo Ma and Kayhan Kalhor brilliantly performed Venus in the Mirror, Kalhor’s new double concerto, in the first half of the program.

Kayhan Kalhor and Yo-Yo Ma. Photo by Eric Bronson.

Kalhor shared the following insights on his composition:

As a musician, I have always cherished the profound privilege of interpreting the voice of my musical culture and instrument in moments of solitude and alongside those I hold dear. Over the past 50 years, this freedom has enabled me to define my perception of life through the Arts.

Amidst a world in turmoil, a 25-year journey of friendship and collaboration with a remarkable individual is a milestone that calls for artistic commemoration.

This piece serves not only as a celebration of our bond but also as a reflection on the social interests and complexities in general and during the past few years, particularly the current situation and social nuances of my home country and the brave young Iranians, especially Iranian women.

The concerto, Venus in the Mirror, is a testament to peace and friendship. It was born out of a desire to create a moment of tranquility amid chaos and to explore the delicate balance of human existence. This theme resonates deeply in these complicated times.

A Thrilling Second Half

In the second half of the program, audiences were treated to Ottorino Respighi’s masterpieces Roman Festivals and Pines of Rome, which featured the sonic brilliance of antiphonal brass from the balcony.

Antiphonal brass in the Hill Auditorium balcony during Respighi’s Pines of Rome. Photo by Peter Smith.

An Encore Unlike Any Other!

Carlos Miguel Prieto and the Orchestra of the Americas kept the celebration going with two joyous encore pieces by Alberto Ginastera and Zequinha de Abreu, which had the crowd stomping their feet. The final encore featured improvised musical and dance solos by the musicians — an Orchestra of the Americas tradition at every concert they perform!

Improvised dance during the Orchestra of the Americas’ encore. Photo by Peter Smith.

In the final of several standing ovations, OA musicians proudly unfurled flags from their home countries in a fantastic sendoff, a visual commemoration of this unforgettable residency and week of cultural exchange.

Orchestra of the Americas musicians holding flags representing their home countries. Photo by Peter Smith.

Our Sincerest Appreciation

Every staff member at UMS played a significant role behind the scenes in bringing this residency to life. We especially thank our project leaders in Programming, Production, and Learning & Engagement teams for their tireless dedication over the past months:

Alex Gay, Director of Production
Cayenne Harris, Vice President, Learning & Engagement
Marissa Honig, Project Manager
Mark Jacobson, Vice President, Programming and Production

UMS has been supported by passionate university, individual, and corporate sponsors who were essential to making it possible for us to support this residency at the University of Michigan. We thank all of our sponsors for their incredible generosity and commitment to our mission of connecting audiences and artists in uncommon and engaging experiences.

Orchestra of the Americas residency sponsors with Kayhan Kalhor, Yo-Yo Ma, and Carlos Miguel Prieto. L-R: Mark Clague (Arts Initiative), Thea Glicksman, Menakka Bailey, Peter Schweitzer, Kayhan Kalhor, Yo-Yo Ma, Carlos Miguel Prieto, Rachel Feder, Dan Feder, Eileen Weiser, Dick Caldarazzo, Mike Martin, Brian Weisman