Contact: Allison Griffin
Public Relations Associate
503-416-6347
March 23, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … Former Oregon Symphony Concertmaster Amy Schwartz Moretti will make her final appearance with the orchestra on the upcoming classical program “Sweet and Sly” at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on Saturday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Monday, April 23 at 8 p.m.
Moretti will be the featured soloist for Chausson’s Poème and Tchaikovsky’s Valse-scherzo, Op. 34.
“There is no description, no story, nothing but sensation,” said Chausson of his Poème for Violin and Orchestra . The richly romantic piece was inspired by a story by the Russian writer Ivan Turgenev, who was in love with the French singer Pauline Garcia-Viardot.
An Oregon Symphony premiere, Tchaikovsky’s Valse-scherzo, Op. 34 was written for his friend and student, violinist Yosif Kotek. The composer poured all his affection for Kotek into the charming, buoyant music, which alternates lyricism with ear-popping fireworks. “Whenever Tchaikovsky appears on a program, whether you are familiar with the piece or not, you know you are in for a treat,” said Moretti. “This music is full of great melodies, light-hearted spirit and virtuosic fire.”
Under the direction of Resident Conductor Gregory Vajda, the program will also include Ravel’s Valses nobles et sentimentales, Busoni’s Tanzwalzer (Dance Waltzes), Debussy’s Jeux (Games) and Ravel’s La Valse.
In September the Symphony announced that Moretti would be leaving
Portland to become the first Director and Associate Professor
of the Robert McDuffie Center for
Strings at Mercer University’s Townsend School of Music
in Macon, Georgia. The new position will allow her the chance
to expand her solo and chamber work as well as teach talented
young string students.
Tickets are $20 to $88 and may be purchased at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office, located at 923 S.W. Washington. Ticket office hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets can be charged by phone at (503) 228-1353 or (800) 228-7343, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased at Ticketmaster outlets or by calling (503) 224-4400. Discounted tickets for groups of eight or more are available through the group sales hotline at (503) 416-6380. Support for the concert is provided by the Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation. Media support is provided by The Oregonian and KINK fm.
Images and guest artist bios are available at www.orsymphony.org/media.