Copland: Lincoln Portrait

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10 in E minor, Op 93

The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra opens its 27th season with two musical portraits that reflect the stark contrasts of human experience. Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10 in E minor, Op 93 is both a musical depiction of the brutal tyranny and oppression experienced under Stalin and a portrait of the people who were overshadowed by him, even in death. Alternatively, Copland’s Lincoln Portrait is a work of admiration and a celebration of the great emancipator. Written for orchestra and narrator, the piece incorporates Lincoln’s own words and offers the listener a unique perspective on our country’s aspirations.