After an 18-month pause for the pandemic, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra returns to live concerts

 ========= Old Image Removed =========1Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2021/10/OU8A9944-scaled-e1633706485746.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:6:{s:5:"width";i:2560;s:6:"height";i:1439;s:4:"file";s:42:"2021/10/OU8A9944-scaled-e1633706485746.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:12:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"OU8A9944-scaled-e1633706485746-336x189.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"OU8A9944-scaled-e1633706485746-771x433.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:433;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"OU8A9944-scaled-e1633706485746-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"OU8A9944-scaled-e1633706485746-768x432.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:432;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:43:"OU8A9944-scaled-e1633706485746-1536x863.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:863;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"2048x2048";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:44:"OU8A9944-scaled-e1633706485746-2048x1151.jpg";s:5:"width";i:2048;s:6:"height";i:1151;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:40:"OU8A9944-scaled-e1633706485746-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"OU8A9944-scaled-e1633706485746-800x450.jpg";s:5:"width";i:800;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"OU8A9944-scaled-e1633706485746-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"OU8A9944-scaled-e1633706485746-553x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:553;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"OU8A9944-scaled-e1633706485746-470x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"OU8A9944-scaled-e1633706485746-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:3:"2.8";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:20:"Canon EOS 5D Mark IV";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:10:"1519163027";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:2:"45";s:3:"iso";s:4:"1250";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:6:"0.0125";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}s:14:"original_image";s:12:"OU8A9944.jpg";}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => Alabama Symphony Orchestra
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_wp_attachment_backup_sizes] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:13:{s:9:"full-orig";a:3:{s:5:"width";i:2560;s:6:"height";i:1707;s:4:"file";s:19:"OU8A9944-scaled.jpg";}s:14:"thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"OU8A9944-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:11:"medium-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"OU8A9944-336x224.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:224;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:17:"medium_large-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"OU8A9944-768x512.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:512;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:10:"large-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"OU8A9944-771x514.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:514;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"1536x1536-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"OU8A9944-1536x1024.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:1024;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"2048x2048-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:22:"OU8A9944-2048x1365.jpg";s:5:"width";i:2048;s:6:"height";i:1365;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"wbhm-icon-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"OU8A9944-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"OU8A9944-800x450.jpg";s:5:"width";i:800;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"wbhm-featured-square-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"OU8A9944-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:23:"wbhm-featured-home-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"OU8A9944-467x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:467;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:27:"wbhm-featured-carousel-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"OU8A9944-398x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:398;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:19:"post-thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"OU8A9944-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}
        )

    [_wp_attachment_image_alt] => Array
        (
            [0] => Alabama Symphony Orchestra
        )

)
1652298696 
1633669200
Alabama Symphony Orchestra

Alabama Symphony Orchestra

The Alabama Symphony Orchestra will perform in front of a live audience Friday after an 18-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is a joyous moment,” said Carlos Izcaray, music director of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra.

The orchestra offered some performances during the pandemic, but Friday will be the first time the full ensemble performs from its home venue, the Alys Stephens Center.

This season the orchestra will celebrate its centennial — 100 years of creating music in the state.

In 1921, the city of Birmingham celebrated its 50th anniversary. Part of that celebration was a performance by a group of volunteer musicians who would then become the Alabama Symphony Orchestra.

“It’s almost symbiotic, because of that 50th anniversary we’re tied to the history of the city,” Izcaray said. “So, as we want the city to keep growing and expanding and becoming a prosperous place, a place for diversity, for good living and wellness, and all that … the symphony plays a role.”

Izcaray said part of the orchestra’s role is to cater to the well-being of the community through music and education. This season Izcaray is spearheading a new programming initiative to increase the visibility of women composers and composers of color.

“There’s a very diverse and interesting pool of creators of all genders, races, origins and this is the place where you get to experience that,” he said.

The orchestra will also bring back the Masterworks series, including Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, an audience favorite.

Izcaray said the orchestra’s comeback season will be a moment for rediscovery.

“We find liberation and magic and entertainment and all sorts of wonders just through the power of music. And that’s what we do, we change lives through music.”

Below, the orchestra performs Symphony No. 2 – Josphe Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges in an empty concert hall during the pandemic.

The Alabama Symphony Orchestra opens the season on Friday, October 8 with Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto featuring violinist Tessa Lark. Capacity will be reduced at venues to allow for social distancing and masks are required.

Editor’s Note: The Alabama Symphony Orchestra is a program sponsor of WBHM. But the news and business departments operate separately.

 

The U.S. has a plan for getting food into Gaza. Top aid groups object to the idea

The proposed solution would only provide food and aid to around 60 percent of Gaza's civilians initially, according to a copy of the proposal reviewed by NPR.

Pope Leo XIV calls for peace in Ukraine and Gaza, saying ‘Never again war’

In his first Sunday noon blessing as pontiff, Pope Leo XIV called for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza with the release of hostages and delivery of aid

Luxury dog hotels give some people pause amid the inequality of South Africa

High-end accommodations for pooches are thriving in one of the world's most unequal countries. They have their defenders and their critics. Who's barking up the right tree?

I wanted to know why my mom was so hard on us kids growing up. So I finally asked

"Work hard my children." That's what my mother always told me and my siblings. All I wanted to do was play hide and seek and netball. Years later, we had a good talk about her parenting style. Essay by Esther Ngumbi. Editor: Marc Silver. Publishing Sunday morning. Adapted from an earlier essay by Esther Ngumbi from a few years ago.

India and Pakistan ceasefire shaken by overnight fighting in disputed Kashmir region

People on both sides of the Line of Control, which divides the territory, reported heavy exchanges of fire between Indian and Pakistani troops. The fighting subsided by Sunday morning.

We asked, you answered. Here are your most memorable moments with Mom for Mother’s Day

NPR received nearly 500 submissions from around the country and beyond from people who shared favorite memories of their mothers — whether she's still present for them to hug or lives on in their hearts.

More Arts and Culture Coverage