Walker/Peabody So/Alsop - Puts:Symphony No. 2/Flute Concerto

Awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 2012, Kevin Puts now stands in the forefront of contemporary American composers. His powerfully conceived Symphony No. 2 is a musical illustration of the events of 9/11 and traces a movement from unsuspecting bliss and rhapsody through violent upheaval to a reflective epilogue that contains both uncertainty and hope. Possibly inspired by thoughts of the Mississippi, River's Rush employs novel harmonies, while elegant transparency distinguishes the refined beauty of the Flute Concerto. Winner of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for his debut opera Silent Night, Kevin Puts has been hailed as one of the most important composers of his generation. Critically acclaimed for a richly coloured, harmonic, and freshly melodic musical voice that has also been described as emotional, compelling, and relevant, his works, which include two operas, four symphonies, and several concertos, have been commissioned, performed, and recorded by leading orchestras, ensembles and soloists throughout the world. He is currently Chair of the Composition Faculty at the Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute, and he is the Director of the Minnesota Orchestra Composer Institute.