Music Reframed: SBSO’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” with Maestro Fouad Fakhouri

On Saturday, September 28th at 7:30 p.m., the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra (SBSO) continues its 90th Season with Music Reframed: Pictures at an Exhibition at the historic Temple Theatre in downtown Saginaw. This ambitious program pairs one of the most celebrated orchestral works of all time with bold contemporary compositions performed by their creators.

The evening culminates in Modest Mussorgsky’s iconic Pictures at an Exhibition, a vivid and dramatic orchestral masterpiece that has captivated audiences for more than a century. Featured guest artist Kebra-Seyoun Charles will perform their concerto Nightlife, following its recent world premiere at Carnegie Hall with the American Composers Orchestra. The concert will also feature the Michigan premiere of Trance, an original composition by SBSO Music Director Fouad Fakhouri. The single-movement work recreates the driving momentum and “beat drop” characteristics of EDM, building from bold heroic gestures to percussive propulsion led by tambourine and taiko drum, before culminating in powerful brass and rhythmic accents across the orchestra. Rooted in Fakhouri’s personal memories of youthful summers spent immersed in trance music, the piece channels joy, energy, and celebration.

Fouad Fakhouri joins us in this episode of Sidewalk Talks to chat about the concert, being a conductor, the power of conflict and collaboration in both life and in music, and more.

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and Concert Details

00:27 Maestro Travel Story

01:35 Why This Program Works

02:32 Pictures at an Exhibition Explained

04:53 Projected Art and Community Focus

06:20 Keeping Classical Music Alive

09:27 Ravel Orchestration Choices

11:45 Conducting Mindset and Audience Energy

15:20 Reframing the Score from the Piano Original

18:39 Introducing Nightlife Double Bass Feature

20:28 Nightlife Journey Concerto

21:40 Meeting Kera and Saginaw Fit

22:38 Double Bass in Treble

23:06 Composer Soloist Dynamic

25:21 Creative Tension and Conflict

27:27 Socratic Disagreement and Growth

29:48 Trance Origins and Rave Days

31:45 Detroit Techno Roots

33:44 Orchestrating EDM Energy

36:09 Live Music Syncs Us

40:22 Tickets and Final Thanks