National Symphony Orchestra's Ongoing 75th Anniversary Celebrations Continue
As part of its American Residency program funded by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts through a grant from the United States Department of Education, the National Symphony Orchestra traveled to Nebraska for five days: March 28 – April 1, 2006. The Orchestra then worked its way eastward, performing in Chicago, New Brunswick (NJ), and Philadelphia (in Verizon Hall) before concluding with two concerts at New York's Carnegie Hall. Their appearances in Chicago, Philadelphia and New York followed concerts in Los Angeles and San Francisco and other cities on a previous tour, also part of the landmark 75th anniversary.
The NSO's ongoing commitment to American music was evident in the tour repertoire. Of particular note was the reprise of the Corigliano Symphony No. 1; the NSO's recording of this work was its fi rst with Leonard Slatkin, and it received the 1996 Grammy for Best Classical Recording. A performance at Carnegie Hall earned the accolade "taut, atmospheric performances...the orchestra's performance is a great achievement" from The New York Times. Additional American works included works by Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Charles Ives, and Samuel Barber. Emanuel Ax joined the orchestra for performances of Melinda Wagner's Piano Concerto: Extremity of Sky and for Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3.
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