AMERICA, ORCHESTRATED

Bernstein and Gershwin soar, Renée Fleming enchants,
and even the Virginia wildlife gets into the act

Peter Boyer’s multimedia American Mosaic at Wolf Trap

Saturday night’s National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) concert at Wolf Trap is part of the nation’s America250 celebrations, marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Conducted by Gianandrea Noseda, the wide-ranging program offers several perspectives on American music, from Peter Boyer’s multimedia American Mosaic and Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story to selections sung by Renée Fleming and George Gershwin’s An American in Paris. The results are occasionally uneven, but at their best—particularly with Bernstein, Gershwin and Fleming—they make for a very satisfying summer evening.

Peter Boyer’s American Mosaic is an ambitious way to begin an evening celebrating the country. The multimedia work features the photography of Joseph Sohm, who has photographed all 50 states. His images accompany the music and narration, creating a sweeping visual portrait of the country. For me, the photographs are one of the most compelling elements of the piece. Seeing Sohm’s images move from one landscape and community to another provides a strong sense of the remarkable variety of the American experience. In the context of America250, the concept feels particularly appropriate.

Gianandrea Noseda and Barry Bostwick

The narration by Barry Bostwick, however, is less successful. The timbre of his voice simply doesn’t mesh with the sound of the National Symphony Orchestra. It lacks the weight and projection needed to hold its own against such a powerful ensemble, and during the more dramatic passages, his voice is often swallowed by the orchestra. The problem isn’t necessarily the quality of Bostwick’s narration itself, but rather the mismatch between the character of his voice and the scale and intensity of the NSO. As a result, portions of the narration are difficult to follow, weakening the connection between Sohm’s photographs, the spoken text and Boyer’s music.

The concert really comes alive with Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story. The NSO is terrific. The energy, rhythmic drive and dramatic contrasts of the piece come through beautifully, particularly in the more explosive sections. Hearing Bernstein at Wolf Trap on a summer evening seems especially fitting. The music feels sophisticated, theatrical and completely accessible at the same time.

Renée Fleming (photo by Scott Suchman)

Then comes Fleming, whose presence transforms the atmosphere. Her voice is beautiful, of course, but what I appreciate most is the warmth and restraint she brings to the songs. Rather than simply treating the selections as opportunities to display her extraordinary technique, she gives them character and emotional depth.

Her performance of “Over the Rainbow” is particularly lovely. And then there are the crickets and cicadas. As Fleming sings, the sounds of summer provide an almost accidental accompaniment to her vocal fireworks. There is something wonderfully atmospheric about hearing one of the world’s great sopranos under the stars, with the orchestra onstage and the sounds of nature surrounding the audience. The bugs are the perfect backup singers.

Gianandrea Noseda leads the National Symphony Orchestra

Gershwin’s An American in Paris brings the evening to a magnificent conclusion. The NSO captures the work’s energy, humor, jazz influences and orchestral sweep, while Noseda allows Gershwin’s many textures to unfold with both precision and exuberance. As this monumental musical evocation of Paris unfolds, there is something wonderfully surreal about the chirping in the surrounding Virginia night. Gershwin conjures the sounds and excitement of Paris through a full symphony orchestra while actual grasshoppers provide their own tiny accompaniment from the Wolf Trap grounds.

Overall, it is a very satisfying evening. The program offers several different interpretations of American music: Boyer’s contemporary portrait of the country, Sohm’s photographs of all 50 states, Bernstein’s groundbreaking fusion of Broadway, jazz and classical music, Fleming’s connection to the great American songbook, and Gershwin’s uniquely American ability to blend musical traditions with jazz.

Peter Boyer’s multimedia American Mosaic at Wolf Trap

For me, Bernstein and Gershwin are the orchestral standouts, while Fleming provides the evening’s most elegant and memorable moments. But perhaps what I will remember most are the sounds that weren’t written into the score: the crickets and cicadas accompanying Fleming, and the grasshoppers chirping through An American in Paris. It is an unexpectedly charming reminder that this is not a concert in a traditional concert hall. At Wolf Trap, even nature seems determined to take part in the concert.

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photos by Rich Kessler (except where noted)

Gershwin, Bernstein & American Mosaic
National Symphony Orchestra
Gianandrea Noseda, conductor
Renée Fleming, soprano
Barry Bostwick, narrator
Filene Center at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia
reviewed on August 15, 2026
for more info, visit Wolf Trap

for more shows, visit Theatre in DC

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