February 13, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … Thematic programming presented in a shorter concert format showcasing Oregon Symphony musicians in both solo and speaking roles will continue with the 2004-05 Sundays at Two series. The four-concert series features a shorter concert format (no more than 90 minutes in length) with Symphony musicians performing and sharing their background and passion for making music. Assistant Conductor Mei-Ann Chen and three other “dynamic young guest conductors” will conduct, said Artistic Administrator Charles Calmer, and the Symphony’s yet-unnamed new concertmaster will make his or her solo debut.
The series begins with an afternoon devoted to the theme of “Dreams” on Sunday, Nov. 28, and features the solo debut of the new concertmaster, who should be named by the end of the 2003-2004 season, said Calmer. He or she will speak about the role Saint-Saëns’ “Introduction and Rondo capriccioso” plays in the solo violin literature. This concert will also include Mendelssohn’s overture to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Wagner’s overture to “The Flying Dutchman” and the U.S. premiere of English composer Colin Matthews’ “Machines and Dreams,” which incorporates the use of birds calls, metronomes, bicycle horns and other nontraditional instruments played by members of the Portland Youth Philharmonic.
The series continues Dec. 12 with a holiday concert featuring excerpts from Handel’s “Messiah,” conducted by Bernard Labadie, current music director of the Montreal Opera and a noted early music specialist, and Principal Cello Nancy Ives. This concert features soprano Shannon Mercer, countertenor Matthew White, tenor Colin Blazer, bass Joshua Hopkins and members of the Portland Symphonic Choir who will perform the most popular solos and choruses from Handel’s best-known oratorio, including “The Hallelujah Chorus.”
On January 9, 2005, guest conductor Christoph Campestrini, Conductor-in Residence with the Karintische Summer Festival, will lead “Mozart and the Masters,” a concert devoted to music of these two giants of classical literature. This concert will also feature Symphony horn Joseph Berger performing Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 2. The Sundays at Two series concludes on Sunday, April 3, 2005 with a concert of “Musical Inspirations,” as Tania Miller, Music Director of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in Vancouver, B.C. leads the Symphony in Weber’s overture to “Oberon,” Henze’s lush arrangement of Telemann’s music, “Telemanniana,” and Hindemith’s “Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes of Weber” and Symphony Principal Violist Joël Belgique performs Telemann’s Viola Concerto in A minor.
The Sundays at Two series is designed to attract audiences of all ages, and provide an entry into classical music for first-time listeners. Each concert includes a guest conductor and a Symphony musician as featured soloist or speaker, and features a mix of aappealing selections from the Classical repertoire. The Sundays at Two series is comprised of four subscription concerts running from November 2004 through April 2005. Performances are Sundays at 2 p.m. at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in the Portland Center for the Performing Arts, located in downtown Portland at the corner of S.W. Main and Broadway.
Subscriptions for the Sundays at Two series are $46 for students/seniors and $66 for adults. Subscriptions may be purchased at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office in downtown Portland at 923 S.W. Washington, or charged by phone at 503-228-1353 or (800) 228-7343, weekdays (and Saturdays, Sept. through May) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Subscription orders also may be placed online at www.orsymphony.org. Sundays at Two subscribers receive full subscription benefits, including flexible ticket exchange and advance purchase for Special Event concerts. Single tickets for Sundays at Two and other Symphony concerts will be available to the general public at 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 16, 2004.
