This concert is made possible through the generous support of the Bazarsky Family Foundation.
THIS LAND
Iconoclastic pianist and cultural visionary Lara Downes returns to Newport after a sold-out performance in 2021 to present THIS LAND, a probing, nuanced reflection on the kaleidoscopic diversity of stories and journeys that have converged and collided throughout American history, from an artist renowned for her musical explorations off the beaten path. Downes celebrates the beauty of the American experiment while offering an unflinching acknowledgment of its flaws and failings, ultimately embracing the power of hope and humanity as a pathway to common ground and a brighter future.
Lara Downes, piano
PROGRAM
TRADITIONAL 900 Miles
H.T. BURLEIGH From the Southland
KIAN RAVAEI Variations on “This Land is Your Land”
TRADITIONAL Shenandoah
BONDS Spiritual Suite
JOPLIN Prelude from Treemonisha
Magnetic Rag
The Chrysanthemum
Bethena Waltz
Maple Leaf Rag
WILLIAM BENTON OVERSTREET There’ll Be Some Changes Made
PAUL SIMON America
PRICE Piano Sonata in E minor
*Program subject to change.