Ann Hobson Pilot Farewell

Matthew Guerrieri of the Boston Globe gave a rave review to Ann Hobson's farewell performance:

http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2009/10/05/bso_bids_farewell_to_retired_harpist/

After performing 3 concertos, Elliot Carter's "Mosaic," Debussy's "Danses sacrée et profane," and the premiere of John Williams's "On Willows and Birches," Pilot resumed, as per her request, the principal harp position for the closing of the concert with Ravel's "La Valse".

This performance was available not only in the concert hall, but also on public radio at Boston's WGBH 89.7 FM. The radio broadcast included an interview with John Williams. The interview discussed his affinity for trees and their influence on his new work.

In light of our reading this week on music and gender, it is difficult to mention Ms. Pilot without touching on what she brings to the BSO as an African-American woman in heritage and gender. There is part of me however, that wonders if society will ever get to a point where heritage and gender are part of who you are and not tied in to the definition of what you do. A brilliant [African-American-woman] harpist retired from the BSO and played a memorable concert in her final performance. Will the brackets ever be removed and the performance valued for its intrinsic worth?