Portland Youth Philharmonic: Firebird Finale

We end Season 102 with music that explores identity, reinvention, and imagination. Dvořák’s My Homeland Overture brings warmth and lyrical charm, while Aaron Copland’s El Salón México offers a colorful, folkloric portrait of a Mexico City dance hall. Chosen in honor of Copland’s 125th birthday, it reflects the season’s recurring theme of place and cultural exchange.

Jessie Montgomery’s Starburst for string orchestra is a brief but exhilarating wok that lives up to its name – energetic and vibrant, capturing the feeling of rapid creation and expansion through bursts of rhythm and brilliance.

Stravinsky’s Suite from The Firebird (1919) adds theatrical fire and wonder – a perfect metaphor for what PYP strives to be: fearless, transformative, and full of life.