Sydney
Cusic
November 3, 2022
5 min read

Concert Review: The Natural Order - 10/20/22

The Natural Order explored our relationship to the Earth in an age of climate anxiety, led by conductor Mei-Ann Chen and featuring the Attacca Quartet, Sandbox Percussion, and cello soloist Jeffrey Zeigler. The program included the New York premiere of Mark Adamo’s Last Year, a dystopian reflection on Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Viet Cuong’s highly charged Re(new)al is a concerto for percussion quartet inspired by the power of hydro, wind, and solar energies. Complemented with newly commissioned works by inti figgis-vizueta and Yvette Janine Jackson, the program grappled with our centuries-long struggle to harmonize with Mother Nature sharing both apocalyptic and aspirational visions of humanity’s future.

Read the Concerto Net review here: Concerto Net

All photos were taken by Alfred Kan.

Pre-Concert Reception

Guests Jeri Sedlar and John Baumgardner connect at the pre-concert reception.
ACO Artistic Director Derek Bermel with host Jill Steinberg.
ACO Director of Development Lyndsay Werking greets composer Mark Adamo.

The Natural Order

ACO President and CEO Melissa Ngan welcomes audiences.
Guest ensemble Attacca Quartet commands the stage with ACO for the world premiere of Seven Sides of Fire by inti fiiggis-vizueta.
Composer inti figgis-vizueta, conductor Mei-Ann Chen and Attacca Quartet take a bow.
Composer Mark Adamo, conductor Mei-Ann Chen, composer inti figgis-vizueta, and ACO Artistic Director Derek Bermel discuss works on the concert.
A young patron enjoys the performances. 
Cellist Jeffrey Zeigler performing in NY premiere of Mark Adamo's Last Year.
ACO President & CEO Melissa Ngan celebrates Artistic Director Derek Bermel with a thank you gift commemorating his 10-year tenure with ACO.
Conductor Mei-Ann Chen listens as composer Yvette Janine Jackson shares the inspiration behind her piece Hello, Tomorrow!
Composer Viet Cuong takes in the applause after his piece re(new)al.
Sandbox Percussion, Cuong and Chen take their bows for the final performance of the evening.

After Party at Tanner Smith's

American Composers Orchestra is grateful to the many organizations that make its programs possible, including the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, Altman Foundation, Amphion Foundation, Arthur F. & Alice E. Adams Charitable Foundation, BMI Foundation, BMI, Inc., CANVAS, Cheswatyr Foundation, Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, Edward T. Cone Foundation, Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Ford Foundation’s Good Neighbor Committee, Francis B. Goelet Charitable Trust, Frederick Loewe Foundation, Fromm Music Foundation, G. Schirmer/Wise Music Foundation, Give Lively Foundation, Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, the Hearst Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, Jephson Educational Trusts, Jerome Foundation, Koret Foundation, the League of American Orchestras, MacMillan Family Foundation, the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, Mellon Foundation, Neiman Marcus, New Music USA’s Organization Fund, the New York Community Trust (Musical Arts Fund, Clara Lewisohn Rossin Trust, and Edward and Sally Van Lier Fund), Pacific Harmony Foundation, PayPal Giving Fund, Sphinx Venture Fund, Steven R. Gerber Trust, TD Charitable Foundation, Turrell Fund, and the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

Public funds are provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, Office of Brooklyn Borough President Reynoso, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Pre-Concert Reception

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The Natural Order

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After Party at Tanner Smith's

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