The Orfeo Chamber Orchestra performed alongside trumpeter Arturo Sandoval at the world premiere of a work by Aldo López Gavilán

February 21, 2022

The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, a Grammy Award-winning classical ensemble, presented a program of Cuban inspiration in the Stern Hall of CARNEGIE HALL with trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and the premiere.

According to cellist Jim Wilson, artistic director of the orchestra, Orpheus is well known as the first orchestra that avoided having a conductor, which resulted in an "orchestra of leaders." Without a conductor, the orchestra operates through a democratic leadership model. Many roles within the orchestra are elected, including Wilson's position as artistic director.

"Everyone uses group communication and meetings and such to make decisions," Wilson said. "That's how we rehearse. That's how the whole organization works."

The orchestra's unique style seems to have been worthwhile. Last year, Orpheus won a Grammy for its album with Wayne Shorter. In the upcoming performance season, the orchestra will celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Equally accomplished is the musician accompanying it, Arturo Sandoval, a Cuban-American jazz trumpeter, pianist and composer who has toured with Dizzy Gillespie and performed at the White House and the Super Bowl. According to Wilson, Sandoval was the "core" of the performance with Orfeo.

The Orpheus and Sandoval performance was composed, in its entirety, of pieces that were written or arranged personally for the orchestra. They performed Gershwin's Cuban Overture, Sandoval's second trumpet concerto, a premiere of a piece by Cuban pianist and composer Aldo López-Gavilán, a piano suite by Ernesto Lecuona and Casado arranged by Jannina Norpoth, and more pieces of Cuban inspiration.

"It was tremendously fun. Cuban music is so contagious, joyful and stimulating because the rhythms are very complex. The music has this mixture of joy and sadness at the same time and I think it's something that people in this country really respond to," Wilson said. "So it was an unusual program. Really, really enjoyable with some fabulous solos."

Because Orpheus is best known for performing classical music, Wilson recommended that everyone listen to this lively and unique Cuban-inspired performance while they can.

"We'll have as much fun as the audience when they listen to it," Wilson said. "I hope that comes across... the audience heard a completely new program that has never been done and probably will never be done again."