The Florida Orchestra taps composer Michael Ippolito to capture the state’s sound

Andrew Meacham, Tampa Bay Times, 23rd February 2018

The composer sat in semi-darkness, his hand drifting like a slow pendulum at his side. On the Mahaffey Theater stage, the violins led a creaking and mysterious journey through a cypress swamp, the inspiration for the first movement.

The conductor stopped.

“Can we try something?” Florida Orchestra music director Michael Francis asked the man in the chair. “You might not like this. If not, we’ll change it back.”

Composer Michael Ippolito and Francis worked this way through a rehearsal, making little tweaks. It was weeks before the actual performance. Rotations in most orchestras bring in visiting artists only the Tuesday before. So this was a luxury.

That fact reflects the importance the orchestra attaches to the concert, Dvorak’s New World Symphony, because of the world premiere of Triptych, the piece Ippolito wrote for this occasion. The Florida Orchestra will debut it in a series of concerts this weekend.

It was Francis who persuaded Ippolito, 33, to accept the commission he and his wife, Cindy, helped pay for. The mission was to celebrate Florida. Francis regards the commission as the centerpiece of the orchestra’s 50th anniversary season.

“He’s a fantastic composer,” Francis said. “I think Tampa should feel proud of him. He has a big international career going already and he’s going to be one of the major players, there’s no doubt. And this piece will launch him even further.”