Classical Californians: Francesco Lecce-Chong

Susan and Neil Silverman Photography

This week our Classical Californian is conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong, who is the Music Director for the Santa Rosa Symphony. He's selected a playlist of works by several contemporary composers he's had a chance to work with in recent years, with some taking part in his multi-season "First Symphony Project." We'll hear music from John Adams, Gabriella Smith, Angélica Negrón, David Krakauer, Jonathan Leshnoff, as well as Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, whose works were featured on the first recording by the Santa Rosa Symphony.

John Adams: Harmonielehre, part III  – San Francisco Symphony, Edo de Waart Symphony

Gabriella Smith: Bard of a Wasteland – Gabriella Smith, vocals; Gabriel Cabezas, cello

Angélica Negrón: Ruta Panoramica for Cello, Bandoneon and Electronics – Inbal Segev, cello; Julien Labro, bandoneon

Traditional, arr. Krakauer and Tagg: “Der Heyser Bulgar” – David Krakauer, clarinet; Kathleen Tagg, piano

Jonathan Leshnoff: Piano Concerto, mvt IV – Kansas City Symphony, Michael Stern; Joyce Yang, piano

Ellen Taaffe Zwilich: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, mvt III – Santa Rosa Symphony, Francesco Lecce-Chong; Zuill Bailey, cello