Pulitzer Prize-winning composer William Bolcom (left) and celebrated conductor Leonard Slatkin discuss “Songs of Innocence and of Experience” April 6 during an event sponsored by the Institute for the Humanities. Bolcom said that as a teenager, the poetry of William Blake “hit me like a ton of bricks,” inspiring him to begin the massive work based on Blake’s writings. Slatkin said he recently visited Carnegie Hall, where people still are talking about a 1992 performance of the work. “Anyone there does not forget that night,” he said. On April 8, the work was performed at Hill Auditorium, where it had its U.S. premiere 20 years ago. (Photo by Marcia Ledford, U-M Photo Services)
