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REDLANDS, Calif. — The Redlands Symphony will debut a new bassoon concerto by Estonian-American composer Lembit Beecher at its upcoming concert, “The Wondrous Bassoon,” on April 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Memorial Chapel at the University of Redlands.
The piece, written for Grammy-nominated bassoonist Martin Kuuskmann, showcases the expressive range of the bassoon—an instrument often overshadowed in classical music.
“The bassoon is a uniquely complex instrument with a beautiful tone, similar to that of a cello but more wooden,” said Music Director and Conductor Ransom Wilson. “When we had the opportunity to be part of creating a new concerto for this marvelous instrument, I jumped at the chance—especially when I learned it was being written for my good friend, Martin Kuuskmann.”
Kuuskmann, who was born in Soviet-occupied Estonia in 1971, studied at the Tallinn Music High School, Manhattan School of Music, and Yale School of Music. His career spans multiple genres, earning him three Grammy nominations. In addition to performing worldwide, he serves as an associate professor of bassoon at the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music.
Beecher, whose compositions have been praised for their vivid textures and colors, has had his work featured by the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, and the Juilliard Quartet. Born in Santa Cruz, California, to Estonian and American parents, his music has been performed at major festivals and orchestras across the country.
Along with the world premiere of Beecher’s concerto, the Redlands Symphony program will include Antonio Vivaldi’s bassoon concerto, Jessie Montgomery’s Strum, and Antonín Dvořák’s Serenade for Strings.
“Commissions like this are extremely important, not just for an orchestra itself but for the field of classical music,” said Redlands Symphony Executive Director Kevin Eberle-Noel. The symphony is among several organizations that helped fund the new concerto but secured the opportunity to present its first performance.
“As a bassoonist myself, I’m not-so-secretly looking forward to this concert the most,” Eberle-Noel added.
Tickets for “The Wondrous Bassoon” range from $20 to $80 for adults, with discounts available for students, children, and veterans through the VetTix program. For more information, visit www.redlandssymphony.com or call the Redlands Symphony Box Office at (909) 587-5565.
