SONGS OF PROTEST

Friday, May 19, 2023 ∙ 8 pm
Paramount Theatre, Oakland

Where did the time go? Didn’t we just begin the season with Berlioz’ Symphonie fantastique? And now here we are, gathered together again, for the final concert of 2022-23. 

Since October, we have witnessed the conducting debuts of Ankush Kumar Bahl, Holly Choe, Andrew Grams, Vinay Parameswaran, and Joseph Young. 

And tonight, for the season finale, Tito Muñoz leads “Songs of Protest” from the 19th century (Beethoven), 20th century (Barber), and the 21st century with the world premiere of Martin Rokeach’s “Bodies on the Line.” This new work, commissioned by the Oakland Symphony, tells in music the heroic defiance of the Flint auto workers who, in 1936, would not leave the line, but would not work until their union was recognized by GM. 

This courageous act of defiance, and their victory, makes for an inspiring evening of music, and a triumphant end to this spectacular Oakland Symphony season.

More magnificent musical evenings await you in the just-announced 2023-24 season here at The Paramount. Information is available in the lobby, and subscription brochures have recently been mailed. There are six spectacular concerts, which subscribers enjoy for the price of only four – a savings of 1/3 off the cost of tickets purchased individually. It’s the best offer in the Bay for great orchestral music! 

Thank you for attending this evening and this season. On behalf of the musicians and the board of directors, your support has made our return to live performance a rousing success. I look forward to welcoming you back in October.

Sincerely, 

Dr. Mieko Hatano,
Executive Director

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN 
Leonore Overture No. 3, Opus 72a

SAMUEL BARBER 
Second Essay for Orchestra, Opus 17

INTERMISSION

MARTIN ROKEACH
REBECCA ENGLE, LIBRETTIST AND DRAMATURGE
Bodies on the Line: 
The Great Flint Sit-Down Strike
(World premiere, Oakland Symphony commission with support from the Roger Shapiro Fund for New Music and Saint Mary’s College of California (Frank J. Filippi Professorship in Performing Arts; Provost’s Research Grant; Faculty Development Fund; Office of Faculty Development Writers’ Retreat)

Melody Wilson, Mezzo-soprano
(Genora Johnson/Frances Perkins)

Marc Molomot, Tenor
(Francis O’ Rourke)

Morgan Smith, Baritone
(Alfred P. Sloan)

Matthew Antaky: Scenic, Lighting and Media Designer
Keiko Shimosato Carreiro: Costume Coordinator
Callie Floor: Costume Assistant
Frédéric Boulay: Projection Designer and Technical Director
Nola Burger: Graphic Designer
Billy Bragg: There is Power in a Union; used with permission

The 2022-2023 Season of Oakland Symphony is generously funded in part by the East Bay Music Fund at the East Bay Community Foundation; the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; and supported by the Oakland City Council and funded by the City of Oakland’s Cultural Funding Program