When David Bowie released Blackstar on his 69th birthday, just two days before his passing in January 2016, the world quickly realized the album was a parting gift; a daring, genre-defying statement infused with experimental jazz, poetry, and raw emotion. Rolling Stone hailed it as “Bowie’s best,” while fans and critics alike recognized its haunting beauty as both swan song and masterpiece.
Nearly a decade later, Bowie’s final album has found new life on stage through BLACKSTAR Symphony: The Music of David Bowie, a bold reimagining that pairs members of Bowie’s original Blackstar band with full orchestra. On October 9, the Colorado Symphony brings this one-of-a-kind project to Boettcher Concert Hall for a single unforgettable evening.
From Studio to Symphony
The vision for BLACKSTAR Symphony comes from saxophonist and composer Donny McCaslin, who recorded Blackstar with Bowie in 2015. McCaslin recalls Bowie’s creative generosity during those sessions: “He gave us strong tunes with his unique perspective, but complete freedom to play with what he gave us. This is the dream of every musician”.
Years later, while performing with conductor Jules Buckley and the Metropole Orkest, McCaslin began to imagine what Blackstar might sound like on a grand orchestral scale. That idea has since blossomed into a fully staged concert experience, with orchestrations by some of the most acclaimed arrangers in the world, including Maria Schneider, Vince Mendoza, Tony Visconti, and Buckley himself.
An Extraordinary Cast
BLACKSTAR Symphony brings together a remarkable lineup of artists, many with direct ties to Bowie:
- John Cameron Mitchell, the Tony Award–winning creator of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, channels Bowie’s otherworldly charisma with vocals described by the Washington Post as “meticulously unbuttoned charm”.
- Gail Ann Dorsey, Bowie’s longtime bassist and vocalist, delivers powerhouse performances that recall her two decades on tour with him.
- David Poe, acclaimed singer-songwriter, lends his distinctive voice and stage presence to the mix.
Together with McCaslin and fellow Blackstar bandmates, including Jason Lindner, Tim Lefebvre, and Nate Wood, the ensemble joins the Colorado Symphony in exploring Bowie’s music anew.
Beyond Blackstar
The program features Blackstar in its entirety, paired with a selection of Bowie classics including “Space Oddity,” “Life on Mars?,” and “Heroes”. The result is part tribute, part transformation: a concert that pays homage to Bowie’s genius while expanding its sonic palette with lush, large-scale orchestrations.
Critics have praised the project as “a revelatory moment that reminded me of the power of live music” (SF Sonic) and “a splendid, stunning, two-night run” (BroadwayWorld).
A Legacy Reimagined
For McCaslin, who describes his collaboration with Bowie as “unequivocally the most inspiring time of my life,” the project is both personal and universal. “There’s a real attention to honoring the spirit that he led with when we do this,” he says. “A humility that we approach this with, and a deep and abiding love for him. I think he would have been into this direction, where we try to create a new piece of art with Blackstar.”
BLACKSTAR Symphony: The Music of David Bowie
On October 9, audiences at Boettcher Concert Hall will have the rare chance to experience this extraordinary celebration of Bowie’s artistry, an evening of music that is as fearless, boundary-pushing, and unforgettable as the Starman himself.
