Atlanta Symphony Orchestra A founding member of the Robert W. Woodruff Arts Center Robert Spano, Music Director Donald Runnicles, Principal Guest Conductor family Concerts series Sunday, February 15, 2009, at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. jere flint, Conductor Originally Created & Produced by SUSAN HAMMOND Adapted & Directed by PAUL PEMENT Featuring JOE LEHMAN as Antonio Vivaldi /Giovanni & NICOLE HREN as Katarina On Tour Stage Management & Technical Coordination by PAUL PEMENT Playwright & Music Editor DOUGLAS COWLING Costume Design by ALEX MEADOWS Dramaturge & Light Design by PAUL PEMENT The theatrical concert version of Vivaldi s Ring of Mystery is an adaptation of the best-selling and award-winning Classical Kids recording, Vivaldi s Ring of Mystery, produced by Susan Hammond. Classical Kids is a trademark of Classical Productions for Children Ltd., used under exclusive license by Pement Enterprises, Inc., and produced by Classical Kids Music Education, NFP. Classical Kids recordings are marketed by The Children s Group. Actors and Production Stage Manager are members of Actors Equity Association. Atlanta s Performing Arts Publication 23
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra sponsors is proud to sponsor the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra s Family Series. Delta s commitment to the communities we serve began the day our first flight took off. Sergei Prokofiev After almost 80 years, Delta s community spirit worldwide continues to be a cornerstone of our organization. As a force for global good, our mission is to continuously create value through an inclusive culture by leveraging partnerships and serving communities where we live and work. It includes not only valuing individual differences of race, religion, gender, nationality and lifestyle, but also managing and valuing the diversity of work teams, intracompany teams and business partnerships. Delta is an active, giving corporate citizen in the communities it serves. Delta s community engagement efforts are driven by our desire to build long-term partnerships in a way that enables nonprofits to utilize many aspects of Delta's currency our employees time and talent, our free and discounted air travel, as well as our surplus donations. Together, we believe we can take our worldwide communities to new heights! From great music to great theater, the arts enrich and inspire us. Publix Super Markets is proud to support the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Publix Super Markets Where Shopping is a Pleasure. Major funding for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners under the guidance of the Fulton County Arts Council. This performance is being recorded for broadcast at a later time. ASO concert broadcasts are heard each week on Atlanta s WABE FM-90.1 and Georgia Public Broaccasting s statewide network. The ASO records for Telarc. Other ASO recordings are available on the Argo, Deutsche Grammophon, New World, Nonesuch, Philips and Sony Classical labels. Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta is the preferred hotel of the ASO. Trucks provided by Ryder Truck Rental Inc. Media sponsors: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and WSB 750 AM. 24 Encore Atlanta
PLOT SYNOPSIS Vivaldi, Venice and violins: all three are celebrated in Vivaldi s Ring of Mystery, a compelling mystery story about an orphan girl in the early 1700s who is in search of her roots. A central clue to the mystery is a missing Stradivarius violin that the Duke of Cremona has brought to Vivaldi s school of the Pieta in the hopes of finding his long lost grandchild. You ll have to watch the story unfold to learn its conclusion! Venice of the 16th century was a wondrous place the Disneyland of its day, and this captivating production recreates its ambiance for today s young people. Few children can resist the idea of a city where streets are made of water and boats are part of everyday life. Audiences will enjoy more than 25 excerpts from Vivaldi s most popular and important works, including the Four Seasons, the Violin Concerto in A minor and the Guitar Concerto. The music is magically woven into the drama as two actors solve a mystery built around the historic context of the composer s real life and his school of the Pieta. MUSICAL EXCERPTS 1. Concerto for Two Trumpets, D Major 2. String Concerto, RV 121 3. Spring, The Four Seasons 4. Piccolo Concerto 5. Autumn, The Four Seasons 6. Guitar Sonata in F Major 7. Flute theme from Il Gardellino 8. Piccolo theme from Concerto 9. Concerto in A minor, I 10. Winter, II The Four Seasons 11. Guitar Concerto, III 12. Il Gardellino flute solo 13. Trumpet Concerto I 14. Katarina s Song: Batti, Batti 15. Sonata for Two Violins, II 16. Composition Concerto 17. Concerto in A minor, II 18. La Notte, I 19. Summer, The Four Seasons 20. Il Gardellino 21. Caldara singers, guitar 22. Violin Sonata in F major 23. Piccolo Concerto, I 24. Trumpet Concerto, III 25. Double Orchestra Concerto, II 26. Alla Rustica Atlanta s Performing Arts Publication 25
jere flint, Conductor The Zeist Foundation Youth Orchestra Conductor Chair Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra since 1979, Jere Flint directs weekly ASYO rehearsals and three major concerts a year, as well as other special concerts throughout the season. Also a frequent conductor of Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Jere Flint concerts, he leads the ASO s popular Symphony Street concerts for youngsters and regularly conducts ASO Family Concerts and the Classic Chastain pops series at Chastain Park. When not on the podium, he is a member of the ASO s cello section, where he has performed for more than three decades. Mr. Flint attended Wittenberg University in Ohio for his Bachelor of Music degree and was assistant director of the noted choir there. While still a student, he arranged and conducted two Christmas recordings by the choir for Columbia Records. He received his Master of Arts degree in Music in 1967, from the University of Washington in Seattle, while also serving as manager of the University Festival Opera Company and music director for the School of Drama. He later studied conducting under Otto-Werner Mueller. Mr. Flint also has conducted at the Brevard Music Center, the Sewanee Summer Music Center, the Atlanta-Emory Orchestra and the Southeastern Music Center in Columbus, Ga. CLASSICAL KIDS LIVE! The Classical Kids Live! Theatrical Symphony Concert Series brings to life Susan Hammond s best-selling audio stories for student and family audiences. Over two million children and adults throughout the U.S. and abroad have enjoyed these magically staged concerts designed to bring to life the extraordinary lives and the musical masterpieces of great classical composers. Having received more parenting, music industry and educational awards and honors than any other entity of its kind, Classical Kids is proud to say, We re making a difference! The troupe s season repertoire includes theatrically staged adaptations of Tchaikovsky Discovers America and Vivaldi s Ring of Mystery as well as dramatic presentations of the Emmy award winning Beethoven Lives Upstairs and our popular newcomer, Mozart s Magnificent Voyage. Each year nearly 100,000 audience members, throughout the U.S. and abroad, enjoy the Classical Kids symphony concerts, which continue to garner critical and commercial acclaim. The Washington Times said, Classical Kids presents a great, fantastic, wonderful show! Susan Hammond susan hammond, Creator Susan Hammond has created a new generation of classical music fans through her innovative and award-winning recordings. She is the executive producer of a 16 title series of children s classical music recordings known collectively as Classical Kids, selling to date nearly 5 million CDs, DVDs and books worldwide, and earning over 100 prestigious awards and honors. Each story 26 Encore Atlanta
entails its own adventure featuring a unique combination of music, history and theatricality to engage the imaginations of children. Ms. Hammond holds the philosophy that, Where the heart goes, the mind will follow. An accomplished concert pianist and music teacher, Ms. Hammond searched for recordings about classical music to share with her young daughters. One day, she sat reading to her girls with a classical music radio station on in the background and noticed how they responded to the literature in a different way when enhanced by music. The rest, as they say, is history. Performing more than 1 thousand concerts to over 2 million audience members, Hammond s Classical Kids continue to garner acclaim as the best way to introduce children (and adults) to the lives and musical masterpieces of classical composers. Ms. Hammond is the recipient of Billboard Magazine s International Achievement Award and resides with her husband in Toronto where she is a member of the Order of Canada for her contribution to the arts. paul pement, Director & Producer Paul Pement holds an exclusive licensing agreement with the award-winning Classical Kids organization to produce the highly-acclaimed symphony concert series that includes Beethoven Lives Upstairs, Tchaikovsky Discovers America, Vivaldi s Ring of Mystery, Hallelujah Handel and Mozart s Magnificent Voyage. Paul Pement As executive and artistic director of Classical Kids Music Education, NFP, Mr. Pement oversees all business and artistic aspects of the Classical Kids Live! theatrical concert productions around the world (classicalkidslive.com). Mr. Pement received a B.F.A. in Acting from the University of Illinois and, as a long-time member of Actor s Equity Association, has gained extensive theatrical experience performing in over 50 professional productions throughout Chicago and abroad. He has appeared in such long running commercial hits as Peter Pan (Peter), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Benjamin) and Forever Plaid (Sparky), the latter of which he has also directed and choreographed at major theatres across the country. In addition to film and television appearances, he has produced and directed several tolerance-related short films and has directed and choreographed live industrial shows for corporations such as Target and Mobil. Paul is proud of his collaboration with actress/singer Cory Goodrich in co-founding Wagtail Productions, producers of Cory s House (coryshouse.com) and winners of the Best New Artist and Best Lullaby categories (Children s Web Awards) for their CDs Wiggly Toes and Hush. douglas cowling, Playwright/Music Editor Douglas is a writer, musician and educator with a lifelong interest in bringing classical music to wider audiences. He is the writer of five Classical Kids audio productions: Mozart s Magic Fantasy, Tchaikovsky Discovers America, Vivaldi s Ring of Mystery, Hallelujah Handel! and the new Mozart s Magnificent Voyage. He was also associate producer on Daydreams and Lullabies and serves as the principle writer/music editor for the Classical Kids Live! theatrical symphony concert series. Atlanta s Performing Arts Publication 27
JOE LEHMAN, Vivaldi/Giovani Joe is a Chicago based actor whose recent work includes Christmas, My Way with Great Plains Theatre, What Every Woman Knows with Shaw Chicago, Frankie in Forever Plaid at Greenbrier Valley Theatre, Bertie Wooster in By Jeeves at Illinois Theatre Center, and Theseus in A Midsummer Night s Dream at New American Theatre. Chicago Joe Lehman area credits include Frog in A Year with Frog and Toad, Orlando in As You Like It with First Folio Shakespeare Festival, Freddy in My Fair Lady with Drury Lane Oakbrook, Stephen in Old Wicked Songs with Apple Tree Theatre, and Matt in The Fantasticks! with Light Opera Works. Regionally he has worked with Jewish Ensemble Theatre in Detroit, Stage One in Louisville, Madison Repertory Theatre, Oklahoma Shakespeare Festival and The Human Race Theatre among others. Joe has performed in three Classical Kids Live! productions, including Mozart in Mozart s Magnificent Voyage, Vivaldi in Vivaldi s Ring of Mystery and Uncle in Beethoven Lives Upstairs. nicole hren, Katarina Nicole is thrilled to be performing with Classical Kids. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois, and a member of Actors Equity Association. Recent credits include The Radio City Christmas Spectacular in Atlanta, Orlando and Nashville; Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Alice), The King and I at the MUNY Theater in St. Louis; Nicole Hren Beauty and the Beast, Swing! and Treasure Island at the Marriott Theater in Lincolnshire, Ill.; Fiddler on the Roof (Chava), Kiss Me Kate, Camelot, Superman and Meet Me in St. Louis (Lucille Ballard) at Drury Lane Theater in Oakbrook, Ill.; Chicago at Pheasant Run Dinner Theater; Singin in the Rain at the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts; and Association, The Musical at the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago s McCormick Place. Nicole performed for many years with Moraine Valley Theater for Young Audiences as an artist in residence in the following productions: The Little Mermaid, The Velveteen Rabbit, Babes in Toyland, Cinderella, The Odyssey and The Diary of Anne Frank. Nicole lives in Chicago with her husband, Gideon. classical kids music education, nfp Classical Kids Music Education, NFP was formed for charitable and educational purposes to build pathways for progression in music so that all young people, whatever their background or abilities, have access to the rich and diverse range of influence classical music offers. Reduced funding to the arts has diminished the ability of many symphony orchestras to provide high-quality educational and family programs like the one you are seeing today. It is imperative that more organizations are able to reach students and families through excellent music education programs in a time when affordable and worthy programming is lacking. Classical Kids Music Education, NFP was created to bridge the gap by securing funding for high-caliber projects and, together with individual donor support, help to bring music education into the 21st century by creating more opportunities for young people to be exposed to their interest and develop their talents to the fullest. Please visit ckme.org to learn more about how you can help. 28 Encore Atlanta