August 15, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE OREGON SYMPHONY IN SEPTEMBER:
SEASON GETS UNDERWAY WITH A BANG!

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(PORTLAND, Ore.) – Back from its summer break following a triumphant spring debut at Carnegie Hall that The New Yorker called “one of the most gripping events of the season,” the Oregon Symphony is ready to celebrate September and open Portland’s classical music season with four exciting concerts.

One of the region’s favorite summer events—the free Waterfront Park Concert—kicks things off, followed quickly by Oregon’s jazz trumpet sensation Chris Botti on September 10, Pink Martini on September 11, 12 and 13, and the opening of the classical concert season on September 24, 25, and 26.

 

THURSDAY, SEPT. 1:
THE ANNUAL FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT AT TOM McCALL WATERFRONT PARK

• When and Where: One performance only, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1; Tom McCall Waterfront Park on Southwest Naito Parkway, just south of the Hawthorne Bridge. The Oregon Symphony’s performance will be preceded by a one-hour Portland Youth Philharmonic concert from 5 to 6 p.m.

• The Performers: The Oregon Symphony, with Music Director Carlos Kalmar and Resident Conductor Gregory Vajda sharing the podium, joined at one point by dancers from Oregon Ballet Theatre. (The Portland Youth Philharmonic also performs prior to the Oregon Symphony concert.)

• The Program:  Beginning with traditional and crowd-pleasing Star Spangled Banner, the concert also includes the following:

Richard Wagner:     Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg 
W. A. Mozart:            Allegro con spirito from Symphony No. 35 in D Major
Jean Sibelius:           Finlandia
Kenneth Alford:       Colonel Bogey March
Arturo Márquez:      Danzón No. 2
Morton Gould:           American Salute
George Gershwin:    Who Cares?
                                      “The Man I Love”
                                       “Embraceable You”
                                       “Who Cares?”
                                       (With dancers from the Oregon Ballet Theatre)
Daniel-François-Esprit Auber:  Overture to The Crown of Diamonds
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky:     1812 Overture
(With members of Portland Youth Philharmonic)

• More Background Info:
• On the Portland Youth Philharmonic: www.portlandyouthphil.org/ 
• On Oregon Ballet Theatre: www.obt.org/

• Tickets: Admission is free, and no tickets are required. Bring chairs or blankets for lawn seating. Concertgoers are also invited to bring school supplies to donate for use in Portland public schools. Volunteers from the Portland non-profit group Schoolhouse Supplies will be on hand with collection barrels to receive the donations.

• What’s So Special About This Concert:
• A popular Portland end-of-summer tradition now in its 16th year, the Waterfront Concert is the Oregon Symphony’s free performance of the year and annually draws its biggest audience. A crowd of 15,000 or more is expected.
• Concert goes green!  Instead of printing thousands of programs, most of which are left behind on the grass, this year’s concert program will be available as a smartphone app.  (iPhones and Androids only)
• Music Director Carlos Kalmar and Resident Conductor Gregory Vajda share the conducting duties.
• Dancers from Oregon Ballet Theatre will also take part, performing to three Gershwin tunes.
• The traditional grand finale – and everyone’s favorite outdoor show-stopper, the Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture – will herald an elaborate fireworks show, complete with military cannons from the Oregon Army National Guard 218th Field Artillery.
• Before the Oregon Symphony takes the stage, the Portland Youth Philharmonic, led by Music Director David Hattner, will perform an hour-long concert of its own from 5 to 6 p.m. PYP musicians also join the Oregon Symphony for the 1812 Overture.
• Concert ends with fireworks over the river.
• The concert is funded by the Regional Arts & Culture Council, including support from the City of Portland, Metro, and Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties. Additional support is provided by Portland Parks & Recreation. Presenting sponsors of the concert are NW Natural and KOIN-TV. 

 

SATURDAY, SEPT. 10:
CHRIS BOTTI AND THE OREGON SYMPHONY

• When and Where: One performance only, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 10; Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

• The Performers: Jazz trumpet sensation Chris Botti with the Oregon Symphony.  Gregory Vajda conducts.

• The Program:

The Oregon Symphony:

• Bernstein: Overture to Candide
• Gould: Pavane from Symphonette No. 2
• Lecuona: Gypsies
• Lecuona: AndalucÍa
• Lecuona: Malagueña
• The Best of Bond (Tyzik, arr.)

Chris Botti program will be announced from the stage.

• More Background Info and Photos:

• On Chris Botti: www.chrisbotti.com
• On the Oregon Symphony: www.orsymphony.org

• Tickets: $30 to $125; at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office, 923 SW Washington St., in downtown Portland. Ticket office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets may also be purchased by phone at (503) 228-1353 or (800) 228-7343 during the same hours, at the concert hall box office starting two hours before the performance, or online a  t any time from the orchestra’s web site, OrSymphony.org.

• What’s So Special About This Concert:
• Chris Botti is a native Oregonian raised in Corvallis.
• Jazz trumpet sensation Chris Botti returns for his 3rd appearance with the Oregon Symphony.  His earlier appearances in 2005/06 and 2008/09 were wildly popular with audiences.
• Chris Botti has established himself as an extraordinary performer across a wide range of repertoire—jazz, pop and classical.
• In addition to his four #1 jazz albums, he’s racked up multiple Gold, Platinum and Grammy Awards.

 

SUNDAY, SEPT. 11:
MONDAY, SEPT. 12:
TUESDAY, SEPT. 13:
PINK MARTINI WITH SPECIAL GUEST SINGER STORM LARGE AND THE OREGON SYMPHONY

• When and Where: Sept. 11, 12, and 13.  Three performances, all beginning at 7:30pm; Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

• The Performers: Thomas Lauderdale and his wildly popular band Pink Martini, joined by guest singer Storm Large with the Oregon Symphony, Music Director Carlos Kalmar conducting. 

• The Program:  Thomas Lauderdale and Carlos Kalmar are keeping mum at the moment, promising a great surprise of an evening!

• More Background Info and Photos:

• On Pink Martini:  www.pinkmartini.com
• On the Oregon Symphony:  www.orsymphony.org

• Tickets: $30 to $125; at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office, 923 SW Washington St., in downtown Portland. Ticket office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets may also be purchased by phone at (503) 228-1353 or (800) 228-7343 during the same hours, at the concert hall box office starting two hours before the performance, or online at any time from the orchestra’s web site, OrSymphony.org.

• What’s So Special About This Concert:

• Storm Large joins the group as the guest singer
• With Thomas Lauderdale and Pink Martini, you never know who’ll show up—additional special guests to be announced.
• Thomas Lauderdale and Carlos Kalmar share a unique chemistry, promising a fluid, energetic program that will thrill both symphony lovers and the thousands of Pink Martini fans.

 

SATURDAY, SEPT. 24:
SUNDAY, SEPT. 25:
MONDAY, SEPT. 26:
RACHMANINOFF’S SYMPHONY NO. 2

• When and Where:  [EDITORS PLEASE NOTE DIFFERING PERFORMANCE TIMES]

Sept. 24 at 7:30pm
Sept. 25 at 7:30pm
Sept. 26 at 8:00pm
At the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

• The Performers: The Oregon Symphony, with Music Director Carlos Kalmar on the podium, and violinist Elina Vähälä

• The Program:
• Mikhail Glinka: Overture to Russlan and Ludmilla
• Sergei Prokofiev:  Concerto No. 2 in G minor for Violin and Orchestra
• Sergei Rachmaninoff:  Symphony No. 2 in E minor

• More Background Info and Photos:

• On Elina Vähälä: www.elinavahala.com
• On the Oregon Symphony: www.orsymphony.org

• Tickets: $21 to $92; at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office, 923 SW Washington St., in downtown Portland. Ticket office hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets may also be purchased by phone at (503) 228-1353 or (800) 228-7343 during the same hours, at the concert hall box office starting two hours before the performance, or online at any time from the orchestra’s web site, OrSymphony.org. 

• What’s So Special About This Concert:
• It opens the Oregon Symphony’s classical season, which runs through May, 2012.
• An All-Russian evening—Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev and Glinka.
• Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 is considered by many to be one of the Oregon Symphony’s signature pieces.  It was recorded under James DePreist.  This performance marks the first “Rach 2” under the musical direction of Carlos Kalmar.
• The program demands brilliant virtuosic performances from the orchestra and from the soloist.
• Features  Finnish soloist Elina Vähälä as the violin soloist for Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2
• Ms. Vähälä makes her third appearance with the Oregon Symphony.  Her most recent appearance in 2010 was lauded as “viscerally affecting” by The Oregonian reviewer.
• She plays a violin created by Antonio Stradivari in 1678.
• The slow movement from Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 was the basis for Barry Manilow’s “Never Going to Fall in Love Again.”

 

Photos for media uses can be accessed at: www.orsymphony.org/newsroom/artists.aspx

While the concerts in this release begin the 2011/12 Oregon Symphony season, season subscriptions, including the popular Flex Passes and Gift Cards, are still available through the OS Ticket Office at 503-228-1353.

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CONTACT:
Jim Fullan
Vice President, Communications, Marketing & Sales
503-416-6347
jfullan@orsymphony.org