The Reno Phil has commissioned an important new symphonic work from composer Jimmy López Bellido. Informed and inspired by the Nevada Museum of Art’s “Altered Landscape, Carol Franc Buck Collection” of photography, his “Symphony No. 3: Altered Landscape” engages themes of humanity’s accelerated consumption of the Earth’s resources, the pandemic-imposed pause we have withstood, and the quest for a future of harmony and sustainable balance on Earth.
Composed entirely in 2020, the Reno Phil will give the world premiere of the work on May 7, 2022, and seeks orchestral partners around the globe to perform the piece during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 seasons. Performances of “Altered Landscape” are intended to inspire audiences, build awareness, and act as a catalyst for important conversations between diverse groups and industries about how we humans utilize and deploy our planet’s finite resources. In addition, this project offers orchestras the opportunity to take tangible action against climate change through a partnership with the Nature Conservancy.
“I am delighted to be partnering with the Nature Conservancy on this project. The work they do preserving ecosystems and resources is vital to the wellbeing of all of us. We hope this collaboration will inspire conversations about sustainable living, build awareness of environmental challenges in our community, and actively support the mission of the Nature Conservancy,” said Reno Phil Music Director and Conductor Laura Jackson. “It’s one way Reno Phil can leverage live music to give back to the community we love.”
Thanks to tremendously generous donors, the commission is completely funded. Because of this and the importance of the work, the Reno Phil is not charging orchestras to be a member of this consortium— “Altered Landscape” is a gift to orchestras of the world.
In order to cover hard costs and “pay-it-forward,” participating orchestras will contribute a minimum of $1,000 to the The Nature Conservancy
April 16, 2022 – January 1, 2023
NEVADA MUSEUM OF ART
Carol Franc Buck Gallery | Floor 2
This exhibition accompanies a new musical composition commissioned by the Reno Philharmonic in collaboration with the Nevada Museum of Art. Jimmy López Bellido, a world-renowned, Finnish-trained, Peruvian-American composer, was invited by Laura Jackson, Music Director of the Reno Philharmonic, to work with curators at the Nevada Museum of Art to select photographs from the Museum’s photography collection to inspire his brand new, Symphony. No. 3: Altered Landscape. The Carol Franc Buck Altered Landscape Photography Collection is the Nevada Museum of Art’s signature collection of photographs featuring more than 2,000 images reflecting changes to the natural and built environment.
This project offers orchestras worldwide the opportunity to take tangible action against climate change when they program the piece within the next two years. Thanks to our tremendously generous donors, the commission is completely funded. Because of this and the importance of the work, the Reno Phil is not charging orchestras to be a member of this consortium, instead we are asking that they make a minimum of a $1,000 contribution to the Nature Conservancy – “Altered Landscape” is a gift to the orchestras of the world. To date, we have approximately a dozen orchestras interested in performing the work.
The first panel series took place Monday, February 7th and explored “The Great Acceleration,” which covers the time period from the 1950s to today. Conductor Laura Jackson will provided some background on the project alongside composer, Jimmy López Bellido. Bill Fox of the Nevada Museum of Art added context from the photographic collection that inspired the commission, and Steph McAfee, Nevada State Climatologist and Catherine Magee, Director of Nevada Historical Society contributed academic angles to enhance the artistic perspectives. Chris Morrison moderated the discussion as panelists explore how rapid growth during this period has affected our region socially and economically. Listening clips from the new symphony are included.
Panel Discussion #2, Stillness, explores the second movement of the symphony. This movement depicts the months immediately following the World Health’s Organization’s declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic, and explores the contrast between what was happening in the medical community, where things were extremely busy, and what was happening in venues and traditional gathering spaces, where things became quiet. Dr. Brandi Kindig shares her frontline medical experience, Dennyse Sewell contributes her perspective as Executive Director of the Pioneer Center, and Stephen Jacobs speaks from his background guiding people into stillness as a meditation teacher. Music Director Laura Jackson adds insight about the newly composed symphony and the original photographic collection, some of which will be on display in an exhibit during Summer 2022. The panel explores the difference between silence we seek and silence that finds us.
Panel Discussion #3, “Reckoning and Alignment” exploreS the third and fourth movements of the symphony. These movements are an invitation to first reflect on the forced stillness of the second movement, and then step into a vision of hope for the future. This panel took place on Monday, April 11.