Headline sound a little strange? Well, it seems almost impossible to comprehend that the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra has never programmed a work by Philip Glass. One really wonders about that hole in the BSO’s rep list especially because of the way Baltimore (and one very esteemed institution in Baltimore) habitually boasts the fact that Mr. Glass is homegrown. That’s all about to change this weekend, however, as Maestra Alsop devotes an entire program to the Septigenarian. The big showpiece of the program will be a multimedia realization of photographer Frans Lanting’s LIFE: A Journey Through Time. And for the edification of the classical saxophone, the Capitol Saxophone Quartet will perform Glass’s Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Orchestra.

Tim Smith has a great feature and preview of next weekend’s events in today’s Sun. In a revealing comment, Mr. Glass weighs in on why he believes contemporary music is a scarcity on orchestra programs:

“Let’s put everything on the table: The problem is not with the audiences, but with the people who do the programming,” Glass says. “That audiences stand and applaud my music is not a big surprise. It’s been going on for years. They are ready for and appreciative of new music, and my music. The programmers have been lagging behind the public.”

No need to point fingers! But at least for now, he’s got an ally in Baltimore in Marin Alsop. (Although maybe that alliance will shatter since he’ll have to miss the performances because of a prior engagement at the Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, where his soundtrack for Notes on a Scandal is up for Best Original Score.)