San Francisco Symphony: My Classic American Composers July 19, 2012

Hues of red, white, and blue color the beloved American music on this concert. Copland's sentimental Appalachian Spring peeks in on a Pennsylvania wedding and house-raising, while his music from the ballet Rodeo transports listeners dreamily to the old west. Rhapsody in Blue - with its smoky opening clarinet glissando--never fails to evoke a sultry jazz club even though it was originally intended as serious classical and jazz fusion. And Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story depict the hopeless streets of the city and the hopeful hearts of lovers.