When the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra gave its last performances in March, no one had any idea when normal life or live concerts would resume. As the world has adapted to virtual platforms, so has music. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is performing together in person, though not to a live audience. The concerts are being streamed on the ASO virtual stage.
Music director Robert Spano joined “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes to talk about the fall season and catch up on what he’s been doing in recent months.
Since adapting to this new format, Spano has had more time to write and compose music. “Here was all this time and so I became a full-time composer. I took full advantage of COVID,” he said.
He continued, “Nietzsche said, ‘Without music life isn’t worth living,’ and therefore musicians are essential workers and I better get to work. It also didn’t give me the time to obsess over all the negativity that one could in this terrible period.”
Spano will lead members of the orchestra in a concert of baroque classics Thursday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m. ASO principal bassoonist Andrew Brady will make his solo debut. The program includes 18th-century works from Handel’s Water Music Suite and Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D.
