Lectures

For over 20 years, Freeman has presented pre-concert and special occasion lectures for organizations from the Baltimore Symphony to the National Philharmonic. With topics ranging from women in music to the world of ballet, lectures often include interactive elements and audience participation, leading to a heightened appreciation of the power of classical music.

Recent comments from audience members:

“Erin’s many fans at the National Philharmonic pre-concert lectures will miss her entertaining and informative presentations.”

“I just wanted to tell you how delightful it was to sit in on your Bach’s Mass in B Minor lecture at the Strathmore. I repect your knowledge and passion for music. Best wishes to you in Richmond.”

“You have enriched my knowledge and appreciation and enjoyment of the music performed at each concert. Thank you so much!”

Below are some sample lecture titles:

Absolute v. Programmatic: Beethoven Violin Concerto, Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition
Bach: Christmas Oratorio
Bach: Mass in B-Minor
Beyond the Notes: Mozart Overture to Marriage of Figaro, Mozart Piano Concerto No. 20, Beethoven Symphony No. 7
Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem
Buona Sera: Guiliani Guitar Concerto, Castelnuovo-Tedesco Guitar Concerto No. 1, Mendelssohn “Italian” Symphony
Celebrate!: Bernstein Overture to Candide, Haydn Symphony No. 104, Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1
A Celebration of Mozart (Sort-of): Tchaikovsky March Slav, Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme, Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5
Chopin – A Romantic Mozart: Mozart Overture to Marriage of Figaro, Mozart Symphony No. 40, Chopin Krokowiak, Chopin Fantasy on Polish Airs
The Maestro is Coming! The History of the Conductor
Dance!: Dvorak Slavonic Dance No. 8, Adams The Chairman Dances, Haydn Trumpet Concerto, Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances
Expect the Unexpected: Bach Orchestral Suite No. 3, Mozart Symphony No. 39, Prokofiev Violin Concerto
Experiments in Orchestration: Dvorak Serenade for Strings, Martin Etudes for Strings Orchestra, Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 1
Exploring the Program Notes – What Exactly do they Mean?: Bach Violin Concerto No. 1, Makris Anamnesis, Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings
“Failure is the True Test of Greatness” – Herman Melville: Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2, Shostakovich Symphony No. 5
Fire!: Shostakovich Festive Overture, Paganini Violin Concerto No. 1, Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4
Form – The Ultimate Journey: Chopin 24 Preludes, Schumann Fantasy in C Major, Schoenberg Opus 11
Handel Messiah
Handel Messiah – Mozart Orchestration
Haydn Creation
Hedge Fund Down? Music’s Up! Why Art, Specifically Music is Imperative in a Financial Crisis
Inexplicable: Mozart Overture to La Clemenza di Tito, Mozart Clarinet Concerto, Mozart Requiem
Inspiration in All its Forms: Beethoven Coriolan Overture, Dvorak Romance for Violin and Orchestra, Lutoslawski Partita, Beethoven Symphony No. 6
Inspired by Strangers: Shostakovich Symphony No. 14, Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings
Inspired by the Voice: Verdi Overture to La Forza Del Destino, “Dich Teure Halle” from La Forza Del Destino, Wagner Arrival of the Guests, Wagner “Prelude und Liebstod” from Tristan und Isolde, Borodin Polovtsian Dances
Joy!: Rossini Overture to Semiramide, Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue, Brahms Symphony No. 1
Melodious Composers: Tower Made in America, Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1, Schubert Symphony No. 8 “Unfinished”
Mendelssohn Elijah
A Mirror into the Minds of Mozart and Markis: Mozart Violin Concerto No. 4, Mozart Symphony No. 4, Makris Anamnesis
Mozart – Don Giovanni
Mozart – Marriage of Figaro
A New Approach to Three Standards: Mozart Overture to The Magic Flute, Saint-Saens Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Beethoven Symphony No. 5
Not Your Typical <Fill in the Blank>: Mozart Divertimento, K. 136, Vivaldi Four Seasons, Peck Signs of Life II
Orff Carmina Burana
Passion: Gershwin American in Paris, Creston Saxophone Concerto, Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique
A Passion for Place: Beethoven Leonora Overture #3, Debussy Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faune, Lalo Symphony Espagnole
Past and Future Meet: Grieg Holberg Suite, Gerber Clarinet Concerto, Haydn “Farewell” Symphony
Power!: Beethoven Overture to Egmont, Mozart Bassoon Concerto, Franck Symphony in D Minor
Sensational Strings: Pachelbel Canon in D, Mozart Divertimento 135 and 137, Glass Company, Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 1
Simply Splendid – Splendidly Simple: Mozart Serenade in G Major, Bartok Divertimento for String Orchestra, Schubert Mass in G
Singing from the Heart: Schubert Symphony No. 3, Vaughan WilliamsSerenade to Music, Adams On the Transmigration of Souls
Slavic Celebration: Dvorak Symphony No. 9 and Cello Concerto
Spain!: Bizet Carmen Suite No. 1, Lalo Cello Concerto, De Falla Three Cornered Hat, Rimsky Korsakov Capriccio Espagnol
The “Standard” Concert Format Broken Down: Rossini Overture toL’Italian in Algiers, Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5, Mozart Symphony No. 41
Standing in the Middle: The Role of a Conductor
Symphony as Concerto – Concerto as Symphony: Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 and Symphony No. 1
Telling a Tale: Stravinsky Firebird, Strauss Ein Heldenleben
Three Concertos – Two Players: Mozart Clarinet Concerto, Mozart Bassoon Concerto, Strauss Duo Concertino
Travel to Russia: Rimsky Korsakov Russian Easter Overture, Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 1, Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5
The 20th Century – More Diverse than You Might Think: Adams The Chairman Dances, Elgar Cello Concerto, Stravinsky Firebird (1945 Suite)
Up-Close and Personal with the Strings: Gerber Ode for String Orchestra, Mozart Violin Concerto No. 1, Dvorak Serenade for Strings
What You Didn’t Know about What You Thought You Knew: Rossini Overture to The Barber of Seville, Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, Beethoven Symphony No. 6
Women in Music – 2007 Baltimore Symphony Lectures of Series: Turning the Tides at the Turn of the Century – Three Female Musicians, Three Different Paths: Amy Beach, Ethyl Smyth, Amy Fay
Women in Music – 2007 Baltimore Symphony Lectures of Series: Teachers and So Much More: The Legacies of Nadia Boulanger and Dorothy Delay
Women in Music – 2007 Baltimore Symphony Lectures of Series: Sisters, Wives, and Daughters – Composers in their Own Right: Clara Schumann, Alma Mahler-Werfel, Fanny Mendelssohn, Francesca Caccini
Women in Music – 2007 Baltimore Symphony Lectures of Series: Groundbreakers in the Concert Hall – A Celebration of Five Extraordinary Performers: Marion Anderson (voice), Ann Hobson Pilot (harp), Maud Powell (violin), Jacqueline duPré (Cello), Dame Myra Hess (Piano)