Orchestra 2001 (May 2014)

The Cultural Events Committee presents Orchestra 2001.  

Orchestra 2001 is dedicated to performing and promoting the music of the 20th and 21st centuries and reaching out to regional and international audiences through recordings and tours. Having premiered contemporary music across America and around the world, the chamber ensemble from Orchestra 2001 will play the first Arabian premieres of these pieces of contemporary American solo and chamber music by Samuel Barber, George Crumb, Jay Reise, and George Rochberg at American University of Sharjah.

Founded by Artistic Director James Freeman in 1988, Orchestra 2001 (O2001) is currently completing its 26th concert season. In addition to its concert series in Philadelphia and at Swarthmore College, through its recordings (for CRI, Bridge, Albany, Innova and Centaur) and our its abroad (Russia, England, Denmark, Austria and Cuba), the orchestra has brought new American music to countless new audiences.

The orchestra has influenced the lives of composers, young and old. In particular, it is seen in the relationship the orchestra has with Pulitzer Prize winning composer and Media, Pennsylvania resident George Crumb. Orchestra 2001 is the pre-eminent interpreter of Mr. Crumb's music and has brought his music worldwide: performances at the Salzburg Festival; in St. Petersburg, Russia; and at the Miller Theater in New York City are just a few examples. In October 2008, O2001 returned to New York City with an All-Crumb program at Carnegie Hall's Master of Music series to begin the celebration of Mr. Crumb's 80th birthday. All of Mr. Crumb's "American Songbooks" - that are Mr. Crumb's unique settings of American folksongs - were written for and premiered by James Freeman and O2001. Orchestra 2001 also performed the last songbook, "Voices of the Heartland" at the Library of Congress in May 2013.

Orchestra 2001's record of dedication to the performance of American contemporary music speaks for itself: over 80 world premieres, over 100 Greater Philadelphia premieres, over 200 works by 125 American composers, of which more than 135 works were by 60 Philadelphia-area composers.

For more information please contact [email protected].