PAUL ANKA, GARRICK OHLSSON, HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS™, SINGER-SONGWRITER AMOS LEE, MEMPHIS R&B REVUE, AND SHOSTAKOVICH’S FIFTH SYMPHONY ON TAP IN OCTOBER

September 12, 2017

PORTLAND, OR – Legends spanning the musical spectrum will take the stage at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall throughout October, as the Oregon Symphony presents one of its most eclectic lineups ever. Up first, singer-songwriter Amos Lee joins the orchestra for songs from his latest album, Spirit; the next evening, icon Paul Anka delivers signature hits from his six-decade career. Classical offerings include Shostakovich’s dramatic Fifth Symphony and acclaimed pianist Garrick Ohlsson performing Barber’s Piano Concerto. Fans of the Harry Potter franchise will delight in a screening of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ on a giant screen, accompanied by the Oregon Symphony’s live performance of John Williams’ score. Mid-month, audiences can travel to Memphis without leaving their seats with live performances by that city’s R&B legends in Take Me To the River – A Memphis Soul and Rhythm & Blues Revue. As October winds down, ghosts and goblins take over the orchestra with the help of Magic Circle Theatre Company in the spooky but family-friendly, Halloween-themed Phantoms of the Orchestra.

TUESDAY, OCT. 3

AMOS LEE 

When and Where: Oct. 3 at 7:30 pm at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

The Performers: The Oregon Symphony, with Associate Conductor Norman Huynh; Amos Lee, vocals/guitar

The Program: Singer-songwriter Amos Lee joins the Oregon Symphony for songs from his latest album, Spirit, plus inspired orchestral arrangements of selections from his previous albums.

What’s So Special About This Concert:

• “Amos Lee is a high-caliber songwriter, musician, and performer, even having toured with the likes of Norah Jones, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Jack Johnson, and Adele.” – Renownedforsound.com, September 11, 2016
• Americansongwriter.com describes Amos Lee as “a somewhat reserved singer-songwriter” with an “everyman soulful voice [which] provides an extra layer of honesty to his introspective folk rock.”
• After 12 years and six critically acclaimed albums, singer-songwriter Amos Lee has self-produced his 2016 album, Spirit, with an eye toward collaboration with other musicians, rather than a top-down “produced” sound. “Working with folks like the LA Philharmonic and the Mobile, Alabama Community Gospel Choir opened my mind to the possibility of pushing the edges of arrangement away from solitary moments into more collaborative, community experiences," says Lee.
• In Spirit, Lee “emphasizes the folk/pop oriented jazz, blues and particularly gospel aspects of his music.” – Americansongwriter.com, 2016 
• “The folk influences from his previous albums are there, but now with Spirit, [Lee’s] latest album, he is able to bring R&B, soul and even gospel influences to his sound … A fearless performer, for sure, he communes with the audience, transmitting that sense of shared experience you can only get from live performances.” – D.C. Metro Theater Arts, September 14, 2016
• “The LA Philharmonic Orchestra accompanied this first-class artist, resulting in an unforgettable performance…[featuring] Lee’s amazing orchestration. Lee explained it was ‘humbling and inspiring’ to be onstage with the orchestra.” – LA Music Blog, July 22, 2015

More Background Info and Photos:
On the Oregon Symphony: orsymphony.org
On Amos Lee: amoslee.com

Tickets: Begin at $30 and can be purchased online at orsymphony.org; in person at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office located at 909 SW Washington St. in downtown Portland (Mon–Sat, 10 am–6 pm); by phone at 503-228-1353 (Mon–Fri, 10 am–9 pm, Sat 10 am–6 pm); and at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall starting two hours before every performance.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 4

PAUL ANKA – CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF HITS – HIS WAY

When and Where: Oct. 4 at 7:30 pm at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

The Performers: Legendary entertainer Paul Anka performs 60 years of his greatest hits. Note: The Oregon Symphony does not perform.

The Program: Anka takes the stage to perform the timeless hits that have made him a legend, such as “Diana,” “You Are My Destiny,” “Lonely Boy,” and “Put Your Head on My Shoulder.”

What’s So Special About This Concert:

• Anka’s 60-year career began in 1957, at age 16, when he scored his first hit, “Diana,” which sold more than 20 million copies. Over the decades, Anka has sold over 10 million albums worldwide, had three No. 1 hits in the United States – “Diana,” “Lonely Boy,” and “You’re Having My Baby” – and has appeared in the Top 50 in five different decades.
• Equally successful as a songwriter, Anka has penned more than 900 works, alone and in collaboration with other notable artists, including Michael Jackson.
• Anka wrote some of the most iconic pop songs of the 1960s and 70s, including Tom Jones’ “She’s a Lady,” and the English lyrics to Frank Sinatra’s signature tune, “My Way.” Other artists who have recorded Anka’s songs include Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Connie Francis, Barbra Streisand, Linda Ronstadt, The Sex Pistols, Nina Simone, and The Gypsy Kings.
• Anka was one of the first pop singers to appear regularly in Las Vegas, where he created a memorable presence as a nightclub singer.
• “Anka is a must see artist for any fan of music who appreciates quality music performed in a top notch manner.” – Rockshowcritique.com, 2014

More Background Info and Photos:
On Paul Anka: paulanka.com

Tickets: Begin at $40 and can be purchased online at orsymphony.org; in person at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office located at 909 SW Washington St. in downtown Portland (Mon–Sat, 10 am–6 pm); by phone at 503-228-1353 (Mon–Fri, 10 am–9 pm, Sat 10 am–6 pm); and at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall starting two hours before every performance. 

SATURDAY, OCT. 7
SUNDAY, OCT. 8

HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS™ IN CONCERT

When and Where: Oct. 7 at 7:30 pm, Oct. 8 at 2 pm, and Oct. 8 at 7:30 pm at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

The Performers: The Oregon Symphony, with Associate Conductor Norman Huynh

The Program: This concert features a screening of the film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ in high-definition on a giant screen, while the Oregon Symphony performs John Williams’ unforgettable score live to picture.

What’s So Special About This Concert:

• The second installment of the Harry Potter franchise follows the Oregon Symphony’s sold-out screenings of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone™ earlier this year. Get your tickets now before we run out!
• Experience the thrill of watching a terrific movie on a giant screen with live orchestral accompaniment.
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ broke multiple attendance and box office records in both Great Britain and North America when it opened in November 2002. In the US and Canada, the film opened to an $88.4 million opening weekend at 3,682 cinemas; in the United Kingdom, the film took in £54.8 million. Worldwide, the film grossed a total of $879 million.
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ garnered rave reviews: Roger Ebert called it “a phenomenal film,” and gave it 4 out of 4 stars; Entertainment Weekly said, “Among the things this Harry Potter does very well indeed is deepen the darker, more frightening atmosphere for audiences. This is as it should be: Harry's story is supposed to get darker.” “Chris Columbus, the director, does a real wonderful job of being faithful to the story but also taking it into a cinematic era.” – Richard Roeper
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ earned three BAFTA nominations and six Saturn nominations.

More Background Info and Photos:
On the Oregon Symphony: orsymphony.org
On Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™: harrypotterinconcert.com/tour/

Tickets: Begin at $35 and can be purchased online at orsymphony.org; in person at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office located at 909 SW Washington St. in downtown Portland (Mon–Sat, 10 am–6 pm); by phone at 503-228-1353 (Mon–Fri, 10 am–9 pm, Sat 10 am–6 pm); and at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall starting two hours before every performance.

HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. J.K. ROWLING'S WIZARDING WORLD™ J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s17)

SATURDAY, OCT. 14
SUNDAY, OCT. 15
MONDAY, OCT. 16

SHOSTAKOVICH’S FIFTH SYMPHONY

When and Where: All concerts at 7:30 pm at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

The Performers: The Oregon Symphony, with guest conductor Baldur Brönnimann; *Johannes Moser, cello

The Program:

Da Ponte: The Rising Sea
*Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 

What’s So Special About This Concert: 

• Gramophone Magazine hails Canadian-German cellist Johannes Moser as “one of the finest among the astonishing gallery of young virtuoso cellists.”
• Moser garnered critical acclaim for his 2008 recording of Saint-Saëns’ complete works for cello on the Hänssler Classic label: “Johannes Moser plays with consummate technique, gorgeous tone, and a rhythmic kick that seems tailor-made for these elegantly crafted pieces.” – David Hurwitz, classicstoday.com. “With a collection of much-lauded CDs to his name already, Johannes Moser might be expected to produce a Saint-Saëns disc that is rather special. And indeed it is, beginning with a benchmark account of the First Concerto. His lean yet elegantly agile playing seems perfectly suited to the synthesis of Classical and Romantic elements so persuasively couched within this composition.” – thestrad.com
• Moser has also wowed critics in his live performances: “Moser gave a stupendous performance of this music [Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor]. Although I know the piece well, here I heard it fresh, lively, filled with excitement and executed with an enviable ease. Musically nuanced and evincing a great sensitivity to the manifold shades of texture and tone, this was as fine a performance as I have encountered.” – Cashman Kerr Prince, artsfuse.org, 2015
• Guest conductor Baldur Brönnimann divides his podium time between the concert hall and the opera house, and also devotes himself to educational outreach. He is currently Principal Conductor of the Basel Sinfonietta in Switzerland and the Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música in Portugal.
• “Brönnimann proved himself to be a sensitive conductor, achieving a fine balance between orchestra and soloist.” – bachtrack.com. 2016

More Background Info and Photos:
On the Oregon Symphony: orsymphony.org
On Baldur Brönnimann: baldur.info
On Johannes Moser: johannes-moser.com

Tickets: Begin at $24 and can be purchased online at orsymphony.org; in person at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office located at 909 SW Washington St. in downtown Portland (Mon–Sat, 10 am–6 pm); by phone at 503-228-1353 (Mon–Fri, 10 am–9 pm, Sat 10 am–6 pm); and at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall starting two hours before every performance.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 18

TAKE ME TO THE RIVER – A MEMPHIS SOUL AND RHYTHM & BLUES REVUE

When and Where: Oct. 18 at 7:30 pm at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

The Performers: A live concert journey into the soul of American music with William Bell, Charlie Musselwhite, Bobby Rush, Al Kapone, the Hi Rhythm Section, and the Stax Music Academy Alumni Band. Note: The Oregon Symphony does not perform.

The Program: The performers will announce their selections from the stage.

What’s So Special About This Concert:

• Take Me to the River is a live performance inspired by the award-winning documentary film and record that brought together multiple generations of iconic Memphis and Mississippi Delta musicians to record a historic new album and capture the best of Memphis soul.
• The Soul and Rhythm & Blues Revue presents artists of Stax, Sun, and High Records labels, who made American music history in the 1960s and 70s.
• The film that inspired this performance shows legendary blues and R&B artists, including singers Booker T. Jones, Bobby Bland and Mavis Staples, along with several of the performers in tonight’s concert, engaging in generational collaborations as they work with young musicians from the Stax Alumni Band.
• This historic show features a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see and hear Memphis music legends, including William Bell (2017 Grammy Winner), Bobby Rush (2017 Grammy winner), and Charlie Musselwhite (2014 Grammy winner).

More Background Info and Photos:
On Take Me To the River: tmttr.com/about-the-film/
On William Bell: williambell.com
On Charlie Musselwhite: charliemusselwhite.com
On Bobby Rush: bobbyrushbluesman.com
On Al Kapone: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Kapone
On the Hi Rhythm Section: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hi_Rhythm_Section
On the Stax Music Academy Alumni Band: staxmusicacademy.org

Tickets: Begin at $20 and can be purchased online at orsymphony.org; in person at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office located at 909 SW Washington St. in downtown Portland (Mon–Sat, 10 am–6 pm); by phone at 503-228-1353 (Mon–Fri, 10 am–9 pm, Sat 10 am–6 pm); and at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall starting two hours before every performance.

SATURDAY, OCT. 21
SUNDAY, OCT. 22

PHANTOMS OF THE ORCHESTRA

When and Where: Oct. 21 at 7:30 pm and Oct. 22 at 2 pm at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

The Performers: The Oregon Symphony with Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik; Magic Circle Theatre Company

The Program: A Halloween Pops spectacular with the Magic Circle Theatre Company and a costumed Oregon Symphony. Watch as conductor Jeff Tyzik and his terrified assistant use the power of the baton to vanquish the “phantoms of the orchestra” as they haunt the concert.

What’s So Special About This Concert:

• Fun for the whole family, this concert includes the Toccata from J.S. Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor; Dukas’ Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Moussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain, and more.

More Background Info and Photos:
On the Oregon Symphony: orsymphony.org
On Jeff Tyzik: jefftyzik.com
On Magic Circle Theatre Company: magiccirclemime.com

Tickets: Begin at $23 and can be purchased online at orsymphony.org; in person at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office located at 909 SW Washington St. in downtown Portland (Mon–Sat, 10 am–6 pm); by phone at 503-228-1353 (Mon–Fri, 10 am–9 pm, Sat 10 am–6 pm); and at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall starting two hours before every performance.

SATURDAY, OCT. 28
SUNDAY, OCT. 29
MONDAY, OCT. 30

MOZART’S JUPITER SYMPHONY

When and Where: Oct. 28 at 7:30 pm, Oct. 29 at 2 pm, and Oct. 30 at 7:30 pm at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

The Performers: The Oregon Symphony, with Music Director Carlos Kalmar; *Garrick Ohlsson, piano

The Program:

Mark-Anthony Turnage: Symphonic Movements (WORLD PREMIERE)
*Barber: Piano Concerto
Schubert (arr. Gülke): Andante from Symphony No. 10
Mozart: Symphony No. 41, “Jupiter”

What’s So Special About This Concert:

• Since his triumph as winner of the 1970 Chopin International Piano Competition, pianist Garrick Ohlsson has established himself worldwide as a musician of magisterial interpretive and technical prowess. Although long regarded as one of the world’s leading exponents of the music of Frédéric Chopin, Mr. Ohlsson commands an enormous repertoire, which ranges over the entire piano literature. A student of the late Claudio Arrau, Mr. Ohlsson has come to be noted for his masterly performances of the works of Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert, as well as the Romantic repertoire. To date he has at his command more than 80 concertos, ranging from Haydn and Mozart to works of the 21st century, many commissioned for him.
• Mr. Ohlsson can be heard on the Arabesque, RCA Victor Red Seal, Angel, BMG, Delos, Hänssler, Nonesuch, Telarc, Hyperion, and Virgin Classics labels. His ten-disc set of the complete Beethoven sonatas, for Bridge Records, has garnered critical acclaim, including a Grammy for Vol. 3.
• “With the imprimatur of the Chopin competition and the interpretive acuity that helped him win it, he has built an unassailable reputation as a Chopin pianist whose recordings of the composer’s complete works (on Hyperion) belong in every Chopin lover’s collection. Yet he has confounded those who would bind him to Chopin by exploring a huge repertory.” – The New York Times
• “Ohlsson gave a muscular, robust performance. He demonstrated his authority in the opening piano solo and continued with dramatic interjections and a dazzling cadenza … The exciting and technically demanding finale led to a rousing conclusion with Ohlsson dominating the orchestra.” – bachtrack.com, 2016
• In these concerts, the Oregon Symphony also presents the world premiere of acclaimed British composer Mark-Anthony Turnage’s Symphonic Movements.

More Background Info and Photos:
On the Oregon Symphony: orsymphony.org
On Garrick Ohlsson: opus3artists.com/artists/garrick-ohlsson

Tickets: Begin at $24 and can be purchased online at orsymphony.org; in person at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office located at 909 SW Washington St. in downtown Portland (Mon–Sat, 10 am–6 pm); by phone at 503-228-1353 (Mon–Fri, 10 am–9 pm, Sat 10 am–6 pm); and at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall starting two hours before every performance.

ABOUT THE OREGON SYMPHONY

The Grammy-nominated Oregon Symphony ranks as one of America’s major orchestras. Led by Music Director Carlos Kalmar, it serves over 235,000 people annually through more than 90 concerts and award-winning education and community engagement program. Now in its 121st season, the Oregon Symphony is the oldest orchestra west of the Mississippi.

An unprecedented 2016/17 Season broke records in virtually every category, drawing historic attendance and revenue. These numbers were propelled by a 20% increase in the number of classical concerts, three groundbreaking SoundSights concerts, and the broadest-ever range of repertoire. Its 2017/18 Season builds on this success in a trailblazing new series, The Sounds of Home, which combines music and art to reflect on three critical issues in our community – immigration, the environment, and homelessness.

Season subscriptions, including Choose Your Own packages and Gift Cards, are available through the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office at 503-228-1353. Photos for media use are available at orsymphony.org/newsroom.

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