In Voyages, prolific American composer James Lee III takes the listener on a colourful journey through his endlessly creative orchestral music with ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marin Alsop.
James Lee III uses the orchestra to paint biblical imagery in Beyond Rivers of Vision and celebrating the joyous Feast of Tabernacles in Sukkot Through Orion's Nebula, using well-known spirituals to celebrate the life of abolitionist Harriet Tubman (Chuphshah! Harriet's Drive to Canaan) and reflecting on the ongoing fight for freedom through his grandfather's personal experiences in WWII (A Different Soldier's Tale). His music is played here by the renowned ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra headed by Marin Alsop.
James Lee III's orchestral works have been commissioned and premiered by the National Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, New World Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, St. Louis Symphony, and the orchestras of Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Atlanta, and many others. His works have been conducted by Leonard Slatkin, Marin Alsop, Michael Tilson Thomas, Juanjo Mena, David Lockington, Thomas Wilkins, and others.
The 2021/22 season marks Marin Alsop's third as Chief Conductor of the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. As Chief Conductor and Curator of Chicago's Ravinia Festival, she also curates and conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's upcoming summer residencies. In 2021, Alsop became Music Director Laureate and OrchKids Founder at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Appointed in 2020 as the first Music Director of the National Orchestral Institute + Festival (NOI+F), she will lead a newly formed conductor academy and conduct multiple concerts each June with the NOI+F Philharmonic. In 2019, after seven years as Music Director, Alsop became Conductor of Honour of Brazil's Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra (OSESP), where she continues conducting major projects each season.
The ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra is a top orchestra of world renown; it defines itself in the Vienna orchestral tradition and is known for its exceptional, bold programming. Marin Alsop took over as Chief Conductor in September 2019. The broad scope of the Vienna RSO's recording activities includes works in every genre, among them many first recordings by early to mid-20th century and contemporary Austrian composers. Three CDs of the Vienna RSO received an Opus Klassik award.
Critical acclaim for James Lee III
"He's got talent and one hopes to hear more from him" - Chicago Classical Review
"Sukkot was another step toward this young American composer finding the wide attention he deserves. The audience showered Lee with generous applause when he took the stage for bows" Boston Classical Review
"It was atmospheric and endlessly inventive" Cincinnati Business Courier
"A gifted young composer" Cincinnati Enquirer
"bright, pure music" Washington Post
"Beyond Rivers of Vision' rouses the senses" Baltimore Sun
