February 4, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … Music Director Carlos Kalmar makes his Sundays at Two debut on the opening concert of the 2005-2006 series and will also lead the Oregon Symphony in the final concert. Newly appointed interim Resident Conductor Gregory Vajda and Eri Klas, Artistic Director of Finland’s Tampere Philharmonic, will also lead the Symphony in this popular concert series, which includes thematic programs, highlights from Classical evening concerts and Symphony musicians as featured soloists on most programs. American Airlines is the airline sponsor for the Symphony’s Sundays at Two series. Media support is provided by Willamette Week.
The series begins on Oct. 16 with Kalmar and the Symphony presenting “Symphonies in All Sizes,” featuring Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 in C major, “The Great” and Kurt Schwertsik’s “Shrunken Symphony.” This concert also features Principal Second Violin Chien Tan performing Vivaldi’s “Goldfinch” concerto on the treble violin, a 20 th century high-tech addition to the string family.
On Jan. 15, 2006 Vajda returns to the series where he made his acclaimed Symphony debut during the 2003-2004 season. He will lead the Symphony in “Musical Flavors,” a sampling of diverse styles and sounds which will feature the first movement of the Beethoven Violin Concerto with soloist Kyoko Takezawa. The concert also features Symphony premieres of Kodály’s “Peacock Variations” and Harrison Birtwistle’s “Machaut à ma manière.”
Songs and dances are the focus of the third concert conducted by Klas on Feb. 5, 2006. This concert features Eduard Tubin’s “Estonian Dance Suite,” Sibelius’ “Valse triste” and two “Humoresques” with Symphony violinist Gregory Ewer and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 1.
Kalmar returns to conduct the final Sundays at Two concert on April 9, 2006, “Mysteries of Time and Space.” This concert includes Haydn’s Symphony No. 101, “Clock;” Joseph Strauss’ “Music of the Spheres” waltz; Paul Creston’s “Concertino for Marimba,” performed by Principal Percussion Niel DePonte;.and the Symphony premiere of Joseph Schwantner’s “Aftertones of Infinity.”
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 of these shorter concerts (no more than 80 minutes) presents a mix of appealing works from the Classical repertoire, including featured selections from Classical evening concerts. Sundays at Two also offers the audience an opportunity to connect with the music and musicians. During the concerts, the soloists and conductor will talk as well as play, sharing their background and passion for making music. The Sundays at Two series is comprised of four subscription concerts running from October 2005 through April 2006. 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 $48 for students/seniors and $68 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. or (503) 416-6383 after 5 p.m. Subscription orders also may be placed online at www.orsymphony.org beginning Monday, Feb. 7.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. 22, 2005.
