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Copyright © 2006, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc. NSO floats on the 'Sea Symphony'By Jeffrey Johnson
Special Correspondent March 11, 2006 The Stamford Advocate I freely admit I have been looking forward to this program of the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra since I first heard about it almost a year ago. And what initially intrigued me was that "The Sea Symphony" by Ralph Vaughan Williams was being programmed by itself. Many conventions of programming would seem to work against the idea: At a little longer than 60 minutes, the timing is on the short side with no opportunity for an intermission; and most programs include a concerto and a variety of composers and historical styles. But the decision to program the work alone paid off at the Feb. 25 performance of the NSO, which was joined by the Mendelssohn Choir. Programming the work alone allowed for both performers and audience to focus on one message. Before the music began, a collection of photographs by local artists depicting aspects of the sea were projected on two large screens on either side of the stage. This collaboration with the Silvermine Guild Arts Center set an atmosphere not only of water and the environment of coastal Connecticut, but more importantly of meditation. Essential to the Vaughn Williams design is that the sea is not only vibrancy and motion but also a symbol of the mystical unknown. The atmosphere created by the photographs viewed in a surrounding darkness that encompassed the entire stage set the perfect groundwork for this idea. When the lights came up on the first movement, it was a sharp contrast. Conductor Diane Wittry chose a brisk tempo and drew vigor and volume from textures woven from music by soloists, choral polyphony and orchestral interplay. The orchestra sounded great throughout the evening. The strings in particular produced a continually rich and full sound that provided the support essential to this piece. The second movement featured the carefully balanced surfaces of great chamber music -- energy generated among friends. It is a critical place in the overall symphony that must count if we are to believe the final movement. From there it was all about soloist Douglas Webster. He highlighted the narrative quality and chant-like characteristics of the lines, allowing unexpected flourishes to stand apart strongly. Soprano soloist Jeanine Thames brought an operatic power to her part. Although much-needed at times, she could have more frequently explored the lieder qualities of the part even at the cost of balances. Nonetheless, her line in the first movement, "Token of all brave captains, and all intrepid sailors and mates," was delivered over the course of a controlled shift in supported color changes and diminuendo that startled the hall. But make no mistake -- this is a choral work. Its success will ride upon the preparation and ultimate endurance of the chorus. The Mendelssohn choir came ready to sing and was superbly prepared by its artistic director and conductor, Carole Ann Maxwell. The third movement is something of a concerto for chorus; if the winter Olympics had a vocal/choral event, this is the kind of repertoire it would contain. The chorus delivered and articulated the ferocious text at breakneck speed and glided with the hemiolas and other rhythmic slides and amusements contained in the movement. The chorus seemed very aware of how individual parts contributed not only to the immediate texture but also to the overall design of the movement and the work as a whole. The Mendelssohn Choir interacted with the soloists and the orchestra exceptionally well. Very subtle balances in the second and fourth movements made the singers seem like part of the orchestra. There were many other wonderful moments: the ghostly offstage choir singing, "Wherefore unsatisfied soul? Whither O mocking life?" The voices picked up a gorgeous reverberating color well worth the effort of having those poor folks wait around three movements to create it. The great surprise of this symphony is that it turns away from an obvious grand smashing ending to a contemplative mystical place. "O my brave soul! O farther, farther sail!" It is no simple matter to maximize this quality, but the audience was prepared for it even before the beginning with those photographs, and it came across as clearly as I have ever heard it done live. It helped that Wittry connected the second and third movements attaca, and chose very little space between the third and fourth movements. This brought a sense of building momentum into the finale. The silence at the close was extended until it was collapsed by applause -- not only dramatic but also a way of trying to hold on to the meditation. I would have only wished for the complete text to be printed in the program. The reason is that one needs to use it like a map to guide one actively through the complexities on the surface. Michael Fink's program notes also made useful observations dependent upon text clues that would have made for a more active listening with a printed text in addition to the projected text. The use of the projected text was quite clever, particularly the alterations of the original Whitman indicated in italics. This was a great event that showed a structural and inventive collection of collaborations that is becoming distinctive of the Norwalk Symphony. It is within this collaborative framework a very unique cultural experience. Copyright © 2006, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc. This article originally appeared at: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/features/scn-sa-nso5mar11,0,2996265.story Visit the Advocate online at http://www.stamfordadvocate.com The Advocate & Greenwich Time Sunday, October 9, 2005 Impressive Program Kicks Off | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Soprano Kathleen Ann Theisen was trained as a classical
and jazz pianist before pursuing an operatic career. Her recent
performances include Donna Anna in "Don Giovanni" with Taconic
Opera, Vitellia in "La Clemenza di Tito" with dell’Arte Opera
Ensemble, Cleopatra in "Giulio Cesare" with One World Symphony,
Daphne in the New York premiere of Robert Ward’s "Claudia
Legare" at Dicapo Opera - for which Opera News wrote that she
was “vocally solid and impassioned” and The New York Times said
she “effectively conveyed a sense of desperation,” In 2003, she
made her debut with the Metropolitan Opera as an extra chorister
in "Benvenuto Cellini."
Tenor Scott Murphree, hailed by the New York Times as
“radiant and expressive: is a distinguished singer of the
concert, recital and opera stage. His recent appearances have
included a debut with the Utah Opera as Tamino in Die
Zauberfloete, Bach Cantatas with the Orpheus Chamber Ensemble
and Haydn’s Die Schoepfung with the Sacred Music in a Sacred
Space Series. Among many other roles, he was participated in
productions of Paul Bunyan with Glimmerglass Opera and in
Jonathan Miller’s staged version of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion
at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He is a member of the faculty
of the Steinhardt School of Music at New York University.
American Baritone Thomas
Woodman’s versatility in opera, orchestra and recital repertoire
has helped him enjoy a varied and successful 25-year career
throughout North America and Europe. He has appeared on stage at
the Metropolitan Opera (Valentin in Faust and Wolfram in
Tannhauser); die Bayerische Staatsoper (Harlekin in Ariadne auf
Naxos), New York City Opera, and the Staatstheater Darmstadt .
He has performed Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Nashville,
Waterbury (CT), Cape Cod Symphonies as well as the Rochester
Philharmonic. Most recently, he sang the role of Jesus in the
Greenwich Choral Society’s performance of the Bach St. Matthew
Passion.
Soloist Stephanie Jeong was one of the
youngest students accepted to the famed Curtis Institute in
Philadelphia. She was nine. Stephanie was a featured at the White
House at the when she was seven, and performs annually in Chicago's
Orchestra Hall. In 1999, Stephanie won both the Philadelphia
Orchestra's Albert M. Greenfield and the Chicago Symphony
Orchestra's Feinburg competitions, which led to performances with
both orchestras in their 1999-2000 season. She won the Greenfield
Student Competition again in 2002, in the junior division, and was
invited to be the guest soloist for their New Year's Eve Gala
concert. Among many other awards, she won the National YAMAHA Young
Performing Artists competition in the string division, and, in 2006,
won the Philadelphia Orchestra's Albert M. Greenfield competition
for the third time, this time in the senior division. This lead to
two solo performances with the orchestra in its 2006-2007
season.
Seventeen-year-old prodigy Danielle
Merlis of Westport, an honors student in her junior year at Staples
High School, has studied cello for seven years. She is Principal
Cellist of the Norwalk Youth Symphony, and also plays with the
Staples Symphonic Orchestra and Chamber Orchestras. Danielle spent
last summer at NYU studying chamber music and cello performance with
Marion Feldman. A student of Lois Errante, Danielle also teaches
cello to beginning cellists in Westport. In addition to the cello,
Danielle also plays the piano and composes music.
Twelve-year-old Tristan Zeman, also
from Westport, began his formal violin training before his 3rd
birthday and has been studying with Patinka Kopec, a professor at
Manhattan School of Music, since 2004. In 2005, he began attending
the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College Division. In the spring of
2007, Tristan was invited to play a solo at the Weill Recital Hall
at Carnegie Hall as a winner of the American Fine Arts Festival 2007
Competition. In addition to being a classically trained violinist,
Tristan enjoys fiddling and has studied with Mark O'Connor at his
Tennessee Fiddle Camp. Last year, Tristan was the youngest member of
Pinchas Zuckerman's "Young Artists' Programme" at the National Arts
Centre of Canada in Ottawa.
Twelve-year-old Allison Giebisch is a
7th-grade honors student at Amity Middle School in Bethany, CT. She
has studied cello for seven years with Miriam Eckelhoefer at the
Neighborhood Music School in New Haven and she has received
additional coaching from renowned cellists Colin Carr and Irene
Sharp. In 2006, Allison won the first prize in the Junior Division
Performance Prize Competition at NMS. When not practicing cello,
Allison studies German and Chinese, enjoys running and biking.
Seventeen-year-old Nicole Kilroy is a
senior at Poughkeepsie Day School and began studying violin at the
age of 5. She attended the Manhattan School of Music Pre-college
division for six years. This past summer she was concertmaster in
the Guilford Festival Orchestra at the Eastern Music Festival in
Greensboro, North Carolina. She recently won the student concerto
competition with the Danbury Symphony Orchestra and will be
performing with them in February. Nicole studies with Anna
Ostrofsky, plans on pursuing a double major in music performance and
biology, and eventually wants to become a veterinarian.
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Danielle Talamantes |
Holly
Sorenson |
Michael
Denham |
Dennis
Blackwell |
The concert will be held in the Norwalk Concert Hall, 125 East Avenue at 8:00 p.m. “Podium Perspectives”, a pre-concert talk with NSO Music Director Diane Wittry and Dr. Carole Ann Maxwell, Artistic Director of the MCC will take place at 7:00 p.m., open to concert ticket holders. A reception at the Concert Hall will be held following the performance.
Concert ticket prices start at $20 with special student tickets priced at $10. For ticket reservations, please call 203-847-8844 or visit online at www.norwalksymphony.org.
NSO Presents Peer Gynt as Musical Theatre
On Saturday, May 5th at 8 pm, the Norwalk Symphony
Orchestra ends an audience-pleasing season with a Scandinavian Night
at the Symphony, featuring the intriguing orchestral/musical theater
mix Peer Gynt: Grieg Meets Ibsen. The evening combines the evocative
music of Edvard Grieg with text from Henrik Ibsen’s masterpiece, the
fantasy play Peer Gynt. In this truly collaborative production, the
talents of the NSO will be augmented by those of soprano Marjorie
McGovern, actors Ezra Barnes and Kathryn Marchand, The Mendelsohnn
Choir of Connecticut, and dancers from the New Canaan Dance
Academy.
The production pays tribute to the talent of two great Norwegian artists, giving local audiences a chance, not only to hear Grieg’s wonderful music, but also to relish a taste of Ibsen’s rarely performed play. The multi-arts production was the brainchild of NSO’s always-innovative music director Diane Wittry.“I like to have a grand ending to our season,” Wittry says, “so I was looking for something that would be more than just a symphonic concert. After the success of our Shakespeare program last year, I thought another theatrically based production was something the audience would enjoy. As for the choice of Peer Gynt, I’ve always wanted to do it and this was the perfect opportunity. The orchestra size fits well, and I knew we’d have the perfect collaborators in the Mendelsohnn Choir and the others who’ve helped make this huge program a reality.”One writer said of Grieg that, “He painted with notes. He painted the people, the scenery, and the moods of Norway.” Much of his Peer Gynt music, including pieces such as “Morning” and “In the Hall of the Mountain King” will be very familiar to the audience, whether or not the source would have been immediately identifiable as Grieg. The Ibsen play, which is seldom performed in the United States will be less familiar.
To prepare the spoken portion of this production, Wittry
took the five-hour play and condensed it, culling the moments she
thought were essential to the plot. “I spent a lot of time trying to
figure out what scenes are most critical to move us forward between
musical numbers, so the audience understands what’s going on,” she
explains. “Then I worked with Ezra Barnes who added back some scenes
he felt were necessary from an actor’s standpoint. It’s really been
a collaborative project. Combining the two art forms has created
interesting challenges, but also interesting ways of making the
piece more effective and emotionally impactful.”
Barnes, Founding Artistic Director of Shakespeare On the
Sound, will bring his vast experience as both actor and director to
bear giving voice to Ibsen’s various male roles including Peer Gynt.
His acting partner will be Kathryn Marchand, who has a long list of
stage and screen credits and is known locally for her appearance in
last summer’s SOS production of Macbeth, as well as for her work
with Theatre Artists Workshop.
Soprano soloist Marjorie McGovern will perform both the lines and the singing of Peer’s great love, Solveig. McGovern, who grew up in Darien, worked at regional theatres across the country and is now Cantor at St. Mary Church in Greenwich.
The Mendelsohnn Choir of Connecticut, with Carole Ann
Maxwell at the helm, has partnered with the NSO on numerous
occasions, will handle Grieg’s splendid choral compositions, while
the evening’s three major dances will be performed by members of the
New Canaan Dance Academy’s Performance Company.This momentous
collaboration will allow the audience to spend an evening exploring
the story of Peer Gynt and its focus on the problems of choice and
of identity. Asked why this particular music appeals to her, Wittry
answered, “Because it’s simple and it’s pure. But it’s also quite
interesting. Grieg does some wonderful things harmonically.
Ironically, it’s a piece he didn’t want to write, that he struggled
with, yet it’s easily his most well known work.
“Grieg’s gift is that he able to use miniature
moments—no one movement is more than about four minutes long— to
absolutely capture the essence of the story with music that goes
right to the heart. Solveig’s music, for example, is so lovely that
you hear it and you are just overwhelmed.“So to me,” she continues,
“it’s really just having an evening of absolutely beautiful music
and then having a little bit of the play, which deals with life and
the choices we make and with redemption.”For those not familiar with
the Ibsen masterpiece, it is based on Norwegian folktales and tells
of the adventures of Peer Gynt. Peer travels the world for some 50
years, selfishly pursuing his dreams and ambitions. He is torn
between Solveig, who awaits him at home, and a series of exotic
temptresses he meets along the way: the naive Ingrid, the Troll
Princess, and the exotic and devious Anitra. Not until the end of
his journey, confronted by death and held in the arms of the
long-suffering Solveig, does he recognize the true meaning of
existence.
The performance of Peer Gynt by the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra is made possible by the support of Statoil, Inc., The Maurice Goodman Foundation and the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism.
Tickets for Peer Gynt are available by calling the Symphony office at 203-847-8844. In addition, The Symphony has implemented a state-of-the-art system for online ticket sales. Available through www.NorwalkSymphony.org , tickets for specific seats can be purchased using a secure interface. As with phone, fax and mail-in orders, tickets can be delivered via mail if ordered at least two weeks in advance of the concert date, or can be held at will-call for pick-up at the event. The online box-office can be reached by clicking TICKETS on the main navigation bar from anywhere within the NSO site. Maestro Wittry’s Podium Perspectives talk for ticket holders will take place at 7:00 pm, preceding the concert. A second performance of Peer Gynt will be given Friday May 4 at Fairfield University's Quick Center. Information about that performance can be obtained at the University’s website www.fairfield.edu.
The Norwalk Symphony performs in the famed WPA-era Norwalk Concert Hall, which, in addition to its excellent acoustics, boasts the advantages of being easy to reach from I95 exit 16. The Concert Hall offers ample free parking.
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To arrange for interviews and request additional photos, please contact Lynn Saltz at 203-222-8971.
Saturday, March 31 the Norwalk
Symphony Orchestra continues its exceptionally innovative season
with a concert entitled Renaissance Remix. The concert, one
Conductor/Music Director Wittry characterizes as "very unusual," is
a tribute to music of the Renaissance and the Middle Ages. The
evening will feature two early pieces, Purcell's suite from the
opera "King Arthur," (1691) and Vivaldi's "Il Gardelino" Concerto
(c. 1730). The orchestra will also offer two more modern
compositions, each with a period theme: Alexander Glazunov's "Suite
From the Middle Ages" and Lukas Foss's "Renaissance Concerto." In
addition to showcasing the skills of the critically acclaimed NSO,
both "Il Gardelino" and the "Renaissance Concerto" will also afford
the audience the rare privilege of hearing recorder virtuoso Horacio
Franco.
One of Mexico's best-known young artists, Franco has been impressing audiences around the world with his unique blend of old and new music.
"Horacio is the most amazing recorder
player I've ever heard," Wittry says. "He's a leading soloist in
Mexico who has brought recorder playing to almost rock band status.
He plays recorder like it's jazz. It's very exciting, very
emotional, complete with improvisation."
Franco has broken the stereotype of the traditional classical soloist through his electrifying performances of a vast repertoire that ranges from Renaissance, Baroque and contemporary works to those drawn from the folk and popular music of many nations. His international appearances often fill venues with young listeners attending their first concert performances. A frequent soloist with virtually every Mexican orchestra, Franco also appears with distinguished ensembles around the globe, among them: Dallas Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco's Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Montréal Chamber Orchestra, London's Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Irish Chamber Orchestra, Germany's Kammerorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks and Berliner Symphoniker, Hungary's Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, Israel's Kibbutzim Chamber Orchestra, and Tokyo Solisten. Of special note are Mr. Franco's appearances over seven consecutive seasons with the famed Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. He has appeared as soloist or conductor on 22 CDs and has, to date, performed the premieres of over 50 works written specifically for him by composers from around the world.
Franco will be perform with the NSO in a concert that, in typically innovative Wittry style, will offer a broad and interesting range of music, an intriguing combination of old and new.
"We open with a Suite from Purcell's opera King Arthur, which is in the style of Handel's "Water Music," Wittry explains. "It's beautiful music, but it's a piece that's not well known because Purcell's operas are seldom heard these days. Nevertheless, it's gorgeous music and that's why I wanted to do it.
"The second piece is Lucas Foss's "Renaissance Concerto," which was originally written for flute soloist. Horacio will be playing the solo part on recorder instead. In fact, in order to play the piece properly, he will actually be using two different recorders. The piece is based upon Renaissance dances, but is set in a more contemporary style. I included the Concerto in our program because it is a wonderful piece for Horacio, but also because I feel that Foss, who is now 85 years old, is one of the great American composers with whose work people should be familiar-and I know everyone will love what they hear.
"After intermission we're doing the Vivaldi concerto. It's a popular composition that, believe it or not, can even be downloaded as a ring tone. We're doing it because it's Horacio's favorite and because his playing on it is just astounding. I guarantee it is going to be very, very exciting for everyone in the house.
"Finally, the last piece on the program, tying our theme together, is the "Suite from the Middle Ages" by Alexander Glazunov. He's a familiar name, but I think this will be an unfamiliar selection. Composed in 1902, the Suite is a large work in four movements, each with a programmatic story. The first, for example, is set in a castle. A storm is brewing and waves are crashing, but inside two lovers are completely content because they're so in love with each other. Of course, you have these gorgeous Russian love melodies. The Finale paints a scene at the start of a Crusade. At the end, the soldiers march off to glory as their music fades into the distance, and the people offer a final acclamation for the noble adventure-as I hope our audience will for our entire concert."
In place of Maestro Wittry's usual Podium Perspectives talk, ticket holders are invited to attend a very special pre-concert event. At 7:00 pm, the New Canaan High School Madrigals will set the mood for the evening with a pre-concert performance in the Mary McCarthy Room in Norwalk City Hall. The Madrigals perform under the direction of Art Sjogren, Choral Director for New Canaan High. Over nearly 20 years, Mr. Sjogren has led his Madrigal students on concert tours around the world including appearances in France, Switzerland, Mexico, Canada, India, Denmark, Sweden, England, Finland, Estonia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, South America, and, most recently, Australia. He is also founder and Artistic Director of the Stamford-based Pro Arte Singers.
Tickets, priced at $20, $30, $40, $50 and $10 for students, for Renaissance Remix are available by calling the Symphony office at 203-847-8844. In addition, The Symphony has just implemented a state-of-the-art system for online ticket sales. Available through www.NorwalkSymphony.org , tickets for specific seats can be purchased using a secure interface. As with phone, fax and mail-in orders, tickets can be delivered via mail if ordered at least two weeks in advance of the concert date, or can be held at will-call for pick-up at the event. The online box-office can be reached by clicking TICKETS on the main navigation bar from anywhere within the NSO site.
The Norwalk Symphony performs in the famed WPA-era Norwalk Concert Hall, which, in addition to its excellent acoustics, boasts the advantages of being easy to reach from I-95 exit 16. The Concert Hall offers ample free parking.
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Internationally acclaimed, The Swingle Singers, will appear in a concert to benefit the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, March 10th at 8 pm. The Swingle Singers, envy of singers worldwide, do not use accompanying musical instruments. The group's eight, talented, young vocalists perform fabulous, virtuoso a cappella arrangements that dazzle audiences with stunning costumes, dynamic choreography and atmospheric lighting. The Los Angeles Times raved, "Everything about The Swingle Singers is flawless." Their program will span four centuries of best-known music, "Bach to Beatles" with their voices a magnificent match for the acoustics of the Norwalk Concert Hall, home of the NSO.
The octet won a Best New Artist Grammy in 1963 - followed by four more in rapid succession - and became the defining voices of a cappella. However, that was only the beginning. The Swingle Singers have been on a mission to surprise and innovate ever since their first concert in Paris in 1963. Ward Swingle formed the group with a repertoire of jazz vocals and Bach fugues, but The Swingle Singers have never stopped bringing a fresh and original approach; and a new audience - to every kind of music imaginable. Touring throughout the world and performing at Carnegie Hall, Wolftrap, La Scala and the Neue Philharmonie, the group has collaborated with other highly respected artists and composers, such as Luciano Berio, premiering his Sinfonia with the New York Philharmonic. They have released dozens of records, often commissioning new choral works, a tradition that continues to this day.
Audiences will recognize the "Swingle Sound" in such well-hummed tunes from movies such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Thick as Thieves. More recently, The Swingle Singers vocalize with Little Organ Fugue in "Thank You For Smoking," and Horn Concerto No. 4 in E Flat Minor in the comedy "Wedding Crashers". In past years, these "thritysomething" singers have lent their sound to commercials for Betty Crocker, Chevrolet and Alcoa Aluminum. To hear a clip of their a capella brand, visit www.swinglesingers.com or www.norwalksymphony.org.
The concert is a benefit for the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra, now
in its 67th season of exceptional symphonic music for Norwalk and
the region. Proceeds will strengthen the Orchestra's programming now
and in years to come. Advance tickets are available at $35, $55 and
$75. Premium seats at $150 will include a light supper and wine bar
at the Concert Hall just prior to the evening's performance. For
tickets, call the box office at 203-847-8844.
Three Prodigies, who have emerged during a six month search and auditions by the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra and Conductor Diane Wittry, will perform with the Orchestra at 8:00 pm on Saturday, February 24th.
Carlyn Kessler, from nearby Westport, was selected and will be joined by Jenny Liu of Orange, Connecticut and Ann-Frances Rokosa of Hope Valley, Rhode Island.
"Submissions were accepted from young people up to age 18 who were at a super-talented level; in other words, a prodigy level," explains Maestro Wittry. "They will participate as part of the orchestra during this concert. The young musicians will play with the orchestra as equals. There are only a few young players that meet that level of excellence. But it will be thrilling to hear them. Imagine if you’d been lucky enough to hear a fifteen year old Mozart. That’s what we will offer."
Built around pieces in the concert grosso style, the NSO’s third concert of the season will offer Handel’s "Concerto Grosso Op. 3, No. 2, Ernst Bloch’s "Concerto Grosso No. 1, and Stravinsky’s "Pulcinella Suite." Concerto grosso style is an ensemble of soloists who play as an orchestra without solo pieces.
But this concert has another truly exciting facet. Together, the three prodigies will perform the first movement of the "Trio Sonata in G Major" composed by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, which is the piece of music upon which Stravinsky based his "Pulcinella Suite".
Now a sophomore at Staples High School in Westport,
Connecticut, Carlyn Kessler is an ardent student of the cello. As
recently as 2005, she was awarded the Stamford Symphony Orchestra
Roger Nierenberg Young Musician Commendation Award. From 2001 to the
present, Carlyn has been a member of the Norwalk Youth Symphony and
served as the principal cellist of the Concert Orchestra and Chamber
Orchestra. At Staples High School, she has performed as part of the
Staples High School Symphonic Orchestra. Chamber music performances
have included her participation with the Trio Esprit, coached by
Millette Alexander. In the summer, Carlyn attends the Interlochen
Arts Camp, California Summer Music, Kinhaven Music School, Chamber
Music Institute for Young Musicians and Chamber Music Central. Ms.
Kessler studies the cello under Lois Errante of Wilton, Connecticut.
J
enny Liu, 13 years old, is an eighth
grade honors student at Amity Middle School in Orange, Connecticut.
She excels on the violin. In 2005, Jenny won the Greater New Haven
Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition and was featured as a soloist
with the orchestra last winter. She has served as the Concertmaster
of the Greater New Haven Concert Orchestra and will be Concertmaster
for the Southern Connecticut Regional Festival for 2007. During
2006, she was a member of the 1st violin section in the Greater New
Haven Youth Orchestra and the Greater New Haven Chamber Orchestra.
In addition to playing in youth orchestra, Jenny plays in a piano
trio at the Neighborhood Music School, coached by Erika Schroth,
Fiona Murray, and was recently guest-coached by cellist Jeff
Lastrapes. Jenny is also a member of the Trinity Choir of Men and
Girls and will tour England with them in the summer of 2007. Jenny
studies the violin with Fiona Murray at the Neighborhood Music
School in New Haven, Connecticut.
The youngest of the prodigies is Ann-Frances Rokosa of Hope
Valley, Rhode Island is only 10 years old. She attends Chariho
Middle School at Wood River Junction in Richmond, Rhode Island. Her
musical interest began with the piano which she started playing at
the age of four. At the age of five, she began to play the violin
and currently studies and practices both instruments. Orchestra
participation is not new to Ann-Frances. She played with the Rhode
Island Philharmonic Youth Orchestra at the age of six and two years
later, joined the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. At age
nine, she performed with the Ocean State Symphony Orchestra in
Providence, Rhode Island. In 2002, Ann-Frances was selected as the
first place winner in piano at the New England Festival of Music. In
2005, this young virtuoso graduated from the New England
Conservatory (elementary school division) in Boston, Massachusetts
with honors. She studies at the Conservatory with Dubravka Sajfar
Moshfegh.
Two other young musicians who shined during the NSO’s auditions are Dmitri Friedenberg of Old Greenwich, Connecticut and Abigail Soloway of Weston, Connecticut, and will be honored at the concert.
The NSO’s Three Prodigies Concert will be performed Saturday, February 24th at 8 pm at the Norwalk Concert Hall, 125 East Avenue, Norwalk. The Concert Hall is convenient to Exit 16 off I-95, and offers ample free, on-site parking. Tickets are $30, $40 and $50, and may be reserved through the Symphony office at 203-847-8844 or for the first time, purchased online at the symphony website: www.norwalksymphony.org. Student tickets are also available for $15.
The concert will be preceded by one of Maestro Wittry’s Podium Perspectives talks (included in the ticket price) at 7 pm and will include the talented young musicians. The Three Prodigies concert is proudly sponsored by the Holde Foundation, the Renee B. Fisher Foundation, and The Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism.
For more information, or for information on season subscriptions, please call the NSO office at 203 847-8844
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To arrange for interviews and request additional
photos,
please contact Lynn Saltz at 203-222-8971.
President of American
Symphony League
to Address Norwalk Community
The Norwalk Symphony Orchestra will host Henry Fogel, President and CEO of the American Symphony Orchestra League on Tuesday, January 16th from 7 pm to 9 pm at Norwalk City Hall, 124 East Avnue, in the Community Room. The evening will kickoff the Norwalk Symphony Community Coalition 2007, presented to introduce and explain the symphony’s mission to the greater Norwalk community. The program is open to the public at no cost.
Ken Werner, President of the Norwalk Symphony will welcome the attendees and Diane Wittry, Music Director/Conductor will narrate a power point presentation of Norwalk Symphony: Exciting, Engaging, Entertaining. Mr. Fogel will speak to the audience about the importance of the orchestra to the community and the state of orchestras across the country.
Henry Fogel was the former President
of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association before joining the
American Symphony League which provides leadership and service to
American orchestras while communicating to the public the value and
importance of orchestras and the music they perform. Founded in 1942
and chartered by Congress in 1962, the League serves nearly 1,000
member symphony, chamber, youth, and collegiate orchestras of all
sizes. The League links a national network of thousands of
musicians, conductors, managers, board members, volunteers, staff
members, and business partners, providing a wealth of services,
information, and educational opportunities to its members.
The Norwalk Symphony Orchestra, over 66 years old, has blossomed into a professional orchestra offering a collaboration of trained classical musicians led by the charismatic Diane Wittry, the current Music Director and Conductor. During its long run, the Norwalk Symphony has hosted emerging talents such as Van Cliburn, Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Isaac Stern, Emanuel Ax and Dave Brubeck. In addition, the leadership at the helm has included Pulitzer Prize winner Quinto Maganini, Dennis Russell Davies, James Conlon, Gilbert and Jesse Levine.
For information on the NSO’s upcoming concerts and events, please visit online at www.norwalksymphony.org or call the symphony office at 203-847-8844.
# # #
Mendelssohn Choir Joins Norwalk Symphony
for
Unforgettable Performance of Handel’s Messiah
Those who think they know Messiah are in for a few surprises when the Diane Wittry, conducting the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra and the Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut, with Dr. Carole Ann Maxwell, Founder and Director, join forces for Handel’s Messiah on Saturday, December 16th at 8:00 pm at the acoustically superior Norwalk Concert Hall.
This performance will be an encore collaboration of the 2004 sold out event, again featuring the award-winning Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut. As she did two years ago, Wittry has chosen a number of lesser heard arias from the many different versions of Messiah Handel composed over several years. Many have said that hearing this unforgettable performance of this popular yuletide classic helps make their holiday season complete.
"Messiah was written for the theater, as pure entertainment to show off solo voices and chorus," says NSO Conductor and Music Director Diane Wittry. "It should be joyful. It should be exciting! Certainly Messiah is done frequently. But if you bring a new concept to it, then it can be fun. It becomes the living theater piece it was meant to be."
Creating that new, joyous concept meant going back to the score, which Handel wrote and rewrote and rewrote again depending on performance conditions and on the musicians and singers available to him. Today’s conductor can pick and choose from various scores and arias.
"Though I am starting with a specific score, I’ve inserted arias from others," Wittry explains. "There are many versions of Messiah and an individual aria may be available in several keys and tempos, as a duet or a solo, written for one voice part or another. Even people who know the score well are going to discover a freshness to it."
Working with Dr. Carole Ann Maxwell, Founder and Director of the Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut, Ms. Wittry made the final selections and engaged the superior cast of soloists.
Hailed by the Connecticut Post as "an absolutely sparkling
soprano," Catherine Viscardi has performed in venues across the US.
Ms. Viscardi has been featured as soloist in the Mozart Requiem with
the Greater Bridgeport Symphony in Connecticut, conducted by Gustav
Meier, as well as the Bach Magnificat with the Bozeman Symphony in
Montana, conducted by Matthew Savery, and the Handel Messiah and
Bach St. Matthew’s Passion in New Jersey. As the winner of the 2002
Jenny Lind Competition, she completed a singing tour of Sweden that
August. Ms. Viscardi was also a finalist in the 2006 David Adams
Song Competition in New York and the 2004 Eleanor Lieber Competition
in Portland, Oregon. Ms. Viscardi holds music degrees from Vassar
College (NY) and Mannes College of Music (NY).
Tenor David Finley, made his Carnegie Hall
debut as conductor and soloist of the world famous Yale Russian
Chorus. He is well known in the region for his performances of music
of baroque composers, especially the music of J. S. Bach and has
extensive credits in opera, operetta, and concert work.
Baritone Dennis Blackwell, a versatile artist
who has received critical acclaim for his work in opera, concert,
recital, and musical theater, singing. As a concert soloist, Mr.
Blackwell has collaborated with the American University Symphony
Orchestra (Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs), Stonewall Chorale
(Messiah), Musica Antiqua New York (Mozart Missæ breves), Bach Works
(Handel's Israel in Egypt), and an acclaimed guest artist recital as
part of the Concert Series at St. Peter's Lutheran Church at
Citicorp Center with pianist Elizabeth Hastings.
Countertenor Jeffrey Mandelbaum is a 2003
winner of the Metropolitan Opera NY district competition. He has
sung at New York City Opera, with Opera Pacific, at the Spoleto
Festival USA and at BAM, and has performed many of Handel’s works
including Messiah with Amor Artis. Mr. Mandelbaum will be conducting
master classes in the New Canaan High School prior to his
performance.
HANDEL’S MESSIAH will be performed Saturday, December 16th at 8
pm at the Norwalk Concert Hall, 125 East Avenue, Norwalk. The
Concert Hall is convenient to Exit 16 off I-95, and offers ample
free, on-site parking. Tickets are $30, $40 and $50, and may be
reserved through the Symphony office at 203-847-8844. Student
tickets are also available for $15. Wittry and Maxwell will offer a
pre-concert talk, Podium Perspectives, free to ticket holders, at 7
pm in the Concert Hall. For more information, or for information on
season subscriptions, please call the office or visit
www.norwalksymphony.org.
Norwalk Symphony Orchestra Benefit to Honor Dr. Richard Epstein and Ina Chadwick
Auction Features Rare Sale of Musical Score
The Norwalk Symphony Orchestra invites Fairfield County residents to join its friends, supporters and board members in honoring Dr. Richard Epstein and Ina Chadwick, of Westport, at a benefit event for the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra. The Champagne Brunch and Auction will be held on Sunday, October 22nd beginning at 11:30 am at the Birchwood Country Club, 25 Kings Highway, South in Westport. As an exclusive offer, the first 40 guests to respond can experience a SoNo Stroll with Ralph Bloom, the former Norwalk City Historian at the Norwalk Museum, 41 North Main Street in Norwalk beginning at 10:15 am.
Dr. Richard Epstein has been playing bassoon with the
Norwalk Symphony since he was 16 years old. His participation
between 1966 until 2006 was interrupted for his college education
and dental school study. His roles in the symphony have included
working closely with Maestro Jesse Levine and Maestro Diane Wittry.
He has served as chair of the program committee, member of the board
of governors as well as twice serving as the president of the board.
He has chaired multiple gala fundraisers, including the NSO Fiftieth
Anniversary with his wife, Ina Chadwick, a writer, editor and
creative director. Together, Richard and Ina have been deeply
committed to the Symphony.
A major highlight of the Auction with David Smith acting as auctioneer will be the offering of a musical score, Overture Concertante by Douglas Townsend. The winning bidder of the musical score will retain the right to dedicate the Overture Concertante to whomever he wants in perpetuity. In addition, the purchase of this score will allow the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra the right to premiere the piece for the first time ever (without any performance fee). Finally, the highest bidder will own in perpetuity a penciled copy in the composer’s hand of the full orchestral score or the fair copy of the autograph score. This rare opportunity has a value exceeding $20,000.
Douglas Townsend, an American composer and musicologist became interested in composition while a student at the High School of Music and Art in New York City. He taught himself composition, counterpoint and orchestration and moved on to study with Tibor Serly, Stefan Wolpe, Aaron Copeland, Otto Luening and Felix Greissle, among others. He has written an opera, orchestral and chamber music, a ballet and piano pieces. He is known for Four Fantasies on American Folk Songs. He currently teaches at the University of Bridgeport and lives in New York City.
"It is so rare to have a living composer offer a musical score for sale to benefit a working professional orchestra," commented Diane Wittry, Music Director and Conductor of the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra. The proceeds of the auction of this piece will benefit the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra and the minimum bid will be $3,500 and accepted by telephone at the NSO office (203-847-8844 and secured by a valid credit card) in addition to the day of the Benefit event on Sunday, October 22nd. Mr. Townsend, the composer of this orchestral composition will attend the benefit event at the Birchwood Country Club.
Eva Jason Toft, Chairman of the Benefit Event added, "If you are looking for an enjoyable afternoon and to help support the orchestra, the auction will offer more conventional items for the highest bidder such as a weekend on Block Island, a spa treatment and a redecorating package among others."
Contributions begin at $125 per person. Music will be provided by LaVorgna/Marino Duo. Reservations can be made through the Symphony office at 203-847-8844.
# # #
Founded in 1939, the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra has been providing the greater Norwalk Community with high quality orchestral music performances for 67 years. Born out of a love for music shared by a small group of dedicated amateurs, the Symphony has evolved into an ensemble of professional musicians of outstanding quality. Today, the NSO is directed by the talented and charismatic Diane Wittry.
For media interviews, photos or any questions, please contact Lynn Saltz at 203-222-8971 or LSaltz@bisintl.com
NSO Presents Melodic Exuberance on October 7th
Applauded by the New York Times
for the energy they bring to the concert hall, the Claremont Trio
joins the Norwalk Symphony to open the Orchestra’s 67th
year season on Saturday evening, October 7 at
The Orchestra is to be heard in Overture to the Marriage of Figaro from the pen of Mozart and Frank Martin’s "Ouverture en homage a Mozart." The Claremont Trio will return to perform a surprise work with the Orchestra, as well. In combination, they offer a Melodic Exuberance.
Music Director Diane Wittry, acclaimed for the creativity she has
brought to the Orchestra, begins her fifth year on the
"What this concert explores," Wittry explains, "is musical inspiration and expression. Why does a composer compose a piece? What inspires it? What is he trying to communicate? This concert delves into that question because each of these three compositions was inspired by something totally different—and the inspiration is very clear."
Mozart’s famous overture to the Marriage of Figaro, opens the evening with a delightfully energetic piece full of the spontaneity and humor of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart at his finest; a fitting tribute to the 200th year celebration of his birth.
"The second piece by the Swiss composer Frank Martin was inspired by Mozart, and composed for the 200th anniversary of his birth. As we are now celebrating the 250th anniversary it seemed fitting to pay him homage," Wittry continues. "I know Martin is not a well-known composer, but one of my philosophies of programming is that I always try to mix the new and unfamiliar with the familiar. I like to bring to the fore pieces I think people will enjoy knowing about that are not part of the standard repertoire. This is one of those pieces."
Rumored to have been written for the Archduke Rudolf, the youngest brother of the Austrian emperor as well as a student and friend of Beethoven, Beethoven’s dramatic Triple Concerto will close the evening’s presentation. The solo group in the Triple Concerto is comprised of piano, violin, and cello, and for our performance we will feature The Claremont Trio. Hailed by the New York Times, the soloist group is comprised of identical twin sisters on cello and violin and a Juilliard friend on piano.
"I think there’s something in the essence of music making with identical twins that is very special. I’ve worked with the Trio on this piece before. They did such a fabulous job that I wanted to do it again! They are getting a lot of attention right now and we’re fortunate to have them here."
Melodic Exuberance is made possible through the generosity
of the Kossak Foundation Contribution which will support the
performance of The Claremont Trio. Other supporters of the Norwalk
Symphony Orchestra include The Norwalk Inn and
The Norwalk Symphony performs in the famed WPA-era Norwalk
Concert Hall, known for its warm acoustics and easy to reach from
I-95 exit 16. The Concert Hall offers ample free parking. The
performance will be preceded by Conductor Wittry’s Podium
Perspectives talk (included in the ticket price) at
Tickets for Melodic Exuberance are available through the Norwalk Symphony box office by calling 203-847-8844. Seats are available for $30 to $50 with student tickets available at $10.
For media interviews, photos or any questions, please contact Lynn Saltz at 203-222-8971 or LSaltz@bisintl.com
Norwalk Symphony String Trio and
Saint Tropez
Restaurant Pair Up
for NSO Season Kick-off
Evening Scheduled for September 17th in Fairfield
On Sunday, September 17th , the upcoming 67th season of the
critically acclaimed Norwalk Symphony Orchestra will be celebrated
with an evening beginning with fine French wine and hors d’ouevres,
followed by a concert of light chamber music. Share a bite with fine
French wine with friends at Saint Tropez Restaurant, located
adjacent to the Fairfield Theater Company, prior to the performance
of the Norwalk Symphony String Trio there. The String Trio will be
presented as a part of the Chamber Music for Connecticut series at
the Fairfield Theatre Company in Fairfield, Connecticut. The social
hour will begin at 5:30 pm in the bistro with the concert beginning
at 7:00 pm.
"We are playing three excellent works, which we love
very much," commented Gunnar Sahlin, principal cellist. Formed in
2003 by concert master, JudithYanchus, principal violist, Suzanne
Corey-Sahlin and principal cellist, Gunnar Sahlin, the Norwalk
Symphony String Trio will present the works Beethoven's Trio in
c-minor op. 9 no. 3, String Trio by Jean Francaix, and after
intermission an entertaining, partly very light-hearted piece by
Erno Dohnanyi. The Norwalk Symphony String Trio performs in and
around the Norwalk area for public and private audiences.
We're pleased to announce that the pre-concert celebration at Saint Tropez Restaurant is SOLD OUT! You can still purchase tickets for the concert, however, by contacting the Fairfield Theatre Company directly at www.FairfieldTheatre.org or the Fairfield Theatre Company box office at 203-259-1036.
For Norwalk Symphony Orchestra ticket information and 2006-2006 season details, please visit www.norwalksymphony.org
# # #
Along with the exciting inventive concert going experience, the
NSO 2006-2007 concert season plans incorporates
Ms
"We are facing double the shortfall we have normally experienced
in the last few years," added
The NSO Appeal Committee, in addition, has created innovative
"giving" opportunities including special business partnerships,
elite reserved concert parking, orchestra chair sponsorships and
several fundraising events and is vigorously working on these
initiatives
In a show of solidarity and confidence, all of the current
members of the Norwalk Symphony Board of Directors have pledged
their yearly financial commitment at this
time
"The dedication of the staff is clearly evident as the Music
Director and the symphony staff is working without
pay
Ms
"It is in the interest of everyone in
Organizations and individuals interested in providing support,
please contact the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra at 203-847-8844 for
more information and
details
Now in its 66th year, the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra (NSO) is a
professional regional orchestra comprised of
Our soloists have included many of the world’s best known
performers (Itzhak Perlman, Yo Yo Ma, and many others) as well as
scores of young, as yet less-heralded
talent
Under the music direction of Diane Wittry, each program provides
a unique experience in concert-going, combining the excitement of
live music with inventive and entertaining
programming
# # #
For media interviews, photographs or other information,
please contact Lynn Saltz,
203-222-8971
Norwalk Symphony Orchestra Honors Volunteers
Norwalk,
Connecticut: June 12, 2006: At the
Norwalk Inn in Norwalk, the Volunteers and friends of the Norwalk
Symphony Orchestra gathered for dinner on
Thursday, June 8th. The Friends of the Norwalk Symphony (FONS)
assist the symphony with ushering duties, ticket sales, office work
and mailing responsibilities as well as hospitality. Pictured above
are (left to right) Eileen Ast, Executive Director of the NSO;
Norman Coltin, Volunteer; Diane Wittry, Music Director and
Conductor; Anita Behnken, Board Liaison to
Friends of the NSO. Anyone interested in
becoming a member of FONS is welcome to call 847-8844 to speak with
the Executive Director.
Season tickets for
the five Norwalk Symphony concerts are now on sale. The
subscription season begins October 7, 2006 with "The Claremont
Trio," a concert featuring music by Elgar, Beethoven and Frank
Martin. On December 16th, Music Director Diane Wittry and the
musicians present "Handel’s Messiah" featuring a performance
with the Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut. On February
24th, 2007, Connecticut’s finest will be showcased in a
"Prodigy" concert with selections from Handel, Bloch and
Stravinsky. A fresh approach will thrill the audience on March
31, 2007 at the "Renaissance Remix", with the appearance of
Horacio Franco, a recorder artist. In its final concert on May 5,
2007, the Orchestra presents "Peer Gynt: Musical Theater" an
Ibsen play with music acted out. Subscription prices range
from $50 to $215, and can be purchased by calling the Symphony
office at 203-847-8844.
Norwalk Symphony Announces Board Members for 2006-2007
The Board of Governors of the Norwalk Symphony Society gathers at the Silvermine Tavern in Norwalk. Standing from left to right, Irwin Karassik (Norwalk), Eric Zielinski-Treasurer (Westport), Georgia Von Schmidt (Darien), Jerome Klein (Norwalk), Anita Behnken (Norwalk), Eva J:son-Toft (Westport), Louis Broudy (Weston). Stephen Nevas, Esq. (Weston). Sitting, left to right, Eileen Roper Ast-former President and Executive Director (New Canaan), Ken Werner-President (Norwalk) Dr. Richard Epstein (Westport) and Anthony Marra-Secretary (Shelton). Missing from photo: Nancy Romberg (Westport), Carl Serbell (Westport), Stephen Nevas (Weston)
The Norwalk Symphony Orchestra announced changes in the administrative staff as well. After two years in the position, Devin Thomas, the former Executive Director of the symphony, has left his position as of May 15th to join the Los Angeles Chamber Music organization. Eileen Roper Ast will be filling his position as Executive Director and working in conjunction with Jane Shelly, Education and Operations Manager. In an effort to end the year with a balanced budget, a request for contributions to lower the operating budget costs would be greatly appreciated. Contact the symphony office with donations. Reached at his office in Norwalk, Society President Ken Werner observed: "We’re determined to build on the energy and excitement generated by the wonderful collaborative programs created by Music Director Diane Wittry this season. A Norwalk Symphony concert has become a place to experience a feast for the ears and emotions. The upcoming 2004-2005 season will be extend our collaboration with "Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut", "Shakespeare on the Sound", and the "Norwalk Youth Symphony".
Season tickets for the five Norwalk Symphony concerts are now on sale. The subscription season begins October 7, 2006 with "The Claremont Trio," a concert featuring music by Elgar, Beethoven and Frank Martin. On December 16th, Music Director Diane Wittry and the musicians present "Handel’s Messiah" featuring a performance with the Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut. On February 24th, 2007, Connecticut’s finest will be showcased in a "Prodigy" concert with selection from Handel, Bloch and Stravinsky. A fresh approach will thrill the audience on March 31, 2007 at the "Renaissance Remix", with the appearance of Horacio Franco, a recorder artist. In its final concert on May 5, 2007, the Orchestra presents "Peer Gynt: Musical Theater" an Ibsen play with music acted out. Subscription prices range from $50 to $215, and can be purchased by calling the Symphony office at 203-847-8844.
# # #
To arrange for interviews and request additional
photos,
please contact Lynn Saltz at 203-222-8971.
Lynn Saltz
Business Innovative Strategies International
8
Tower Drive
Weston, CT 06883
Telephone:
203-222-8971
Fax: 203-222-0186
E-Mail: LSaltz@BISINTL.com
Have a
Dream?
Professional Musicians Wanted for
Norwalk Symphony
Orchestra
Auditions on June 14, 2006
Norwalk, CT: May 16, 2006: The Norwalk Symphony Orchestra is preparing for its 67th season of continuously presenting quality classical music and innovative programming under the direction of music director and conductor, Diane Wittry. The quest for the finest professional orchestra will continue with the NSO holding auditions for instrumental talent on Wednesday, June 14, 2006 beginning at 7:30 pm at the Norwalk Concert Hall at the Norwalk City Hall, 125 East Avenue, Norwalk."The Norwalk Symphony is specifically looking to fill the following positions: Principal Second Violin, Section Violins-First and Second and a Section Cello," announces John Harley, Personnel Manager of the NSO.
To reserve an audition time, please contact Mr. Harley at 201-384-1316 or JHH2392@CS.COM. To learn more about the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra and its upcoming season, please visit www.norwalksymphony.org. # # # The Norwalk Symphony Orchestra is a per service orchestra and an equal opportunity employer. For more information, please contact Lynn Saltz, 203-222-8971 or LSaltz@bisintl.com
NSO Will "Czeck It Out"
The Norwalk Symphony will present its final concert of the 2005-2006 season on Saturday, April 29 at 8pm in the Norwalk Concert Hall. Entitled "Marimba Mania" after Tomas Svoboda’s Marimba Concerto, it is an all-Czech program that will also feature Smetana’s beloved Moldau and Dvorak’s rarely performed Symphony No. 6.The program for the concert is yet another example of NSO Music Director Diane Wittry’s determination to bring exciting and unusual programming to Norwalk and the surrounding communities. "I wanted to do a concert of Czech music," Wittry explains with her usual enthusiasm. "In researching what was available, I found Svoboda’s Marimba Concerto, written in 1993. With every program, you want some spice and newness, a surprise. Beyond question, this is it!"
Svoboda was born in 1939 in Paris to Czech parents, and spent his early childhood in Boston. After World War II, he and his family returned to Czechoslovakia, where he was the youngest person ever accepted to the Prague Conservatory. Although the composer has lived in Oregon for many years, he writes with a distinctly Czech voice, as this exciting piece will demonstrate.
The Concerto will showcase the talent of marimba soloist
Naoko Takada. "Naoko is a dazzling virtuoso who has played with
orchestras all over the world," says Wittry. "I know everyone will
enjoy this somewhat unusual concerto— and there is no question that
everyone will enjoy watching her play! It’s just a riveting
experience."Ms. Takada is a native of Tokyo who now resides in Los Angeles. Last season, among other appearances, she played at Paul Newman's Benefit Event for the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp where she shared the stage with Bruce Willis, Meryl Streep, and Danny Glover. She has been a soloist with many orchestras including Houston Symphony; China National Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Symphony
Orchestra; Tokyo Chamber Orchestra; and Xalapa Symphony (Mexico).
In addition, she has been heard on WQXR, WGBH Boston, L.A. Japanese
radio, and radio RTHK in Hong Kong.
Takada has studied marimba
since she was eight years old. Her instrument is a modern orchestral
marimba, a member of the xylophone family. Although the marimba was
originally a folk instrument, the soloist explains that a good
orchestral marimba will typically cost between ten and twenty
thousand dollars, as much as a grand piano.
Why so expensive?
First, the bars on the better instruments are usually made of
rosewood, one of the most expensive woods in the world. Second,
despite their apparent simplicity, a great deal of work goes into
the making of each bar, which is cut by hand to produce the correct
pitch. Third, the resonator tubes are also expensive, and on the
better instruments each of them is individually tuned by hand.
The marimba has two rows of bars set in the same pattern as the
piano keyboard. Each bar is a different length and strung through
with cord at both ends, so that it can be suspended over the frame.
Underneath the bars are the resonators, which add volume.
Bars are struck with a mallets with heads made of rubber,
plastic, or wood, usuallywrapped with yarn or cord. Individual
players will experiment to find the mallet design and composition
they prefer.
Of course, the Marimba Concerto is not the only
piece the NSO audience will hear. While the inclusion of Dvorak
seems like a given for a concert of Czech music, it was in fact a
matter of personal preference for Wittry. "I just like his music and
the sounds he creates with the orchestra," she confesses. "Although
it’s not played as often as some of his other works, his 6th
Symphony was the first of his symphonies that really excited him. I
chose it both because of his enthusiasm for it, and because it is
less familiar than, for example, the 9th (New World) Symphony. The
6th has a lovely lush, pastoral feel, and it incorporates music from
a Czech dance called a furiant, which Dvorak was the first to use in
a symphonic piece."
Smetana’s The Moldau, on the other hand, was
included to give the audience a chance to hear music that, says
Wittry, "they know and love." Smetana is noted as being