Robert Spano

It started out as the slow movement for a string quartet, but with its inclusion within a major film (Platoon), and its presence at prominent national events, Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings has become the American memorial anthem in times of national sadness and loss.

An American Conductor and an American Anthem

Robert Spano is now in his ninth season as music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Since 2001 he has invigorated and expanded the Orchestra's repertoire reaching new audiences through a creative programming mix and recordings of a wide range of repertoire. Under his supervision, the Atlanta School of Composers was created to bring forward a new generation of American composers, including Osvaldo Golijov, Jennifer Higdon, Christopher Theofanidis, and Michael Gandolfi. Since the beginning of his tenure, Mr. Spano and the ASO have performed over 100 contemporary works (composed since 1950).

www.robertspanomusic.com.

Ask the Virtuoso

Q: I really enjoyed seeing and hearing Hilary Hahn play on the Tonight Show. What is it like playing on TV before a really big audience? Is it different than playing a concert in a regular auditorium or recital hall? (Aimee Clark, Chesapeake, VA)

Hilary Hahn answers - click here.