Event
Bernstein & Beyond
Naples Philharmonic Wang Chamber Music
Musicians of the Naples Philharmonic
Shawn Okpebholo — There is Always Light
Miguel del Águila — Woodwind Quintet No. 2
Bernstein — Dance Suite for Brass Quintet
Bernstein — Selections from West Side Story for Brass Quintet
Musicians of the Naples Philharmonic open the Wang Chamber Music series with a program that blends American energy, global influence and contemporary reflection.
At its heart is Leonard Bernstein’s Dance Suite for Brass Quintet, the final work by the famed conductor and composer. Dedicated to a circle of choreographer friends—including Jerome Robbins, Mikhail Baryshnikov and George Balanchine — the piece bursts with rhythmic vitality and playful character. It’s paired with Selections from West Side Story for Brass Quintet, drawing on the iconic musical’s vibrant jazz and Latin-inspired themes. This performance marks the first of three programs this season that feature Bernstein’s music, with the next appearing in the Masterworks series just weeks later.
Also on the program is Shawn Okpebholo’s There Is Always Light, a poignant work inspired by Amanda Gorman’s The Hill We Climb and the urgent call for justice in the wake of racial violence. Rounding out the concert is Miguel del Águila’s Woodwind Quintet No. 2, a colorful and imaginative four-movement journey that travels through mystical landscapes and culminates in a whirlwind finale reminiscent of a bustling Middle Eastern market.
The Wang Chamber Music series is generously sponsored by David* and Cecile Wang.
* deceased
