A World Premiere and a Charleston Debut

A Charleston Concerto with The Harlem Quartet

Saturday, April 16 at noon and 7:30 p.m. | Gaillard Center

Our friends at the Charleston Symphony (CSO) will present the world premiere performances of Edward Hart’s A Charleston Concerto on Saturday, April 16 at noon and 7:30 p.m. at the Gaillard. A local composer and dean of the College of Charleston School of the Arts, Hart wrote the concerto to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the City of Charleston. Joining the CSO is The Harlem Quartet in their Charleston debut performances. The concerto chronicles, in music, the discovery of Charleston Harbor by native peoples, the celebration of Gullah culture and its musical heritage and optimism for the future.

The Harlem Quartet is known for advancing diversity in classical music and engaging new audiences in a variety of repertoire, including those by minority composers. With a mission to share their passion around the world, the Quartet’s performances have ranged from a performance at the White House for President and Frist Lady Obama to a highly successful tour of South Africa in 2012.

This weekend’s performances, conducted by Ken Lam, will explore music from two living composers, Hart and Adolphus Hailstork, as well as a 19th Century Russian Romantic, Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The concert opens with Black American composer, Hailstork’s, Fanfare on “Amazing Grace,” first performed at the 2021 Presidential Inauguration.

Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 closes out the program. Written during an emotionally tumultuous time in the composer’s life, the melancholy work nonetheless displays optimism with lush sounds featuring bright brass and soothing strings.

Ticket prices begin at $28.75 plus fees, and students with an ID are admitted for $10 when purchasing a ticket on the day of the performance. Visit www.charlestonsymphony.org for more details and tickets.