June 17, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … All Classical 89.9 FM listeners will hear select concerts from the Oregon Symphony’s 2004-2005 season in a 10-part weekly series of radio broadcasts on Sundays from 7 to 9 p.m., beginning on July 24 with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral,” and Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” conducted by Music Director Carlos Kalmar.
In the first broadcast, the opening concert of the 2004-05 season, Kalmar and the orchestra present Beethoven’s paean to nature, the “Pastoral” Symphony. This gentle and lyrical depiction of nature is paired with Stravinsky’s signature work, “The Rite of Spring,” which caused a riot at its 1913 premiere and has become the quintessential example of 20 th century music with its compelling rhythmic patterns and exotic orchestral colors.
The second broadcast, which will air on July 31, features Yakov Kasman performing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3. The concert also includes Nielsen’s powerful Symphony No. 5 and the Symphony premiere of Martinů’s “Memorial to Lidice,” which honors the memory of the Czech citizens of that town who were massacred by the Nazis in a single day during WWII.
Laureate Music Director James DePreist leads the Symphony in the third concert broadcast on August 7. Together they will present an evening of DePreist’s signature works, including Respighi’s “The Pines of Rome” and “The Birds,” as well as Barber’s violin concerto with violinist Elmar Oliveira.
On August 14, Kalmar and the Symphony present “ Old London Town,” featuring Vaughan Williams’ evocative “London Symphony” and Elgar’s haunting Cello Concerto with cellist Alban Gerhardt.
The following week, on August 21, Kalmar and the Symphony perform Brahms’ light-hearted and graceful Symphony No. 2, along with one of Mozart’s most famous piano concertos, the Piano Concerto No. 21 with pianist Stephen Hough. This concert also includes the Symphony premiere of Alfred Schnittke’s theatrical and amusing “Moz-Art à la Haydn.”
Kalmar and the Symphony, joined by the Portland Symphonic Choir and soloists Erin Marie Wall and Richard Zeller, present Brahms’ groundbreaking “German Requiem” on August 28. This moving and powerful work is paired with the Symphony’s premiere of Britten’s “Sinfonia da Requiem.”
On September 4, listeners can hear Kalmar and the Symphony perform Beethoven’s revolutionary Symphony No. 3, “Eroica,” along with the Symphony premiere of Joseph Schwantner’s Percussion Concerto with percussionist Colin Currie, and Lutoslawski’s “Musique funèbre.”
The following week, on September 11, join the Symphony as it celebrates with party music by Mozart and Peter Maxwell Davies. Kalmar and the Symphony present Mozart’s graceful “Haffner” Symphony, along with Mendelssohn’s “Scottish” Symphony and Davies’ joyfully debauched “An Orkney Wedding, with Sunrise,” a musical snapshot of a Scottish country wedding. The concert opens with Walton’s rowdy and boisterous “Portsmouth Point Overture.”
The second half of Oregon composer Kevin Walczyk’s “Corps of Discovery” Symphony, honoring the 200 th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark expedition, received its world premiere last April. Hear it again on September 18, as Kalmar and the Symphony present a salute to the spirit of discovery with Mendelssohn’s “ Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage” and Debussy’s “La Mer.” This concert also features pianist Peter Donohoe performing Barber’s demanding Piano Concerto.
The final KBPS broadcast, on September 25, will feature Kalmar and the Symphony performing Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, with its tender Adagietto, along with the Symphony premiere of Ligeti’s “Atmosphères” and Wagner’s Prelude to Act I of “Lohengrin.”
In addition to the concerts, KBPS will broadcast interviews with musicians and conductors during the performance intermission.
For more information, visit the KBPS website at www.allclassical.org or visit the Symphony’s Web site at www.orsymphony.org.
