August 15, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … Carlos Kalmar launches his inaugural classical season as Music Director of the Oregon Symphony with a concert featuring audience favorites, including Berlioz’s “Symphonie fantastique” and Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite,” on Sept. 13, 14 and 15 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Media support provided by The Oregonian.
Throughout his first year as musical head of the Symphony, Kalmar will present well-known orchestral repertoire as a vehicle to highlight the overall strength and quality of the orchestra. “Let’s make all the concerts exciting for the audience by creating something artistic and musical that they won’t forget,” he explains. “We’ll start the season with something reflecting a basic idea for the entire year: showcase the orchestra and play something from the 20th century.”
Kalmar stresses that one of his most important goals is to build relationships with the audience. He has committed to presenting each of the pre-concert talks for his concerts, which is rare for a Music Director. In addition, he will appear in the lobby after performances to sign programs and talk to audience members.
The concert opens with “Bright Blue Music,” a late 20th-century work by American composer Michael Torke, whose music has been described by Gramophone as “some of the most optimistic, joyful and thoroughly uplifting music to appear in recent years.” The New York Times calls Torke “a master orchestrator whose shimmering timbral palette makes him the Ravel of his generation.” Torke’s compositions, which encompass almost every musical genre, combine singular rhythmic energy with stunning melodies. “Bright Blue Music” was commissioned by the New York Youth Symphony, which premiered the work at Carnegie Hall in 1985.
Kalmar and the Symphony close the first half of the concert with Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite,” a shortened version of his “Firebird” ballet, which was commissioned in 1910 by Diaghilev for the Ballets Russes in Paris. This ballet catapulted the young and previously unknown Stravinsky to instant fame and established him as a major presence in contemporary music of the early 20th century. One of his most popular works, the “Firebird” and the “Firebird Suite” introduce many of the elements that were to become Stravinsky’s trademarks: driving rhythms, rich harmonies and dazzling orchestral timbres.
The second half of the concert is devoted to Berlioz’ “Symphonie fantastique,” which accomplished the composer’s goal: to write what he termed “new music.” Composed in 1830, it represented a radical departure from current music of the time, from its innovative instrumentation (Berlioz expanded the wind, brass and percussion sections) to its explicit programmatic component, over which critics and scholars continue to debate. Although highly controversial at the time of its premiere, the “Symphonie fantastique” has become a perennial audience favorite, as well as a challenge to any orchestra.
Oregon Symphony Classical concerts regularly include additional opportunities for listeners to learn more about the music and the orchestra. These activities include:
Pre-concert Talks: Music Director Carlos Kalmar and Symphony President Tony Woodcock will lead a discussion one hour before the concert of the works to be performed. Media support for “Pre-Concert Talks” is provided by Classical Millennium.
Saturday: Music Director Carlos Kalmar will speak briefly from the podium in “Saturday Interactive.” Media support for “Saturday Interactive” is provided by KINKfm102.
Performances are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Monday, Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Tickets range in price from $17 to $76 and may be purchased at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office (923 S.W. Washington), Monday through Friday, 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.
