The Southwest Florida Symphony continues its 58 th season of Small Stage Symphonies with Back to Back Bach

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1 8290 College Parkway Suite 103 Fort Myers, FL NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: February 15, 2019 Contact: (239) Media inquiries: Amy Ginsburg, Executive Director, The Southwest Florida Symphony continues its 58 th season of Small Stage Symphonies with Back to Back Bach Fort Myers, Florida - The Southwest Florida Symphony, Lee County s only professional orchestra, and the fourth oldest in the State of Florida, continues its 58 th Season of Small Stage Symphonies with Back to Back Bach. In keeping with the Southwest Florida Symphony s exploration in the fusion of classical music with other genres, this series celebrates Bach s birthday (on March 21) with performances that feature Bach reimagined. The Southwest Florida Symphony reinterprets J.S. Bach s compositions from a contemporary perspective with arrangements by pianist/arranger, Matt Herskowitz. Bach s music is infused with rich harmonies, fluid counterpoints and a rhythmic groove in a multitude of musical styles. Drawing on his extensive experience in a variety of musical idioms, pianist/arranger Matt Herskowitz lends a unique voice to the music while maintaining the compositional integrity of the original, resulting in new settings that feel completely natural. These performances are conducted by Naples Philharmonic Assistant Conductor, Radu Paponiou. Just like viewing great artwork under a new shade of light or tasting comfort food with the inclusion of a unique ingredient, this performance brings the beloved works of J.S. Bach to the Shell Point Stage with a twist. Don t miss this all Bach program including Harpsichord Concerto in D minor and several of our guest artist's jazz-fusion arrangements of Bach compositions. This Small Stage Symphonies series of concerts happens on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center; Thursday, March 21 at the Village Church at Shell Point; and Friday, March 22 at The Sanibel Community House. Tickets start at $20 and vary by venue. They may be purchased online at by visiting the Southwest Florida Symphony Box Office located at 8290 College Parkway, Suite 103 in Fort Myers, by calling the Symphony Box Office at (239) or at the door of each venue, one hour prior to each concert.

2 Matt Herskowitz Bio Uniquely combining the superlative technique of a classical virtuoso with his prowess in jazz, world music and free improvisation, pianist, composer and arranger Matt Herskowitz has carved out a unique and personal voice in music. Over the course of the last decade, Matt has produced a series of critically-acclaimed recordings, premiered his works in settings from New York s Central Park to Germany s Köln Philharmonie, collaborated with top classical, jazz and pop artists, and has performed at music festivals across the globe. Recording Artist His 2012 live solo release for Justin Time Records, Matt Herskowitz Upstairs, includes his arrangements of classics from Gershwin to Schumann to Dave Brubeck to originals by Herskowitz, including Bach a la Jazz, his arrangement of Bach s Prelude in C Minor which Herskowitz previously recorded for EMI s Grammy-nominated soundtrack to The Triplets of Belleville. In naming the release Solo Album of the Year, Le Devoir declared: Herskowitz deploys his art with a rare passion, but without ever sacrificing musicality. Exceptional technique, precise sense of nuance, Herskowitz here brilliantly fuses his mastery of jazz and classical. And Downbeat magazine praised Upstairs in its Editor s Picks: Throughout these eight tracks, [Herskowitz] displays touch, power, artistry and chops along with a firm grasp of the daring needed for a great performance. Upstairs follows-up Matt s critically-acclaimed, Juno-nominated world music fusion album Jerusalem Trilogy, also on Justin Time Records, which features the pianist s original compositions and arrangements in his signature synthesis of contemporary jazz and classical styles, combined with a unique blend of Arab and Jewish grooves. Among the album s fans was the late great Dave Brubeck, who commended Matt on the recording, saying: Congratulations! You have transformed the concept of world music as I conceived of it half a century ago. You have carried it further than I could imagine. Matt s 2015 release, Bach XXI (Avanti Classic), is an album of his original arrangements of selected pieces by JS Bach with his jazz trio and internationally acclaimed classical violinist Philippe Quint. One reviewer described it this way: The album is a set of fascinating jazz settings of well-known Bach works, the kind of skilled reimaginings that make me smile, however they might have nonplussed old Johann Sebastian himself. (Jon Sobel, Blogcritics) His 2007 solo release, Matt Herskowitz Plays George Gershwin, featuring Matt s original solo arrangements of the Concerto in F, Cuban Overture and Rhapsody in Blue, was nominated for Quebec s prestigious Prix Opus, while his 2006 solo release, Gabriel s Message, featuring original arrangements and compositions based on Christmas themes, was nominated for Que bec s Fe lix award for Best Jazz Album. Matt s 1998 recording of Glazunov s 2nd Piano Concerto with I Musici de Montre al (Chandos Records) was hailed by Strad Magazine as by far the best performance on disc. Composer and Arranger Premieres of Matt s compositions include his 2012 Concerto Grosso with The Knights, an eclectic New Yorkbased symphony orchestra, in Central Park on the Naumburg Orchestral Concerts series. The concert was broadcast live on WQXR and Matt was praised in The New York Times for his imaginative, virtuosic solo. Matt premiered his piece Undertow, a concerto for piano, electric bass, drums and orchestra loosely based on Bach s 3-part Invention no. 9 in F minor, at the Köln Philharmonie with Absolute Ensemble, conducted by Kristjan Ja rvi. The performance was filmed and broadcast on Germany s WDR television. As an arranger, Matt has collaborated with many noted artists and producers. In addition to his hugely popular Bach a la Jazz, Matt and his trio were featured on Barry Manilow s album In The Swing of Christmas (Hallmark, 2007, Arista/Sony, 2009), which was nominated for a Grammy award for Best Traditional Pop Album. Matt s 17- minute solo Piano Nocturne was featured on Lara Fabian s album Nue (Universal, 2001), earning him many new thousands of fans in Europe.

3 Collaborations In addition to his other projects, Matt is also half of the Montreal-based piano duo, Piano Chameleons. With acclaimed jazz pianist John Roney, the duo creates unique jazz arrangements of popular classical pieces. Their victims include Bach, Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Schumann, Debussy, Grieg, Brubeck and Gershwin. Their debut album was released in October 2016 on Justin Time Records, and has already received many rave reviews. Matt also records and performs with renowned Canadian violinist Lara St. John. Matt invited her to perform on his 2010 album, Jerusalem Trilogy. The title track is a 3-movement piece that combines complex Arabic rhythms and grooves with soulful Jewish melodic writing in classical and jazz forms. Lara is perhaps the only violinist capable of seamlessly navigating through the stylistic hybrid and complex map of polyrhythms and compound meters to beautifully tell the story of the music. Lara then invited Matt to play on Shiksa, her album of original compositions and arrangements based on traditional eastern European folk songs. She also commissioned Matt to compose a piece for this album, Nagilara, based on the famous Jewish folk song Hava Nagila. The album has received many rave reviews since its release in A graduate of the Juilliard School in New York and the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Matt is originally from Rensselaerville, New York, and has made Montreal his adopted home since Radu Paponiu Bio Radu Paponiu is in his first year as assistant conductor of the Naples Philharmonic and director of the Naples Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. A native of Romania, Radu is quickly establishing himself as a promising talent in the classical music world. Radu recently completed his Master of Music degree in orchestral conducting at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he studied with Hugh Wolff. While in Boston, Radu was also conductor apprentice with the Handel and Haydn Society, assisting Harry Christophers and Richard Egarr. Radu also served on the conducting faculty for the Juilliard School Pre-College Division in New York. In the season, Radu appeared as guest conductor for education concerts with the Naples Philharmonic and the North Carolina Symphony and participated in a conducting workshop with the New World Symphony led by Michael Tilson Thomas. Additionally, Radu was appointed assistant conductor for the National Repertory Orchestra in Colorado for the 2017 summer season as well as conducting fellow for the Cabrillo Festival Workshop in Santa Cruz, California. For two consecutive summers, Radu participated in the prestigious American Academy of Conducting at the Aspen Music Festival and School as the recipient of both the Albert Tipton Aspen Fellowship and the David A. Karetsky Memorial Fellowship. In Aspen, Radu furthered his studies under the guidance of Robert Spano, Larry Rachleff, Leonard Slatkin, Hugh Wolff, Patrick Summers and Federico Cortese. Additionally, Radu served as assistant conductor for the Aspen Opera Theater Center s full production of Mozart s Così fan tutte. Radu began his musical studies on the violin at age seven, moving on to study privately with Carmen Runceanu and Stefan Gheorghiu. After coming to the US at the invitation of the Perlman Music Program, Radu was accepted to the studio of Robert Lipsett at the Colburn School Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, California, where he earned both a Bachelor of Music degree and an Artist Diploma degree in violin performance. As a chamber musician, Radu has appeared in festivals throughout Europe and North America, collaborating with artists such as Itzhak Perlman, Clive Greensmith, Martin Beaver, Merry Peckham and Vivian Weilerstein. Beginning his conducting studies in Los Angeles with Maxim Eshkenazy and continuing with Yehuda Gilad and Alexander Treger, Radu was appointed assistant conductor of the American Youth Symphony in spring Radu frequently conducted the Colburn Conservatory Orchestra, Colburn Chamber Orchestra, Colburn Youth

4 Orchestra and the Colburn Contemporary Players. An active supporter of community engagement, Radu conducted the Herbert Zipper Outreach Orchestra in numerous in-school performances throughout the greater Los Angeles area. Radu has guest conducted the LG Youth Orchestra in Korea, Luzerne Music Center String Orchestra and the Inland Valley Youth Symphony. Maestro Nir Kabaretti Bio Internationally acclaimed conductor Nir Kabaretti is in his fifth season as Music Director of the Southwest Florida Symphony, and has been described as, a conductor with immense musicality and warm personality by Maestro Zubin Mehta. In 2018, Kabaretti started his tenure as Music Director of The Israel Sinfonietta Beer Sheva. He also continues as Music & Artistic Director of the Santa Barbara Symphony. Kabaretti has earned an impressive reputation across several continents for his command of a vast symphonic and operatic repertoire. Upon graduation from the prestigious University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, Kabaretti began working as coach and Chorus Master at the Vienna State Opera and the Salzburg Festival. He later advanced to positions as Assistant to the Music Director at the Teatro Real in Madrid and Personal Assistant to Maestro Zubin Mehta at Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence, Italy. Nir Kabaretti has worked with some of the world s most sought-after musicians, such as Lang Lang, Placido Domingo, Itzhak Perlman, and Hélène Grimaud. His guest conducting appearances include: the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Orquesta Filarmonica de Buenos Aires, Orquestre National du Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Orchestra del Teatro dell Opera di Roma, Orchestra del Teatro Petruzzelli di Bari, Orchestra del Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova, Orchestra Sinfonica Giuseppe Verdi di Milano, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Israel Chamber Orchestra, Haifa Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Chamber Orchestra, La Orquesta Sinfonica de Madrid, Real Orquesta Sinfònica de Sevilla, La Orquesta Filarmonica de Gran Canaria, and the Bochumer Symphoniker. He was appointed Principal Conductor of the Raanana Symphonette Orchestra in Israel in 2002, and later its Music Director until Kabaretti s operatic experience includes productions at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Teatro Real in Madrid, The Israeli Opera, Opéra de Lausanne, Avenches Opera Festival in Switzerland, Tokyo New National Theatre and Opera Santa Barbara. He conducted The Diary of Anne Frank, a guest production of the Vienna State Opera performed at both the Bregenz Festival and Expo 2000 in Hanover. In 2005, Kabaretti led Teatro San Carlo di Napoli on its first tour to Japan, conducting Il Trovatore, both in Kyoto, and Tokyo. During the season, he made his debut at Teatro alla Scala di Milano. In 2007, he was invited back for the ballet production of Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night s Dream (broadcast by Italian television RAI, and released as a commercial DVD). Maestro Kabaretti received the America-Israel Cultural Foundation Grant for Young Conductors. In 1993, he won the Forum Junger Künstler Conducting Competition in Vienna. In 1994, he was among the finalists in the International Competition for Conductors in Douai, France. Upcoming engagements as guest conductor include a debut with the Bogotà Philharmonic Orchestra, a tour in Belgium with the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, and a return to the Opera di Roma.

5 Southwest Florida Symphony General Information The Southwest Florida Symphony s 58th year continues the orchestra s tradition of artistic excellence as internationally acclaimed Maestro Nir Kabaretti leads the Symphony in another exciting season of spectacular performances. Maestro Kabaretti is the fifth music director in the organization s history. He has led critically acclaimed performances throughout his first four seasons with the Southwest Florida Symphony. In April 2017 he signed a new three-year agreement with the Symphony, extending his contract as Music Director through the season. The Southwest Florida Symphony is the only professional symphony orchestra in Lee County and one of the oldest on Florida s Gulf Coast. Founded by conductor Arlo Deibler, the Symphony made its debut as a community orchestra on April 15, 1961 with a roster of 24 musicians who performed in community centers and schools throughout Lee and Collier Counties. It has since grown to become Lee County s premiere symphonic ensemble, with a roster of 65 world-class musicians playing to packed houses at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall. The Southwest Florida Symphony s mission is to celebrate the joy of music and to inspire audiences with a variety of professional-quality concerts that are accessible to all. The Symphony s season features exciting concerts in all of its signature series: The Masterworks Classical Concert Series, performed at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW. January 12, Beethoven No. 5: Hear the Fantasy; February 2, Vive La Mer; March 2, Verdi Requiem; and April 27, Fantastique! Pops Concert Series, also performed at Barbara B. Mann. January 19, OH WHAT A NIGHT! A Tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons; February 16, Super Diamond The Neil Diamond Tribute; March 16, Sinatra and Beyond featuring Tony DeSare. Small Stage Symphony Series performed at multiple venues throughout Lee and Collier Counties. February 6, 7, and 8: Appalachian Spring {BIG ARTS on Sanibel, Shell Point, St. Leo the Great-Bonita Springs}; March 20, 21, and 22: Back to Back Bach {Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, Shell Point, Sanibel Community House}; April 5, 6, and 7: Mozart in Paradise {Sanibel Community House, Faith Presbyterian Church, Cape Coral, Moorings Presbyterian Church-Naples}. The April 6 performance at Faith Presbyterian Church in Cape Coral features the Poulenc Organ Concerto, with special guest artist, Michael Helman. Further details on all of these concerts can be found at Our Generous Sponsors The Southwest Florida Symphony s sponsor list includes: The City of Fort Myers, The State of Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, The Florida Council on Arts & Culture, The Southwest Florida Symphony Endowment Foundation, The Southwest Florida Symphony Society, The L.A.T. Foundation, Uhler & Vertich Financial Planners, Ellie Fox in memory of Ed Fox, Burgess Brant Consulting Engineers, Seminole Casino, Florida Weekly, Mr. & Mrs. Charles B. Munsch, The Enterprise Foundation, Sanibel Captiva Beach Resorts, Bailey s General Store, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, Iberia Bank, The Friends of the Symphony on Sanibel, Mr. & Mrs. Steve and Charlotte Qua, Ernie Fogg Sr. & Margot Flinn, Mr. Jeff Cull & Ms. Ella Nayor, Craig Choate, Rob and Ruth Diefenbach, Mr. Eric Diefenbach & JK Brown. ##### Event: Small Stage Symphonies: Back to Back Bach Dates: Wednesday, March 20 Friday, March 22 Locations: Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, The Village Church at Shell Point and The Sanibel Community House Time: Concerts 7:30pm Tickets: $20-$39 and vary by venue