March The Inaugural Season

Transcription

1 March 2013 The Inaugural Season

2 4 From the President J.D. Scott Dear Friends: Last month we announced the exciting details of our season, the second under Yannick s inspired musical leadership. Yannick is extremely proud of the new season he has curated for you, and I think we will find many incredible moments in the concerts to come. He will conduct the Fabulous Philadelphians in works that we have all come to love (Beethoven s Symphony No. 9), and we will hear some that are new to the Orchestra (Strauss s Salome, in Yannick s first performances of an opera score here) alongside newly commissioned works (a composer s weekend featuring concertos for three of our principal players). In addition to traditional performances we will continue to periodically push the boundaries of the concert format, changing expectations and enhancing your experience with us. We have invited a stellar list of guests, both old friends and new faces with talents to be discovered. We hope that the season will allow you to continue to cultivate the incredible connection you already have with Yannick, a connection that echoes the one between him and the musicians onstage. Please renew your subscription, or become a new subscriber, early to reserve the best seats at the best price. I know you will agree with me that it will be another spectacular season of music-making. On March we open the Kimmel Center s Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts with Bach s St. Matthew Passion, led by Yannick. Innovative lighting and staging will be used to heighten the drama of this moving retelling of the crucifixion and betrayal of Christ. On the heels of our successful collaboration with Ridge Theater last month for The Rite of Spring and our Stokowski Celebration concerts last year, I know you won t want to miss these performances. As we all believe, it is vital for the Orchestra to broaden its reach outside of the concert hall, giving people who might not otherwise have the opportunity, the chance to hear the beauty of the Philadelphia Sound, the magic of Yannick, and the amazing talent of this incredible ensemble. We are delighted that in Yannick s first season the Orchestra has returned to the local airwaves with a weekly Sunday afternoon broadcast, in partnership with WRTI-FM and its parent, Temple University. In addition, thanks to Yannick s new relationship with Deutsche Grammophon, the Orchestra will release a disc of Stokowski transcriptions of works by Bach, continuing the ensemble s legacy of recordings. We hope that you will tune in to WRTI and be among the first to purchase our newest recording when it s available. Thank you for your continued belief in the power of music and in this organization. I look forward to seeing you in the concert hall. Yours in Music, Allison Vulgamore President & CEO

3 6 Music Director Jessica Griffin Yannick Nézet-Séguin became the eighth music director of The Philadelphia Orchestra with the start of the season. Named music director designate in June 2010, he made his Orchestra debut in December Over the past decade, Yannick has established himself as a musical leader of the highest caliber and one of the most exciting talents of his generation. Since 2008 he has been music director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic and principal guest conductor of the London Philharmonic, and since 2000 artistic director and principal conductor of Montreal s Orchestre Métropolitain. He has appeared with such revered ensembles as the Vienna and Berlin philharmonics; the Boston Symphony; the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia; the Dresden Staatskapelle; the Chamber Orchestra of Europe; and the major Canadian orchestras. His talents extend beyond symphonic music into opera and choral music, leading acclaimed performances at the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, London s Royal Opera House, and the Salzburg Festival. Highlights of Yannick s inaugural season include his Carnegie Hall debut with the Verdi Requiem, one world premiere, and performances of The Rite of Spring in collaboration with New York-based Ridge Theater, complete with dancers, video projection, and theatrical lighting. In July 2012 Yannick and Deutsche Grammophon announced a major long-term collaboration. His discography with the Rotterdam Philharmonic for BIS Records and EMI/Virgin includes an Edison Award-winning album of Ravel s orchestral works. He has also recorded several award-winning albums with the Orchestre Métropolitain for ATMA Classique. In addition, his first recording with The Philadelphia Orchestra, Mahler s Symphony No. 5, is available for download. A native of Montreal, Yannick studied at that city s Conservatory of Music and continued studies with renowned conductor Carlo Maria Giulini and with Joseph Flummerfelt at Westminster Choir College. In 2012 Yannick was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada, one of the country s highest civilian honors. His other honors include Canada s National Arts Centre Award; a Royal Philharmonic Society Award; the Prix Denise-Pelletier, the highest distinction for the arts in Quebec; and an honorary doctorate by the University of Quebec in Montreal. To read Yannick s full bio, please visit

4 8 The Philadelphia Orchestra Season Yannick Nézet-Séguin Music Director Walter and Leonore Annenberg Wolfgang Sawallisch Conductor Laureate Charles Dutoit Conductor Laureate Cristian Macelaru Assistant Conductor First Violins David Kim, Concertmaster Dr. Benjamin Rush Juliette Kang, First Associate Concertmaster Joseph and Marie Field Marc Rovetti, Acting Associate Concertmaster Amy Oshiro-Morales, Acting Assistant Concertmaster Herbert Light Larry A. Grika Barbara Govatos Wilson H. and Barbara B. Taylor Jonathan Beiler Hirono Oka Richard Amoroso Robert and Lynne Pollack Yayoi Numazawa Jason De Pue Lisa-Beth Lambert Jennifer Haas Miyo Curnow Elina Kalendareva Daniel Han Noah Geller* Second Violins Kimberly Fisher, Peter A. Benoliel Paul Roby, Associate Sandra and David Marshall Dara Morales, Assistant Anne M. Buxton Philip Kates Mitchell and Hilarie Morgan Family Foundation Booker Rowe Davyd Booth Paul Arnold Lorraine and David Popowich Yumi Ninomiya Scott Dmitri Levin Boris Balter William Polk Violas Choong-Jin Chang, Ruth and A. Morris Williams Kirsten Johnson, Associate Kerri Ryan, Assistant Judy Geist Renard Edwards Anna Marie Ahn Petersen Piasecki Family David Nicastro Burchard Tang Che-Hung Chen Rachel Ku Marvin Moon Jonathan Chu Cellos Hai-Ye Ni, Albert and Mildred Switky Yumi Kendall, Acting Associate Wendy and Derek Pew Foundation John Koen, Acting Assistant Richard Harlow Gloria de Pasquale Orton P. and Noël S. Jackson Kathryn Picht Read Winifred and Samuel Mayes Robert Cafaro Volunteer Committees Ohad Bar-David Catherine R. and Anthony A. Clifton Derek Barnes Mollie and Frank Slattery Alex Veltman Basses Harold Robinson, Carole and Emilio Gravagno Michael Shahan, Associate Joseph Conyers, Assistant John Hood Henry G. Scott David Fay Duane Rosengard Robert Kesselman Some members of the string sections voluntarily rotate seating on a periodic basis. Flutes Jeffrey Khaner, Paul and Barbara Henkels David Cramer, Associate Rachelle and Ronald Kaiserman Loren N. Lind Kazuo Tokito, Piccolo Oboes Richard Woodhams, Samuel S. Fels Peter Smith, Associate Jonathan Blumenfeld Edwin Tuttle Elizabeth Starr Masoudnia, English Horn Joanne T. Greenspun Clarinets Ricardo Morales, Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Samuel Caviezel, Associate Sarah and Frank Coulson Raoul Querze Peter M. Joseph and Susan Rittenhouse Joseph Paul R. Demers, Bass Clarinet Bassoons Daniel Matsukawa, Richard M. Klein Mark Gigliotti, Co- Angela Anderson Holly Blake, Contrabassoon Horns Jennifer Montone, Gray Charitable Trust Jeffrey Lang, Associate Jeffry Kirschen Daniel Williams Denise Tryon Shelley Showers Roster continues on pg. 8

5 10 The Philadelphia Orchestra Season Trumpets David Bilger, Marguerite and Gerry Lenfest Jeffrey Curnow, Associate Gary and Ruthanne Schlarbaum Robert W. Earley Trombones Nitzan Haroz*, Neubauer Family Foundation Matthew Vaughn, Acting Eric Carlson Blair Bollinger, Bass Trombone Drs. Bong and Mi Wha Lee Tuba Carol Jantsch, Lyn and George M. Ross Timpani Don S. Liuzzi, Dwight V. Dowley Angela Zator Nelson, Associate Patrick and Evelyn Gage Percussion Christopher Deviney, Mrs. Francis W. De Serio Anthony Orlando, Associate Ann R. and Harold A. Sorgenti Angela Zator Nelson Piano and Celesta Kiyoko Takeuti Harps Elizabeth Hainen, Patricia and John Imbesi Margarita Csonka Montanaro, Co- Librarians Robert M. Grossman, Steven K. Glanzmann Stage Personnel Edward Barnes, Manager James J. Sweeney, Jr. James P. Barnes *On leave Musicians Behind the Scenes Christopher Deviney Percussion Where were you born? Chattanooga, Tennessee. What piece of music could you play over and over again? Stravinsky s The Rite of Spring. What is your most treasured possession? Probably my five-octave marimba. What s your favorite Philadelphia restaurant? I have too many to name one! If you could ask one composer one question what would it be? I would ask Stravinsky: Did you have any idea at the time how groundbreaking your music would be considered one day? What piece of music never fails to move you? The Finale to Stravinsky s The Firebird. When did you join the Orchestra? Do you play any other instruments, besides those in the percussion family? I took five years of piano. What s your favorite type of food? I love Tex-Mex. What books are on your nightstand? Hard copy or e-reader? John Irving s A Prayer for Owen Meany, Bill Bryson s The Mother Tongue (both hard copy); Dostoyevsky s Crime and Punishment (e-reader). To read the full set of questions, please visit christopherdeviney.

6 12 The Musical Journey Continues Yannick promises an exciting range of musical experiences during his second season as music director. By Damian Fowler In his first season Yannick Nézet-Séguin revealed the depth of his musical personality and passions in the adventurous range of repertoire he chose. For his sophomore season, he promises equally ambitious programming that showcases the myriad colors of The Philadelphia Orchestra s personality. Whether it s the majestic sweep of Tchaikovsky s world, the crisp vitality of a Purcell suite from The Fairy Queen, or the enigmatic complexity of Strauss s opera Salome, the Orchestra reaffirms its extraordinary flexibility one ensemble made of many parts. Yannick considers the second season not as a separate entity, but as a natural expansion of the first, drawing on the musical threads already being Yannick Nézet-Séguin Photo by Nigel Parry/CPi

7 14 The Musical Journey Continues Harald Hoffmann/DG For Yannick s second Opening Night Concert, violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter joins him and the Orchestra to perform Tchaikovsky s Violin Concerto. established a broad symphonic scope, a celebration of vocal music, and the exploration of dynamic new works and formats. Yannick s choices in his second season are influenced by what he calls the wonderful electricity between maestro and musicians that surged in season one. We seem to be made for each other, he says. There s a real complicity to this special partnership, and I ve worked to expand this to let the Orchestra have more chances to comment musically. To this end, the season offers opportunities to hear not just the sum total of all the musicians on every single piece, but also the sections and soloists within the Orchestra playing in different formats. Yannick wants audiences to deepen their relationship with this body of musicians to be able to touch, feel, and know what it s made of by creating opportunities for new experiences with pieces familiar and less familiar, from huge symphonic expositions to more intimate chamber works. Significantly this season begins a multi-year project to premiere solo works written for the principal players by leading contemporary composers. Presented early in

8 16 The Musical Journey Continues Mathias Bothor/DG Pianist Jan Lisiecki makes his Philadelphia Orchestra debut performing three Mozart concertos over the course of as many days. the season, this will be a week-long series of concerts featuring commissions by Chinese-born Tan Dun, Iranian-born Behzad Ranjbaran, and Philadelphia-native David Ludwig, who have written concertos for harp, flute, and bassoon, respectively. Yannick is excited about what he calls this mini-festival of composers, all of whom will be on hand to talk about the creative process of writing for the three soloists Elizabeth Hainen (harp), Jeffrey Khaner (flute), Daniel Matsukawa (bassoon). In addition, there will be opportunities to hear the different sections of the Orchestra perform outside the frame of the full ensemble, especially thanks to a season-long celebration of the serenade, a musical form typically lighter in fare than a symphony. Next year includes several examples, including string, brass, and wind serenades by Strauss, Dvořák, Tchaikovsky, and Mozart his Gran Partita for 12 winds and one double bass. The brass section will also grab everyone s attention with a dynamic fanfare to open a highlight of the season, Fauré s Requiem, the fourth in Yannick s great requiem series, following settings by Mozart, Brahms, and Verdi. This concert is a perfect

9 example of Yannick s imaginative programming. He follows the brass opening with Villa-Lobos s Bachianas brasilieras No. 5 for soprano and an orchestra of cellos, which is by far the Brazilian composer s most popular work. The program also includes short a cappella choral selections by French composer Maurice Duruflé, Four Motets on Gregorian Themes. The hope is that different combinations of ensembles will bring a sense of surprise and delight for the audience, says Jeremy Rothman, The Philadelphia Orchestra s vice president of artist planning. Of course, all of these excursions into different formats and ensembles will only serve to underscore the glory and power of the Philadelphia Sound when everyone comes back together. And there s no shortage of opportunities to hear major works. Just as last season celebrated Stokowski at 100, the season pays musical tribute to Richard Strauss, whose 150th

10 18 The Musical Journey Continues Aubrey Beardsley s drawing J ai baisé ta bouche, Iokanaan (I have kissed your mouth, Iokanaan), produced for Oscar Wilde s play Salome. birthday arrives in The Orchestra performs a rich sampling of his works across the season (and the next), including Ein Heldenleben, Metamorphosen for 23 strings, the Oboe Concerto, the Burleske for piano and orchestra, as well as the Serenade for Strings. And the season culminates with a presentation of Strauss s intense psychosexual opera Salome. Yannick, whose credentials as a conductor of opera are well established, is excited to follow in the footsteps of previous music directors who brought opera into the concert hall, and most recently by Charles Dutoit who conducted Strauss s Elektra in May 2012 to great acclaim. The music of Tchaikovsky is front and center next season. The Opening Night Concert celebrates the sumptuous sweep of the composer s work, including Romeo and Juliet, the Polonaise from Eugene Onegin,

11 20 The Musical Journey Continues Conductor Vladimir Jurowski returns for two weeks during the season, one of which will be an all-rachmaninoff concert featuring his rarely-heard work The Bells. and the Violin Concerto with special guest soloist Anne-Sophie Mutter. It s a significant choice, says Yannick, both because Tchaikovsky s music exemplifies the Philadelphia Sound and because it touches back to his debut with the Orchestra in 2008, with Tchaikovsky s Sixth Symphony. In January the Orchestra goes even deeper into the music of Tchaikovsky and his contemporaries, with three weeks of concerts that juxtapose works by Borodin, Balakirev, Liadov, Musorgsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov with Tchaikovsky s masterpieces such as the First Piano Concerto and the Fourth Symphony. Other symphonic highlights include a thoughtful pairing of Beethoven with Shostakovich, with concerts spread throughout the season. I consider Shostakovich to be the Beethoven of the 20th century, says Yannick. With these concerts I hope to make people listen to Shostakovich differently, as a composer who is more rooted in the Germanic tradition. This pairing will recur in future seasons too, says Yannick, so there s a real

12 22 The Musical Journey Continues Sara Wilson/Decca To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Benjamin Britten s birth, violinist Janine Jansen performs the composer s Violin Concerto, in a program that also includes works by Pärt and Mozart. road through the seasons and a way for our audience to follow this path. Damian Fowler is the Managing Editor of Playbill Classic Arts. Yannick emphasizes that he has not forgotten the Classical era in his second season, and in particular Mozart. In fact his music is going to be explored in great depth with five concerts over three days, including the last three symphonies, overtures to three operas, and a Family Concert. Guest pianist Jan Lisiecki, highly praised for his Mozart interpretations, performs Piano Concertos 20, 21, and 22 on different evenings. Again, says Rothman, these creative concert formats provide flexible new ways for audiences to experience the Orchestra in different combinations. As always there will be a stellar roster of guests throughout the season. In terms of conductors, Yannick has paid close attention to key partners, deepening the relationship with what he calls our wonderful circle of friends, which includes conductors Stéphane Denève, Gianandrea Noseda, Vladimir Jurowski, and Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos (who ll make his 150th performance with the Orchestra in Philadelphia in 2014) to name but a few. And there will be debuts from the likes of Pablo Heras-Casado, Richard Egarr, Manfred Honeck, and Tugan Sokhiev, as well as Associate Conductor Cristian Măcelaru, who will make his subscription debut this season. As for the many

13 guest artists, Yannick looks forward to re-connecting with musicians he s worked with in the past, an ongoing process of building friendships and partnerships. He s excited to be working with his long-time friend cellist Truls Mørk (who ll be performing Shostakovich s Cello Concerto No. 1, paired with Beethoven s Symphony No. 3). Another highlight for Yannick is performing with one of his favorite collaborators, violinist Lisa Batiashvili (who ll be playing Bartók s First Concerto). Other favorite guests returning to Philadelphia will be pianists Yuja Wang, Emanuel Ax, Yefim Bronfman, and Radu Lupu, and violinist Janine Jansen. As well as with guest artists and conductors, the Orchestra continues to reach out and deepen its relationship with artistic partners in Philadelphia. Once highlight is a collaboration with the Philadelphia Dance Company (Philadanco) in a presentation of Poulenc s Aubade, a choreographic concerto for 18 instruments, solo piano, and dancers on a program that celebrates the fusion of dance music and classical styles. Yannick is thrilled to present a second season that builds on the successes of his inaugural one. He s confident that it will augment and amplify the themes and musical threads already established, with creative programming that is rooted in the great traditions of The Philadelphia Orchestra, while pushing at the frontiers of new ways to present concerts. We feel that the Orchestra is getting back to its sound and its roots, says Yannick. So on that note, the sky s the limit. P

14 24 Beyond the Baton A Q&A with Yannick Nézet-Séguin Chris Lee How do you cope with jet lag since you travel so much? My trick is to consider I am in the new time zone as soon as I deplane. I don t think, Oh, I am jet lagged or I am so tired! It is the only way just embrace and accept it. When and where were you happiest? I am very lucky. I have had so many happy moments in my life that I can t really single out one! Have you ever injured yourself conducting? I wasn t conducting yet but was just waiting to go out to the podium for a rehearsal of the Orchestre Métropolitain. I was holding my baton upright and I moved my arm suddenly and the baton jerked upward and went inside my nostril! My nose started bleeding, and I was so embarrassed! Who are your favorite writers? Oscar Wilde and Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel Prize-winning poet and philosopher. His writing is very beautiful and I feel when reading it both a passion and an acceptance of the world. What one app could you not live without? FlightTrack. It is great for all the travel that I do. It lets you know if there will be any delay, in real time, anywhere in the world! What is your greatest fear? To be honest, my fear is to die. I love life so much, and while this has not changed as I ve grown older, I think that one day I may find a different feeling about this. To read the questions from previous months, please visit

15 44 24 A Gift from the Heart Eleven-year-old Elizabeth Kannon is already a patron of the arts. While most girls her age worry about making friends and fitting in, Elizabeth was more concerned about the challenges facing the Orchestra she loves. So, instead of asking for presents for her November birthday, she asked her friends and family for monetary gifts to give to The Philadelphia Orchestra. And how did that go over? She was able to donate money to the tune of $567 to the Orchestra s Annual Fund. Elizabeth Kannon and her mother after making her donation to the Orchestra. Elizabeth, who is currently a student at the Julia R. Masterman School in Philadelphia, isn t a musician herself, but that hasn t stopped her from becoming an avid music fan. That also doesn t stop her from picking favorites! While she really loves the piano, horns, and drums, she also can t say enough about the percussionists, who look really cool. As longtime subscribers to the Family Concert series, the Kannons have found a way to incorporate music into their lives. In fact, when Elizabeth and her family saw The Music of Fantasia Family Concert last year, it was that very performance that spurred her on to her act of generosity. Experiencing the magic and excitement of that concert, and watching the Orchestra bring one of her favorite movies to life, encouraged Elizabeth to try and find a way to share it with others. Her generous donation to the Orchestra was not the first time Elizabeth selflessly gave money to a good cause. On her seventh birthday she raised money for Big Brothers Big Sisters and on her eighth birthday she gave to the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). This year she decided to give back to an organization that has given so much to her and her family. Elizabeth hopes the money raised will help sustain The Philadelphia Orchestra for years to come, and will inspire other kids her age to take action for causes near and dear to their hearts. [The Orchestra] is an amazing place to learn and explore your imagination. Every time I go to a concert, I can just close my eyes and imagine another world. P

16 44 46 The Orchestra Returns to the Airwaves and to Deutsche Grammophon Chris Lee The Philadelphia Orchestra and WRTI-FM have announced a new partnership, marking the return of the ensemble to the local airwaves. Beginning on February 24, listeners from the tri-state area have been able to tune in to WRTI-FM, Temple University s classical music and jazz radio station, to hear pre-recorded versions of Philadelphia Orchestra subscription concerts. This new lineup of weekly broadcasts, airing Sunday afternoons at 2 PM, will culminate in a live broadcast on Friday, May 24, at 2 PM with Yannick conducting Dvořák s Slavonic Dance Nos. 1, 10, and 8; Brahms s Violin Concerto with Gil Shaham; Janáček s Sinfonietta; and Enescu s Romanian Rhapsody No. 1. Longtime classical music radio personality Gregg Whiteside will host each Philadelphia Orchestra Sunday broadcast. Thanks to Yannick s relationship with the recording label Deutsche Grammophon, a new disc with the Orchestra of Bach works transcribed by Leopold Stokowski is planned to be released this year. It is fitting that Yannick s first recording with the Philadelphians on a major label will be this repertoire, as the season is a celebration of the centenary of Stokowski s becoming the Orchestra s music director. I am so proud that The Philadelphia Orchestra is returning to the radio and also making this recording as part of my first season as music director, said Yannick. It is important for us to go beyond the concert hall with our music, to connect with our audiences on the radio and on disc, here in Philadelphia and now also far beyond. This is just one of many ways we will open new windows into our music to welcome new listeners into our Philadelphia Orchestra family.