October 11, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … Guitarist Christopher Parkening brings his incomparable phrasing and virtuosity back to Portland with a performance of the well-known "Fantasía para un Gentilhombre" by Joaquín Rodrigo, along with Guest Conductor Michael Stern, who makes his Oregon Symphony debut conducting Prokofiev's Symphony No. 5 and the U.S. premiere of Austrian composer Herbert Willi's "Encounter for Orchestra" Nov. 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Media support is provided by The Oregonian.
Parkening, called by the Los Angeles Times “America's reigning classical guitarist,” has captivated audiences with the elegance of his sound for more than 25 years. He has performed with some of the finest orchestras in North America, including the Chicago Symphony, New York Philharmonic and the National Symphony. He's also performed at the White House, appeared with Placido Domingo on PBS' “Live from Lincoln Center,” and took part in the Carnegie Hall 100th anniversary celebration. Among his many engagements during the 2002-2003 season, Parkening will perform with John Williams and the Boston Pops in a nationally televised broadcast on PBS, and at the Royal Albert Hall in London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Stern represents a new generation of American conductors and has earned an international reputation; he recently stepped down as Chief Conductor of Germany's Saarbrücken Radio Symphony Orchestra, which he had led since 1996. Among his many conducting credits include appearances with the New York Philharmonic, the Israel Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, the London Symphony and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic. Stern made his New York Philharmonic debut in 1986 at the invitation of Leonard Bernstein and also appears regularly at the Aspen Music Festival. He is the son of legendary violinist Isaac Stern.
These concerts, which explore the national musical styles of Austria, Spain and Russia, open with Willi's “Encounter for Orchestra,” (1997-98) commissioned by the Vienna Philharmonic to commemorate that orchestra's 150th anniversary. This 18-minute work draws on all the instrumental, technical and aural resources used by the modern symphony orchestra. “It employs a large color palette, with sounds ranging from shimmering blocks of chords to extremely delicate murmurs,” says Symphony Artistic Administrator Charles Calmer. “Listeners who enjoyed last season's “Fratres” by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt or who like the music of John Adams or Henryk Górecki should feel completely at home.”
Parkening's technical and artistic mastery illuminate Spanish composer Rodrigo's famous “Fantasía para un Gentilhombre,” (Fantasy for a Courtier), originally composed for Andrés Segovia in 1954. Like many 20th century Spanish composers, Rodrigo's approach to music blended his own particular styles and preferences with Spanish folk culture. After intermission, Stern and the Symphony travel to Russia with Prokofiev's energetic Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major. This work epitomizes Prokofiev's masterful use of orchestral textures and colors and showcases his unique blend of driving rhythms and graceful melodic lines with an often ironic sense of humor; the Symphony last performed this 20th century masterwork in January 1997.
In addition to pre-concert talks one hour before the concert, Oregon Symphony Classical concerts regularly include additional opportunities for listeners to learn more about the music and the orchestra. These activities include:
One hour before the concert Dr. Kevin Walczyk, Professor of Music at Western Oregon State University in Monmouth, will lead a discussion of the works to be performed. Media support for "Pre-Concert Talks" is provided by Classical Millennium.
Guest Conductor Michael Stern will discuss Herbert Willi's “Encounter for Orchestra” in “Saturday Interactive.” Media support for “Saturday Interactive” is provided by KINKfm102.
Audience members will be invited to stay for a 15-20 minute panel discussion with Conducting Assistant Jonathan Pasternack and guest. Media support for “Sunday Post-Concert Discussion” is provided by KBPS Classical 89.9 FM.
Performances are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Monday, Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Tickets range in price from $16 to $72 and may be purchased at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office (923 S.W. Washington), Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or charged by phone at 503-228-1353 or (800) 228-7343. Tickets also may be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets (503-790-ARTS) or through Ticketmaster Online, via the Symphony's Web site at www.orsymphony.org. Service fees may apply.
Christopher Parkening is celebrated as one of the world's preeminent virtuosos of the classical guitar. For more than a quarter century, his concerts and recordings have received the highest worldwide acclaim. The Washington Post cited his stature as "the leading guitar virtuoso of our day, combining profound musical insight with complete technical mastery of his instrument." Parkening is recognized as heir to the legacy of the great Spanish artist Andrés Segovia, who proclaimed that "Christopher Parkening is a great artist — he is one of the most brilliant guitarists in the world." Following a recent performance, The Los Angeles Times noted, "Parkening is considered America's reigning classical guitarist, carrying the torch of his mentor, the late Andrés Segovia."
Parkening's rare combination of dramatic virtuosity, eloquent musicianship and uniquely beautiful sound has captivated audiences around the world from New York to Tokyo. He has performed at the White House, appeared with Placido Domingo on "Live from Lincoln Center," participated in Carnegie Hall's 100th anniversary celebration and performed twice on the internationally televised Grammy Awards. Parkening has appeared on many nationally broadcast television programs, including "The Tonight Show," "Good Morning America," "CBS Sunday Morning," "The Today Show" and "20/20." Parkening was also featured soloist with composer/conductor John Williams on the Sony Classical soundtrack of "Stepmom," which had a nearly two-year run on Billboard's Classical Crossover chart. Voted "Best Classical Guitarist" in the nationwide readers' poll of Guitar Player Magazine for many consecutive years, he was placed in their Gallery of Greats along with Andrés Segovia, John Williams and Julian Bream.
Parkening has been a guest soloist with the finest orchestras in the United States, including the Philadelphia, Cleveland and Minnesota Orchestras, the Chicago, Pittsburgh, and National Symphony Orchestras, the Detroit, Houston and St. Louis symphonies, the St. Paul and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestras, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. His extensive recital schedule takes him throughout the country, with regular appearances in New York, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Houston and Los Angeles.
Parkening has amassed an extensive discography on Angel/EMI Classics. He is the recipient of two Grammy nominations in the category of Best Classical Recording for "Parkening and the Guitar," and "The Pleasures of Their Company," a collaboration with soprano Kathleen Battle. In October of 2000, EMI debuted his recording of Elmer Bernstein's "Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra" along with "The Alhambra: La Vega" by Isaac Albéniz with the London Symphony Orchestra, Elmer Bernstein conducting. In 1998 a multi-media CD was released, "Christopher Parkening Celebrates Segovia." In 1996, Parkening and Battle combined their talents once again to record a Christmas album titled "Angels' Glory" for Sony Classical. Other recordings include "Parkening Plays Vivaldi," which features a selection of Baroque concertos coupled with the world premiere recording of Peter Warlock's "Capriol Suite" with The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields; the critically acclaimed orchestral recording of Joaquín Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez" and "Fantasía para un gentilhombre" and the world premiere recording of Walton's "Five Bagatelles for Guitar and Orchestra," with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. In honor of Parkening's 25th year as a recording artist with Angel/EMI Classics, a 2-CD collection, "The Great Recordings," was issued in celebration of his prolific artistry.
For the 2002/2003 season, Christopher Parkening's recital program, "Masterworks of the Last Century," will feature his favorite works by composers such as Joaquín Rodrigo, Manuel Ponce, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Stanley Myers, Andrew York, Leo Brouwer, and Carlo Domeniconi in this collection of pieces for solo guitar. Mr. Parkening continues to offer a collaborative recital program, "Braziliana," with the electrifying baritone Jubilant Sykes, featuring music of Brazil and the Americas. Included in this season's orchestral repertoire are the exciting new "Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra" by renowned film composer Elmer Bernstein, and the ever-popular "Concierto de Aranjuez" by Joaquín Rodrigo. Highlights of Mr. Parkening's 2002-2003 season include performing with John Williams and the Boston Pops in a nationally televised broadcast on PBS, concerts in Grant Park, Chicago, the Hollywood Bowl, at Royal Albert Hall in London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cincinnati Pops, the Oregon Symphony, and recitals in New York and Pittsburgh, among other cities.
Parkening's commitment to music extends beyond his demanding performance schedule. He was recently named a Distinguished Professor of Music at Pepperdine University, where he has been appointed to chair the "Christopher Parkening Chair in Classical Guitar," an appointment that will begin in fall 2002. He also teaches an annual summer master class at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. Mr. Parkening has authored "The Christopher Parkening Guitar Method, Volumes I and II," basic pedagogy books for beginning and advanced players. These editions, along with his collection of guitar transcriptions and arrangements, are published by Hal Leonard Corporation.
Christopher Parkening and his wife, Theresa, reside in Southern California. At the heart of his dedication to performance, recording, and teaching is a deep commitment to the Christian faith. He is also a world-class fly-fishing and casting champion who has won the International Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament (the Wimbledon of fly-fishing) held in Islamorada, Florida.
Through his highly successful tenures with orchestras in Europe and the United States, the American conductor Michael Stern has established a flourishing international reputation. His latest venture is the founding of IRIS, a new orchestra in residence at the Germantown Performing Arts Centre in Tennessee. Since its inaugural concert in September 2000, the project has received unanimous public and critical acclaim, and the orchestra has dedicated itself not only to revitalizing the experience of presenting a broad mix of chamber orchestra repertoire, but also to supporting American music: in its opening season IRIS has already commissioned and will record new works by such composers as Stephen Hartke, Richard Danielpour and Edgar Meyer.
Mr. Stern recently concluded his tenure as chief conductor of Germany's Saarbrücken Radio Symphony Orchestra. The first American Chief Conductor in the orchestra's history, he was offered the post almost immediately after making his debut with them in March 1996. In addition to their work in concert, for broadcast and on tour, he and the orchestra made recordings which include a disc of Henry Cowell's works as well as a series devoted to the music of Charles Ives, including a live recorded performance of "Universe" Symphony and the first recording of the reconstructed "Emerson" piano concerto.
In September 1991, he was appointed Permanent Guest Conductor of the Orchestre National de Lyon in France, a position he held for four years. He has also appeared with the national orchestras of Paris, Bordeaux, Lille and Toulouse. Elsewhere, Mr. Stern has led such orchestras as the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, the Oslo Philharmonic, the Bergen Symphony, the Beethovenhalle Orchestra in Bonn, the Deutsche Symphoniker (DSO) in Berlin, the Budapest Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic, the Moscow Philharmonic, the Helsinki Philharmonic, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra in Munich and the Chamber Orchestra of Lausanne. In the United Kingdom he has appeared with the London Symphony, the London Philharmonic, the BBC Symphony (London) and the English Chamber Orchestra. In the Far East, Mr. Stern has appeared with such orchestras as the National Symphony of Taiwan, the Singapore Symphony and Tokyo's NHK Symphony, and in September 2001, he led the Vienna Radio Symphony on a tour of China. He has also been a frequent guest conductor for Denon Records, including a disc of orchestral works by Stravinsky and Prokofiev's Violin Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 with Boris Belkin. He and Mr. Belkin have also recorded works by Tchaikovsky and Dvorák with the London Philharmonic.
In North America, he has conducted the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Saint Louis Symphony, the Atlanta Symphony, the Houston Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony, the Toronto Symphony, the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Indianapolis Symphony and the National Symphony in Washington, D.C., among many others. He also appears regularly at the Aspen Music Festival. From 1986 to 1991, Mr. Stern was the Assistant Conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra. In September 1986, he made his New York Philharmonic debut as one of three young conductors invited by Leonard Bernstein to participate in a conducting workshop that culminated in two concerts at Avery Fisher Hall.
Mr. Stern received his degree from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where his major teacher was the noted conductor and scholar Max Rudolf (whose famous textbook, "The Grammar of Conducting," Mr. Stern co-edited for its third edition.) He also edited a new volume of Rudolf's collected writings and correspondence, published in January 2002 by Pendragon Press. His studies have included two summers at the Pierre Monteaux Memorial School in Hancock, Maine, under the tutelage of Charles Bruck. Born in 1959, Mr. Stern is a graduate of Harvard University, where he earned a degree in American History in 1981. He is married to oboist Jeannette Bittar.