American legend Wynton Marsalis is one of the most accomplished and acclaimed artists and composers of his generation. Tonight, for the final night of the 2019 Cabrillo Festival, his friend and frequent collaborator Maestro Cristian Măcelaru welcomes Marsalis as composer in residence for the first time, and leads the Festival Orchestra in two of Marsalis’ celebrated compositions. Marsalis’ Concerto in D is a unique fusion of musical styles from around the world, featuring acclaimed Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti, for whom it was written. In high demand across the globe, Benedetti’s playing is described as “always top-notch, her sound brilliant and clean” (The New York Times). Marsalis’ Blues Symphony is a six-movement work of staggering complexity; one of Marsalis’ only pieces composed for purely orchestral forces, it is a tribute to the blues as heard through a prism of different moments in history. An epic work brings an epic season to an unforgettable close!