The west coast premiere of composer Charles Wuorinen's humorous cantata It Happens Like This sets seven poems by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet James Tate. The performance will feature the original Tanglewood cast, described by the New York Times as "superb" and "dramatically astute." The piece was co-commissioned by Southwest Chamber Music, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and conductor James Levine. Composed at the same time as his opera, Brokeback Mountain, it is based on texts by James Tate's 2004 book Return to the City of White Donkeys. 

Also receiving its U.S. premiere on the program is Elegia by Gabriela Ortiz, which will be recorded following the performance for Southwest Chamber Music's 30th compact disc recording. Completing the program are works by Davies, Dowland and Henze.

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies - Lux in Tenebris

Gabriela Ortiz - Elegía (U.S. premiere)

Charles Wuorinen - It Happens Like This (West Coast premiere)