Legendary saxophonist Branford Marsalis fills Southam Hall with his gentle, jazzy cool music Hannah Kendall gets inspiration from the “garage and grime” that she listened to as a youth Portuguese conductor Joana Carneiro demonstrates her versatility and vibrance

Our concert opens with music from British composer Hannah Kendall. The Spark Catchers is inspired by the work of British poet Lemn Sissay, who memorialized the “matchwomen” of the Bryant and May match factory in London. The women went on strike in 1888 to protest their dangerous working conditions.

American saxophonist Branford Marsalis is known the world over for delivering boundary-pushing performances—pure truth in jazz. He will perform “Neruda Songs” by composer Peter Lieberson, based on the intimate love poems of Pablo Neruda. This fresh arrangement, for saxophone and orchestra, “traces the arc of love’s evolution” (laphil.com)—intensely emotional and filled with happiness and longing.

Then, hisses and finger snaps ornament the music from the blockbuster movie Catch Me if You Can, by film composer extraordinaire John Williams. In Branford’s hands, the thrill of the chase is pin-accurate and exhilarating.

We close with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, a seismic work that Beethoven himself called his “most excellent symphony.” The world still can’t get enough more than two centuries after its debut in 1813.

All this under the brilliant direction of guest conductor Joana Carneiro, who brings all the musical puzzle pieces into one dazzling whole.