RETOLD: Listening forward to history.

On April 19th we bring our program RETOLD to the Sheldon Concert Hall. This program takes a second glance at American history and how it’s told through music by American and European composers.

One of the pieces on the program is “Mother and Child” by William Grant Still. When writing the violin sonata this music is taken from, Still choose three African American artists to link each movement to. The second movement, which is on this program, is inspired by artist Sargent Claude Johnson. Johnson worked most of his career in San Francisco in multiple mediums. Orphaned at a tender age, Johnson carved out a significant place in the arts landscape of his era. Learn more.

Mother and child by sargent c. johnson c. 1932

sargent claude johnson (1888-1967)
Photo by consulelo kanaga

william grant still

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Also featured on this concert are St. Louis composer Cindy McTee, Franz Joseph Haydn and Antonín Dvorák. The concert begins with a brand new piece commissioned by The Sheldon by Isabell Borchardt.