It is an honor for the American Symphony Orchestra to play this concert for the 25th commemoration of the tragedy that took place on September 11, 2001. It is hard to fathom the extent of the death and destruction that was inflicted on those who worked in the Twin Towers, to those who lived nearby, and to the heroic presence of firefighters, police, and many others who showed singular courage in the face of an unimaginable scene in which everything real crumbled before our eyes. Although lives and hopes were shattered on that day, the city can be proud of the resilience it has shown. This concert is not only an expression of memory. It is an act of gratitude.

Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man celebrates the democracy we hope will flourish and which was attacked on that day. The Walker and the Haydn are expressions of mourning for the death of loved ones. These works are separated by two hundred years, but they share the same intimacy and passion. Charles Ives celebrates the magic and pride of our firefighters and their equipment. The last piece in the program, the Mahler “Adagio,” was inspired in part by a funeral procession for firefighters that moved down Central Park West. Mahler and his wife observed the funeral march and its music from the balcony of their suite of the Hotel Majestic. The “Adagio,” from the Tenth Symphony, is about that feeling that is the indispensable link among us all, and that is the feeling of love.

Thank you for coming to this concert.