On May 29th, the American Symphony will honor George Perle's recent centennial — in a curious conjunction of unalike personalities, this most lyrical and playful of American modernists was born on the same day as Orson Welles — by playing his Adagio and Transcendental Modulations. Shirley Gabis Perle, his widow, writes: "Central to George’s composing was his enormous enthusiasm for dance; the ballet especially attracted him. The intricacy and wit of Balanchine’s choreography somehow influenced the 'steps' his notes took: he wanted to make them dance. He worked round the clock, stopping every so often for a few hours of sleep. This enabled him to produce the prodigious amount of work for which he has become known."
More: Copland House will host a Perle celebration on May 17, and there will be a New York Public Library concert on May 21.
