Phoenix Symphony News Releases

Phoenix Symphony Performs Osvaldo Golijov's Award-Winning Opera: Ainadamar

The Phoenix Symphony — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:34:11 GMT

Phoenix Symphony Performs Osvaldo Golijov's Award-Winning Opera: Ainadamar

Opera-in-Concert Features Original Cast Members Including World-Renowned Soprano Dawn Upshaw

(PHOENIX) - The Phoenix Symphony presents Spotlight Composer Osvaldo Golijov's spectacular one-act opera Ainadamar: Fountain of Tears in concert format May 23-24. The Arizona premiere of the Grammy Award-winning work features members of the original cast reprising their roles, including legendary soprano Dawn Upshaw as Margarita Xirgu and mezzo-soprano Kelley O'Connor as Federico García Lorca. The opera will be sung in Spanish with English surtitles projected above the stage during the performance. The two evening performances under the direction of Music Director Michael Christie begin at 8 p.m. at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix.

Ainadamar tells the compelling story of martyred Spanish playwright Federico García Lorca and his muse Margarita Xirgu. Lorca, the famous poet and dramatist, was murdered in 1936 during the first few months of the Spanish Civil War. His works and ideals lived on through individuals such as actress Margarita Xirgu, a close friend and confidante who frequently collaborated with Lorca on a number of works. The opera dramatically depicts Xirgu's memories of Lorca including a vision of his harrowing death at the hands of the Nationalist Militia.

Golijov, working in partnership with librettist David Henry Hwang, incorporated a variety of musical influences, including prerecorded sounds such as flowing water and flamenco rhythms, as well as Jewish and Arabic idioms that reflect the cultural diversity of Spain. The drama of the opera unfolds accompanied by an electric score featuring symphony orchestra, flamenco guitar and an outstanding cast of vocalists.

Ainadamar premiered at the Tanglewood Music Festival in 2003 and has received critical and public acclaim since its stunning debut. The Deutsche Grammophon recording of the work performed by the Atlanta Symphony won two Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Classical Composition and Best Opera Recording of 2006. The Phoenix Symphony performances will feature original cast members soprano Dawn Upshaw and mezzo soprano Kelley O'Connor from the Tanglewood premiere and the Grammy Award-winning recording--reprising their riveting roles in Ainadamar. The cast also includes soprano Emily Albrink as Nuria, Jesús Montoya as Ruiz Alonso as well as members of the Phoenix Symphony Chorus.

Tickets to hear The Phoenix Symphony perform Ainadamar with Dawn Upshaw range from $25-$74 and can be purchased by calling the Phoenix Symphony Box Office at 602.495.1999 or online at www.phoenixsymphony.org.

These concerts mark the conclusion of The Phoenix Symphony's 2007-08 Classics Season. Season tickets are now on sale for the 2008-09 Classics Season featuring Spotlight Composers Franz Joseph Haydn, Igor Stravinsky and Jennifer Higdon. Visit www.phoenixsymphony.org for more information.

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About composer Osvaldo Golijov: Osvaldo Golijov grew up in an Eastern European Jewish household in La Plata, Argentina. Born to a piano teacher mother and a physician father, Golijov was raised surrounded by chamber classical music, Jewish liturgical and klezmer music, and the new tango of Astor Piazzolla. After studying piano at the local conservatory and composition with Gerardo Gandini, he moved to Israel in 1983, where he studied with Mark Kopytman at the Jerusalem Rubin Academy and immersed himself in the colliding musical traditions of that city. Upon moving to the United States in 1986, Golijov earned his Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied with George Crumb, and was a fellow at Tanglewood, studying with Oliver Knussen. Golijov has received numerous commissions from major ensembles and institutions in the U.S. and Europe. He is the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, among many other awards. In addition, he collaborates closely with Robert Spano and the Atlanta Symphony, with whom he is currently recording several works for Deutsche Grammophon, as well as the Boston Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and eighth blackbird. Golijov is an Associate Professor at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, where he has taught since 1991, and is also on the faculty of the Boston Conservatory. For more information visit osvaldogolijov.com.

About soprano Dawn Upshaw: Acclaimed soprano Dawn Upshaw has achieved worldwide celebrity as a singer of opera and concert repertoire, ranging from the sacred works of Bach to the sounds of today. Her acclaimed performances on the opera stage comprise the great Mozart roles well as modern works by Stravinsky, Poulenc and Messiaen. Ms. Upshaw has also championed numerous new works created for her including Osvaldo Golijov's chamber opera Ainadamar and song cycle Ayre. A four-time Grammy Award winner, Dawn Upshaw is featured on more than 50 recordings, including the million-selling Symphony No. 3 by Henryk Gorecki. Her most recent release on Deutsche Grammophon is Three Songs for Soprano and Orchestra, the third in a series of acclaimed recordings of Osvaldo Golijov's music. Dawn Upshaw holds honorary doctorate degrees from Yale University, Manhattan School of Music, Allegheny College and Illinois Wesleyan University. She began her career as a 1984 winner of the Young Concert Artists auditions and the 1985 Walter W. Naumburg Competition, and was a member of the Metropolitan Opera's Lindemann Young Artists Development Program. In fall 2007, Dawn Upshaw was named a Fellow of the MacArthur Foundation, popularly known as the "genius grant," acknowledging her as "a new model of a performer who is directly involved in the creation of contemporary music."

About mezzo-soprano Kelley O'Connor: Kelley O'Connor's "dark, low mezzo-soprano and expressive stage presence are those of a riveting singer emerged, not emerging..." is how the Los Angeles Times describes this young artist who is receiving international critical acclaim portraying Federico García Lorca in Osvaldo Golijov's Ainadamar. Ms. O'Connor created the role for the world premiere at Tanglewood under the baton of Robert Spano and reprised her portrayal of Lorca in the world premiere of the revised edition of Ainadamar at the Santa Fe Opera in 2005. Opera Now recognized Ms. O'Connor on its annual "Young Artists: Who's Hot?" list of 2006. She has appeared with the symphony orchestras of Atlanta, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Los Angeles and New York. She previously appeared with The Phoenix Symphony in 2006 for a concert performance of Humperdinck's opera Hansel and Gretel. Ms. O'Connor earned her bachelor's degree from USC and received her Masters degree from UCLA while studying with Nina Hinson.

About Music Director Michael Christie: Michael Christie continues in his third season as the Virginia G. Piper Music Director of The Phoenix Symphony with the 2007-08 season. He also serves as Music Director of the Colorado Music Festival and of the Brooklyn Philharmonic. He has appeared with orchestras across the United States, Europe and Canada, as well as with the Finnish National Opera, Queensland Opera, and Zürich Opera. In 1995, Mr. Christie was awarded a special prize at the First International Sibelius Conductor's Competition. Following the competition, he became an apprentice conductor with the Chicago Symphony. Michael Christie graduated from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music with a bachelor's degree in trumpet performance. His conducting teachers have included Daniel Barenboim, Robert Spano, Eiji Oue, and Peter Jaffe.

About The Phoenix Symphony: Celebrating its 60th Anniversary Season, The Phoenix Symphony has been proudly serving the citizens of the Phoenix metropolitan area and Arizona since 1947. What began as an occasional group of musicians performing a handful of concerts each year (in a city of fewer than 100,000 people) today serves more than 300,000 people annually, with 275 concerts and presentations throughout the greater Phoenix area and beyond.

Under the artistic leadership of Michael Christie as the Virginia G. Piper Music Director and administrative leadership of President Maryellen H. Gleason, the orchestra is overseen by the non-profit Phoenix Symphony Association under Board Chairman Ed Wolf.

The 76-member Phoenix Symphony presents an annual season from September through the beginning of June, featuring full-length Classical and Pops concerts at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix, along with a variety of symphonic and community performances in Mesa, Prescott, Scottsdale, and throughout central Arizona. The Symphony performs for more than 50,000 students and children, helping to introduce music to new generations through a variety of education and youth-engagement programs.

DAWN UPSHAW IN AINADAMAR
Symphony Classics Concert No. 16

May 23 - Friday evening at 8:00 p.m.
May 24 - Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m.
Symphony Hall

THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY
Michael Christie, conductor
Dawn Upshaw, soprano (as Margarita Xirgu)
Kelley O'Connor, mezzo-soprano (as Federico García Lorca)
Emily Albrink, soprano (as Nuria)
Members of the Phoenix Symphony Chorus

GOLIJOV Ainadamar: Fountain of Tears
(opera in concert performance)
Sung in Spanish with English subtitles

Ainadamar tells the story of martyred Spanish playwright Federico García Lorca and his actress muse Margarita Xirgu during the Fascist regime. With arias of languid beauty and melodies that shiver with sensual intervals, the sun-drenched nostalgia and soul of Spain come to life in exuberant outbursts of rhythm and orchestral color.

TICKETS: $25, $35, $45, $54, $64, $74

Symphony for the Schools Brings Art Forms Together in "Let’s Dance!"

The Phoenix Symphony — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:25:23 GMT

Symphony for the Schools Brings Art Forms Together in "Let's Dance!"

Concerts Feature Young Artists' Visual and Performance Art

(PHOENIX) - The Phoenix Symphony's popular daytime educational program Symphony for the Schools continues with "Let's Dance!" May 7-8. These concerts focus on music inspired by or depicting dance, and, coupled with the Symphony's annual Paint, Poetry, and Movement to Music Contest, bring several forms of art together to create a unique educational experience. The Wednesday and Thursday morning performances under the direction of Assistant Conductor Kayoko Dan begin at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. and are sold out.

The selections on the program are drawn from a variety of styles, yet share the common thread of being inspired by dance. Selections such as the "Mazurka" from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake, Falla's "Dance of the Miller's Wife" from Three-Cornered Hat and the exciting "Sabre Dance" from Khachaturian's Gayane were originally written as part of ballets, while Brahms' mighty Hungarian Dance No. 1 orchestrally depicts a vibrant dance scene. Students will also hear familiar works such as Joplin's The Entertainer and Rimsky-Korsakov's playful "Dance of the Buffoons" from The Snow Maiden.

The Phoenix Symphony's annual Paint, Poetry, and Movement to Music Contest continues this year, encouraging students to respond to classical music in paint, words and dance. Winners selected from the hundreds of submissions in the painting category will have their work projected above the orchestra during the performance and will be displayed in exhibits throughout Arizona as part of a touring gallery with Young Arts Arizona Ltd. Winning poets will recite their works and winning dancers will perform as part of the concerts.

By the end of the end of the season, more than 28,000 children will have experienced a live symphonic performance by The Phoenix Symphony. The Phoenix Symphony Education office provides participating schools with Concert Education Guides that include information and suggest pre- and post-concert curricular activities specific to the concert's program. These teacher resources integrate the concert experience with the Arts and Academics Standards developed by the Arizona Department of Education. The Symphony for the Schools concerts are sponsored by Wells Fargo with additional support from The Arizona Republic and the Phoenix Convention and Theatrical Facilities Department.

For additional information about any of these educational programs, visit The Phoenix Symphony website at www.phoenixsymphony.org, contact the Education Office via email at education@phoenixsymphony.org, or by phone at 602-495-1117, ext. 470.

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About Phoenix Symphony Education programs: The Phoenix Symphony's education and community programs are designed to provide rich cultural experiences of symphonic music for children, students, and adults from around the Valley and greater Arizona. Through The Phoenix Symphony's Education and Community activities, The Phoenix Symphony engages over 85,000 students and adults each year, at over 275 schools valley-wide, and in over 35 cities state-wide. The Phoenix Symphony's Education Programs include "Symphony for the Schools," Classroom Concerts, 21st Century Community Learning Center Program, and a variety of other requested school visits and speaking engagements. Other education initiatives include Student Rush Tickets, Student Discounts, Student Group Rates, and Target Family Concerts. Other community education opportunities include One Nation, Music Mentors, ¡Abraze La Música!, Armonía, Community Ticket Programs, Summer Radio Broadcasts on KBAQ, People's Pops Concerts, and "Musically Speaking."

About Assistant Conductor Kayoko Dan: A versatile conductor, Kayoko Dan is active in the field of orchestra, ballet, and opera. In 2003, Ms. Dan was awarded the David Effron Conducting Fellowship at the Chautauqua Institute, and in 2007 was a recipient of the 2007 Karajan Fellowship for Young Conductors, mentored by the Vienna Philharmonic. She has participated in numerous conducting workshops including the International Bartok Festival, American Symphony Orchestra League's Donald Thulean Conducting Workshop, Conductor's Guild Workshop, and was invited by Maestro Kurt Masur to participate in a seminar at the Manhattan School of Music. Recently she was invited by Maestro Leonard Slatkin as a Debut Conductor to participate in the National Conducting Institute, where she led the National Symphony Orchestra in a live performance in June 2007. Additionally, she was showcased at the 2007 Bruno Walter Conductors' Preview in Florida. A native of Japan, Ms. Dan holds degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and Arizona State University, and her teachers have included Timothy Russell, Timothy Muffitt and William Reber.

About The Phoenix Symphony: Celebrating its 60th Anniversary Season, The Phoenix Symphony has been proudly serving the citizens of the Phoenix metropolitan area and Arizona since 1947. What began as an occasional group of musicians performing a handful of concerts each year (in a city of fewer than 100,000 people) today serves more than 300,000 people annually, with 275 concerts and presentations throughout the greater Phoenix area and beyond.

LET'S DANCE
Wells Fargo Symphony for the Schools

May 7 - Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. & 12 p.m.
May 8 - Thursday morning at 10 a.m. & 12 p.m.
Symphony Hall

THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY

Kayoko Dan, conductor

Form, Beauty, Grace - music and dance share many Traits. Great dance works, including Falla's "Dance of the Miller's Wife," Sabre Dance from Gayane and Joplin's The Entertainer, illustrate how music can move us! Is the student in your life attending? Contact their teacher today to find out!

The Phoenix Symphony Performs the Music of John Williams in "Big Screen Legends"

The Phoenix Symphony — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:30:01 GMT

The Phoenix Symphony Performs the Music of John Williams in "Big Screen Legends"

Pops Weekend Concerts Feature Celebrated Scores from Hollywood's Blockbuster Movies

PHOENIX - Acclaimed conductor and Library of Congress scholar Loras John Schissel leads The Phoenix Symphony in "Big Screen Legends Featuring the Music of John Williams" May 9-10. The program features the memorable theme music from such blockbuster hits as E.T., Harry Potter, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars, as well as selections from other classic film scores. The Friday and Saturday evening concerts, proudly sponsored by APS, both begin at 8 p.m. at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix.

Mr. Schissel created "Big Screen Legends" to feature the music of audience favorite and pop culture icon John Williams. The recipient of five Academy Awards, numerous Golden Globes and Grammy awards, and the 2004 Kennedy Center Honors, John Williams is one of the musical giants of our time. Also on the program are several of Williams' contemporaries, as well as music from Richard Rodgers' Carousel and Franz Waxman's classic score from Prince Valiant, offering movie music lovers a whirlwind tour through the highlights of film music.

Tickets to hear "Big Screen Legends" range from $25-$74, and can be purchased by calling the Phoenix Symphony Box Office at 602.495.1999 or by visiting www.phoenixsymphony.org.

This weekend of concerts is the final concert in the Pops Series during The Phoenix Symphony's 2007-08 Season. The Phoenix Symphony has announced its new 2008-09 Season, including such Pops highlights as Celtic fiddler Natalie MacMaster and Doc Severinsen's return to The Phoenix Symphony. Call the Phoenix Symphony Box Office at 602.495.1999 for more information.

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About Loras John Schissel: A senior musicologist at the Library of Congress, Loras John Schissel has traveled throughout North America, Europe and Asia leading a broad range of ensembles and serves as music director of the Blossom Festival Band. Mr. Schissel is also the founder and music director of the Arlington-based Virginia Grand Military Band. As a composer and orchestrator, he has created an extensive catalogue for more than 400 works for orchestra and symphonic wind band, and as a musicologist is considered a leading authority on the music of Percy Grainger, Aaron Copland, Roger Sessions and Serge Koussevitzky. Co-author of The Complete Literary and Musical Works of John Philip Sousa with Paul E. Bierley, Mr. Schissel appeared in the award-winning PBS documentary "If You Knew Sousa" for the American Experience series. Mr. Schissel studied brass instruments and conducting with Carlton Stewart, Frederick Fennell and John Paynter.

About The Phoenix Symphony: Celebrating its 60th Anniversary Season, The Phoenix Symphony has been proudly serving the citizens of the Phoenix metropolitan area and Arizona since 1947. What began as an occasional group of musicians performing a handful of concerts each year (in a city of fewer than 100,000 people) today serves more than 300,000 people annually, with 275 concerts and presentations throughout the greater Phoenix area and beyond.

The 76-member Phoenix Symphony presents an annual season from September through the beginning of June, featuring full-length classical and pops concerts at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix, in Scottsdale, in Prescott, and throughout central Arizona. The Symphony performs for more than 50,000 students and children, helping to introduce music to new generations through a variety of education and youth-engagement programs.

BIG SCREEN LEGENDS FEATURING
THE MUSIC OF JOHN WILLIAMS
Pops Concert No. 7

May 9 - Friday evening at 8:00 p.m.
May 10 - Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m.
Symphony Hall

THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY

Loras John Schissel, conductor

The golden sounds of the Silver Screen come to life in this program created by acclaimed conductor and historian Loras John Schissel. With a gallant salute to John Williams and the battle-cry composers who came before him, you'll hear music from Prince Valiant, E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, Harry Potter, and, of course, Star Wars!

The Phoenix Symphony Pops Series is sponsored by APS.

TICKETS: $25, $35, $45, $54, $64, $74

World Renowned Artists Join The Phoenix Symphony for Classics in May

The Phoenix Symphony — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:01:32 GMT

World Renowned Artists Join The Phoenix Symphony for Classics in May

Distinguished Conductor and Violinist Make Their Phoenix Symphony Debuts

(PHOENIX) - The Phoenix Symphony performs two weekends of Classics Concerts in May featuring two acclaimed guest artists. Renowned conductor Günther Herbig brings his decades of international conducting experience to the podium May 1-2 to conduct Schubert's "Great" C-major Symphony while violinist Karen Gomyo performs Khachaturian's fiery Violin Concerto on May 15-17. These concerts will both be performed at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix.

Guest conductor Günther Herbig opens May Classics at The Phoenix Symphony with concerts May 1-2. Maestro Herbig, former music director of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra and the Detroit and Toronto Symphonies, enjoys a distinguished career spanning North America and Europe with a recording catalogue including more than 100 works. Franz Schubert's "Great" C-major Symphony was not premiered until ten years after the composer's death, but it made quite an impression on Robert Schumann, who called it the greatest instrumental work composed since Beethoven's mighty symphonies. The powerful symphony has since come to be seen as Schubert's masterpiece, and serves as the centerpiece of the weekend's concerts. The overture to Mozart's Don Giovanni opens the program, which also includes Bohuslav Martinu's colorful Symphony No. 6. Thursday evening's concert begins at 7:30 p.m., and Friday's performance begins at 8 p.m.

Internationally acclaimed violinist Karen Gomyo makes her debut with The Phoenix Symphony later in May as she performs Khachaturian's stunning Violin Concerto May 15-17. After winning the 1997 Young Concert Artists International Auditions just a week after her fifteenth birthday, Ms. Gomyo has toured the globe giving recitals at some of the world's most prestigious venues - including the Kennedy Center and the Louvre in Paris - and soloing with the nation's leading orchestras, including Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia. Music Director Michael Christie leads the concerts which feature Brahms' beloved Third Symphony as part of The Phoenix Symphony's Composer Spotlight initiative, as well as a suite of dramatic music Shostakovich wrote for the film Hamlet. Thursday's concert begins at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday evening's performance begins at 8 p.m. Friday morning's Coffee Concert begins at 11 a.m. and includes one hour of music selected from the evening's program.

Tickets to hear Günther Herbig conducting Schubert's "Great" C-major Symphony and violinist Karen Gomyo performing Khachaturian's Violin Concerto with The Phoenix Symphony range from $19-$68 and can be purchased by calling the Phoenix Symphony Box Office at 602.495.1999 or online at www.phoenixsymphony.org.

The concerts are part of The Phoenix Symphony's 2007-08 Classics Season which concludes with "Ainadamar," the Grammy-winning opera by Osvaldo Golijov featuring soprano Dawn Upshaw on May 23 and 24.

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About conductor Günther Herbig: In 1977, Günther Herbig became the General Music Director of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, a post he held until 1983 when he resigned and moved to America. Because of the political situation in East Germany, Mr. Herbig's first opportunity in the West came quite late - in 1979 - when he became the Principal Guest Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. He later served as Music Director of the Detroit and Toronto Symphony Orchestras, and has appeared with all the great American orchestras, including Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and San Francisco, and in Europe with the London Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. Herbig studied with Hermann Scherchen and Herbert von Karajan, and has recorded more than 100 works.

About violinist Karen Gomyo: Canadian violinist Karen Gomyo won the 1997 Young Concert Artists International Auditions just one week after her fifteenth birthday. The following year she became the youngest artist ever to be presented in the Young Concert Artists Series in New York, in a critically acclaimed debut as recipient of the Summis Auspiciis Prize. Ms. Gomyo has appeared with the major symphony orchestras in the United States, including Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, St. Louis, San Francisco and across the world with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the symphony orchestras of the City of Birmingham and Tokyo. As a recitalist, she has performed at Suntory Hall in Tokyo, the Kennedy Center, the Louvre in Paris and on the Ravinia Rising Stars Series in Chicago. Invited to study on full scholarship at The Juilliard School at age ten, Ms. Gomyo continued her studies at the University of Indiana at Bloomington, working with fellow YCA alumnus Mauricio Fuks, and will now begin study with Donald Weilerstein at the New England Conservatory of Music.

About Music Director Michael Christie: Michael Christie begins his third season as the Virginia G. Piper Music Director of The Phoenix Symphony with the 2007-08 season. He also serves as Music Director of the Colorado Music Festival and of the Brooklyn Philharmonic. He has appeared with orchestras across the United States, Europe, and Canada, as well as with the Finnish National Opera, Queensland Opera, and Zürich Opera. In 1995, Mr. Christie was awarded a special prize at the First International Sibelius Conductor's Competition. Following the competition, he became an apprentice conductor with the Chicago Symphony. Michael Christie graduated from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music with a bachelor's degree in trumpet performance. His conducting teachers have included Daniel Barenboim, Robert Spano, Eiji Oue, and Peter Jaffe.

SCHUBERT "GREAT" C-MAJOR SYMPHONY
Symphony Classics Concert No. 14

May 1 - Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m.
May 2 - Friday evening at 8:00 p.m.
Symphony Hall

THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY
Günther Herbig, conductor

MOZART Overture to Don Giovanni
MARTINU Symphony No. 6
SCHUBERT Symphony in C major ("The Great")

Filled with gorgeous melodies and stunning harmonies, Schubert's "Great" C-Major has been beloved by audiences since its premiere in 1838 - performed a full ten years after the composer's death. Upon hearing the premiere, composer Robert Schumann declared the piece the greatest instrumental work composed since the mighty symphonies of Beethoven. Hear this stunning masterpiece performed live by The Phoenix Symphony, paired with Mozart's dramatic Overture to Don Giovanni and Martinu's imaginative Symphony No. 6.

TICKETS: $19, $29, $39, $48, $58, $68

BRAHMS THIRD SYMPHONY
Symphony Classics Concert No. 15
Friday Morning Coffee Classics No. 8

May 15 - Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m.
May 16 - Friday morning at 11:00 a.m.*
May 17 - Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m.
Symphony Hall

THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY
Michael Christie, conductor
Karen Gomyo, violin

BRAHMS Symphony No. 3
KHACHATURIAN Violin Concerto
SHOSTAKOVICH Hamlet (Suite from the film)

Enchanting audiences with her phenomenal tone and technique, violinist Karen Gomyo makes her Phoenix Symphony debut performing Khachaturian's dramatic Violin Concerto. Gomyo's performance is paired with Spotlight Composer Johannes Brahms' adventurous Symphony No. 3, a masterwork showing a composer at the zenith of his powers. Friday's coffee concert is one hour of music selected from the evening's program.

TICKETS: $19, $29, $39, $48, $58, $68
FRIDAY COFFEE CONCERT: $22, $28, $34

The Phoenix Symphony Chorus Performs All-Choral Concert

The Phoenix Symphony — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:54:20 GMT

The Phoenix Symphony Chorus
Performs All-Choral Concert

Chorusmaster Gregory Gentry Leads Symphony’s First Choral-Only Concert Since 2005

(PHOENIX) – Witness the monumental force of the Phoenix Symphony Chorus as it presents powerful choral masterpieces May 3 at Central United Methodist Church in downtown Phoenix. Chorusmaster Gregory Gentry leads this concert featuring selected waltzes from Liebeslieder Waltzer by Spotlight Composer Johannes Brahms and Te Deum by Franz Joseph Haydn. The Saturday evening performance begins at 8 p.m.

Heard regularly in performance with The Phoenix Symphony since their inception in 2001, this concert marks the first all-choral program for the Phoenix Symphony Chorus since 2005. Alongside works by Brahms and Haydn, the chorus will perform works by contemporary composers Frank Ticheli and 2007 National Medal of Arts recipient Morten Lauridsen, as well as popular arranger Moses Hogan.

Tickets to hear the Phoenix Symphony Chorus are $25 for general admission and can be purchased by calling the Phoenix Symphony Box Office at 602.495.1999 or online at www.phoenixsymphony.org.

Later this season, members of the Phoenix Symphony Chorus will perform with The Phoenix Symphony in Osvaldo Golijov’s Grammy-winning opera, “Ainadamar” May 23-24.

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About Chorusmaster Gregory Gentry: The 2007-08 season marks Gregory R. Gentry’s second season as Chorusmaster for The Phoenix Symphony. In this role, he prepares the volunteers of the Phoenix Symphony Chorus for their performances each season, and offers assistance and advice on related musical matters. He is a member of the conducting faculty at Arizona State University’s School of Music with the Herberger College of the Arts. Gregory Gentry’s work in choral research, editing and conducting has taken him to cities across the United States and to Europe. He has prepared choirs for such musicians as Eph Ehly, George Lynn, John Rutter and Gunther Schuller, and for performances from Ohio to Colorado, and from California to Great Britain. As a singer and percussionist, he has performed under the batons of Dave Brubeck, Aaron Copland, Karel Husa, Jorge Mester and Robert Shaw. Gregory Gentry holds a doctorate degree from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

About the Phoenix Symphony Chorus: The Phoenix Symphony Chorus is led by Dr. Gregory Gentry and Assistant Director Laura Inman. Founded in 2001, the Chorus serves as a professional-level performing partner for Arizona's only full-time orchestra. The Chorus is comprised of over 100 volunteers and is governed by its own members in partnership with the Chorusmaster and Symphony staff. Chorus members collectively donate more than 12,000 hours of service to music and the Symphony each year. The Chorus rehearses weekly during the concert season on Monday nights at the Church of the Beatitudes in Phoenix.

THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY
CHORUS CONCERT
Special Event Concert

May 3 - Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m.
Central United Methodist Church
1875 N. Central Ave., Phoenix

THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY CHORUS

Gregory Gentry, chorusmaster

Hear the magnificent sounds of the Phoenix Symphony Chorus as they present masterpieces in this special all-choral concert. Conducted by Chorusmaster Gregory Gentry, the performance highlights the exceptional talent of this professional chorus featuring favorite choral works by Brahms, Haydn and more.

Please note: The Phoenix Symphony does not perform at this concert.

TICKETS: $25

Phoenix Symphony Administrative Offices and Box Office Relocate to One North First Street in Downtown Phoenix

The Phoenix Symphony — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 06:02:46 GMT

Phoenix Symphony Administrative Offices and Box Office Relocate to One North First Street in Downtown Phoenix

(PHOENIX) - Effective Monday, April 14, 2008, The Phoenix Symphony's administrative offices and box office currently located at the Arizona Center will relocate to One North First Street in downtown Phoenix. The new location, just one block west of Symphony Hall, will provide patrons with easy access to purchase tickets on the second floor of the building. Street Parking is available adjacent to the new facility located at the corner of North First Street and East Washington Street.

The administrative offices will continue to remain open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and can be reached by calling 602-495-1117. The box office hours will also remain open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and can be reached by calling 602-495-1999. Contacting the symphony by phone or fax will remain unchanged. The satellite box office conveniently located at Symphony Hall will remain open and unaffected by the office move.

The Phoenix Symphony's new street address is:

The Phoenix Symphony
One North First Street, Suite 200
Phoenix, AZ 85004

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About The Phoenix Symphony: Celebrating its 60th Anniversary Season, The Phoenix Symphony has been proudly serving the citizens of the Phoenix metropolitan area and Arizona since 1947. What began as an occasional group of musicians performing a handful of concerts each year (in a city of fewer than 100,000 people) today serves more than 300,000 people annually, with 275 concerts and presentations throughout the greater Phoenix area and beyond.

Phoenix Symphony Performs Favorites Chosen "By Request"

The Phoenix Symphony — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:56:45 GMT

Phoenix Symphony Performs Favorites Chosen "By Request"

Symphony Subscribers Voted for their Favorites Last Fall - Winning Selections Performed in Concerts Across the Valley

(PHOENIX) - The Phoenix Symphony performs concerts entitled "By Request" throughout the Valley, April 10-12. Last fall, symphony subscribers voted for their classical favorites, and the winning selections are featured on the weekend's program. These performances, led by Music Director Michael Christie, include American Pianists Association Classical Fellow Spencer Myer performing Rachmaninoff's dazzling Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. The Thursday evening concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and is sponsored by the Arizona Republic. A Friday night performance at the Mesa Arts Center begins at 8 p.m. Saturday evening's concert at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Phoenix begins at 8 p.m. and is sponsored by Wells Fargo.

This weekend of concerts, conceived by Music Director Michael Christie, features popular selections chosen by audiences last fall. More than a thousand ballots were distributed to symphony patrons around the Valley, and the winning works are represented on the weekend's concerts. The performances will include Beethoven's titanic Symphony No. 7, Mozart's lively Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, and Smetana's tone poem The Moldau. Internationally prize-winning pianist Spencer Myer performs Rachmaninoff's demanding and beloved Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Internationally acclaimed, Mr. Myer has won competitions around the globe and performed as soloist with orchestras in North America and Asia.

Tickets to hear The Phoenix Symphony perform "By Request" across the Valley range from $19-$52 and can be purchased by calling the Phoenix Symphony Box Office at 602.495.1999 or online at www.phoenixsymphony.org.

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About pianist Spencer Myer: Spencer Myer is the 2006 Christel DeHaan Classical Fellow of the American Pianists Association. In 2004, he captured First Prize in the 2004 UNISA International Piano Competition in South Africa, and has also garnered First Prizes in the 2002 Heida Hermanns International Piano Competition and the 2003 Artists International New York Debut Auditions. Mr. Myer's performances as a recitalist, chamber musician and soloist with orchestra have taken him around the globe, performing with the symphony orchestras of Indianapolis and Montreal, as well as the China National Symphony Orchestra. His solo and chamber recitals have appeared in such venues as Alice Tully Hall, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, and London's Wigmore Hall. A recent graduate of the Juilliard School as a student of Julian Martin, Myer also studied at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Stony Brook University.

About Music Director Michael Christie: Michael Christie begins his third season as the Virginia G. Piper Music Director of The Phoenix Symphony with the 2007-08 season. He also serves as Music Director of the Colorado Music Festival and of the Brooklyn Philharmonic. He has appeared with orchestras across the United States, Europe, and Canada, as well as with the Finnish National Opera, Queensland Opera, and Zürich Opera. In 1995, Mr. Christie was awarded a special prize at the First International Sibelius Conductor's Competition. Following the competition, he became an apprentice conductor with the Chicago Symphony. Michael Christie graduated from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music with a bachelor's degree in trumpet performance. His conducting teachers have included Daniel Barenboim, Robert Spano, Eiji Oue, and Peter Jaffe.

BY REQUEST
Scottsdale, Mesa, Orpheum Concerts No.5

April 10 - Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m.
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
April 11 - Friday evening at 8:00 p.m.
Mesa Arts Center
April 12 - Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m.
Orpheum Theatre

THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY
Michael Christie, conductor
Spencer Myer, pianist
American Pianists Classical Fellow

Last fall, audiences across the Valley eagerly voted for their favorite Classical selections, and now, the results are in! Join Michael Christie as he conducts a program of beloved selections including Mozart's Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, Smetana's The Moldau, and Beethoven's titanic Symphony No. 7. American Pianist Spencer Myer will also dazzle you with Rachmaninoff's daring Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Performed across the Valley, this concert of favorites is one not to be missed!

The Scottsdale Signature Series is sponsored by the Arizona Republic.
The Symphony Orpheum Series is sponsored by Wells Fargo.

SCOTTSDALE: $28, $40, $52
ORPHEUM: $19, $29, $39, $49
MESA: $21, $31, $41, $51

Acclaimed Soloists join the Symphony for April Classics

The Phoenix Symphony — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:19:16 GMT

Violinist Nicola Benedetti and Pianist Elizabeth Schumann Debut with The Phoenix Symphony

Acclaimed Soloists join the Symphony for April Classics

(PHOENIX) – The Phoenix Symphony performs two weekends of Classics Concerts in April featuring two acclaimed soloists: Bösendorfer USASU International Piano Competition winner Elizabeth Schumann performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 on April 4-6 and violinist Nicola Benedetti, the BBC’s 2004 Young Musician of the Year, performing Mendelssohn’s lyrical Violin Concerto on April 24-26. These concerts are both performed at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix.

Music Director Michael Christie leads the first weekend of Classics, entitled “Daphnis and Chloé” April 4-6. Described as “magnificent” by The Washington Post Magazine, Elizabeth Schumann makes her Phoenix Symphony debut performing Mozart’s energetic Piano Concerto No. 21. Members of the Phoenix Symphony Chorus join the orchestra for Ravel’s evocative masterpiece Daphnis and Chloé, which is scored for large orchestra, wordless chorus and wind machine. Continuing The Phoenix Symphony’s Composer Spotlight on Leonard Bernstein, his Chichester Psalms open the program. Friday and Saturday evenings’ concerts begin at 8 p.m., and the Sunday afternoon concert begins at 2 p.m.

Later in April, acclaimed violinist Nicola Benedetti debuts with The Phoenix Symphony performing Mendelssohn’s melodic Violin Concerto April 24-26. After being named the BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2004, Benedetti toured the globe as recitalist and soloist while her recordings topped the BBC music charts. Guest conductor Pietari Inkinen, also making his debut with The Phoenix Symphony, leads performances of Sibelius’s En Saga and Shostakovich’s compelling Symphony No. 5. Thursday’s concert begins at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday evening’s performance, sponsored by Northern Trust, begins at 8 p.m. Friday morning’s Coffee Concert begins at 11:00 a.m. and includes one hour of music selected from the evening’s program.

Tickets to hear violinist Nicola Benedetti and pianist Elizabeth Schumann with The Phoenix Symphony range from $19-$68 and can be purchased by calling the Phoenix Symphony Box Office at 602.495.1999 or online at www.phoenixsymphony.org.

These concerts are part of The Phoenix Symphony’s 2007-08 Classics Season. Future concerts in this season include “Schubert’s 'Great' C-major Symphony” on May 1 and 2, “Brahms Third Symphony” on May 15, 16 and 17, and “Ainadamar” with soprano Dawn Upshaw on May 23 and 24.

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About pianist Elizabeth Schumann: Elizabeth Schumann performs internationally as a recitalist, chamber musician, and concerto soloist. Ms. Schumann has distinguished herself many times in competition, most recently winning the first prize at the 2007 Bösendorfer International Piano Competition. Ms. Schumann was a recipient of the prestigious Gilmore Young Artists Award in 2004, and was highlighted in a PBS Television documentary on the Gilmore Festival. She has performed solo recitals and chamber music concerts at the Kennedy Center, the Ravinia “Rising Stars” Series, and on National Public Radio’s “Performance Today.” This season, she will give recitals in the USA, Europe and Australia, including performances at the Bösendorfer Saal in Vienna.

About violinist Nicola Benedetti: Named BBC’s Young Musician of the Year in 2004, Nicola Benedetti will make debut performances this season with the BBC Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Tonhalle and Vienna Tonkunstler Orchestras. In addition, she will return to the Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and London Mozart Players and will also tour Spain with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Ms. Benedetti’s North American engagements this season include the Colorado and Virginia Symphony Orchestras. She will also continue her extensive recital and festival program throughout Europe and the United Kingdom. An exclusive Universal/Deutsche Grammophon artist, this season sees the release of Ms. Benedetti’s third album, featuring a new violin concerto, “Lalishri,” by John Tavener and Vaughan Williams’ “The Lark Ascending.” Her second album, including Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto and “From Ayrshire,” a piece written for her by James MacMillan, reached No. 1 on the BBC Music charts and named “Disc of the Month” by Classic FM.

About conductor Pietari Inkinen: Pietari Inkinen is the music director of the New Zealand Philharmonic and is fast establishing himself on the international concert scene with upcoming engagements with the orchestras of the Leipzig Gewandhaus and Bayerische Rundfunk, as well as the Finnish Radio Symphony and the Vienna Radio Symphony. Mr. Inkinen studied at the Sibelius Academy from the age of fourteen and has performed with the BBC Scottish Symphony, Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, Helsinki Philharmonic, Netherlands Radio Symphony, Oslo Philharmonic, Swedish Radio Symphony, Toronto Symphony, and the Melbourne and Queensland Orchestras. Mr. Inkinen’s recent recording with the Bavarian Chamber Philharmonic on the Oehms Classics label was voted the BBC Music Magazine’s recording of the month. This season, he will record two discs with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra for the Naxos label.

DAPHNIS AND CHLOÉ
Symphony Classics Concert No. 12
Sunday Concert No. 5

April 4 - Friday evening at 7:30 p.m.
April 5 - Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m.
April 6 - Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
Symphony Hall

THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY
Michael Christie, conductor
Elizabeth Schumann, piano
The Phoenix Symphony Chorus

BERNSTEIN Chichester Psalms
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 21
RAVEL Daphnis and Chloé

Diaghilev’s Ballet Russe produced many important scores that would become more famous than the ballets for which they were written, none more passionate or original than Ravel’s signature masterpiece, Daphnis and Chloé.

Hear Ravel’s complete score as it was intended, with

large orchestra, wind machine, and wordless chorus.

TICKETS: $19, $29, $39, $48, $58, $68

BENEDETTI PLAYS MENDELSSOHN
Symphony Classics Concert No. 13
Friday Morning Coffee Classics No. 7

April 24 - Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m.
April 25 - Friday morning at 11:00 a.m.*
April 26 - Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m.
Symphony Hall

THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY
Pietari Inkinen, conductor
Nicola Benedetti, violin

SIBELIUS En Saga
MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 5

Named the BBC’s 2004 Young Musician of the Year, Nicola Benedetti is well on the path to superstardom. Don’t miss her Phoenix Symphony debut in Mendelssohn’s lyrical Violin Concerto.

Saturday’s concert is sponsored by Northern Trust.

Friday’s coffee concert is one hour of music selected from the evening’s program.

TICKETS: $19, $29, $39, $48, $58, $68
FRIDAY COFFEE CONCERT: $22, $28, $34

Michael Christie to Conduct New York Philharmonic

The Phoenix Symphony — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:31:04 GMT

New York Philharmonic Secures

Michael Christie to Fill in for Riccardo Muti

Christie’s Debut with the New York Philharmonic Follows the Announcement of his 2015 Contract Extension with The Phoenix Symphony

(PHOENIX) – The New York Philharmonic has announced that Phoenix Symphony Virginia G. Piper Music Director Michael Christie will lead performances of the prestigious orchestra March 27-29 at Lincoln Center. He replaces Italian conductor Riccardo Muti who regrettably withdrew from conducting the weekend concerts due to illness. These performances mark Mr. Christie’s debut with the celebrated orchestra.

Mr. Christie’s debut with the New York Philharmonic comes just weeks after the announcement of his contract extension with The Phoenix Symphony. The talented, innovative and energetic young conductor will continue to serve as the Virginia G. Piper Music Director of The Phoenix Symphony through 2015. Michael Christie remarks that, “It is a great privilege to conduct the New York Philharmonic and a tremendous honor to step in for the distinguished Riccardo Muti.”

Michael Christie will conduct four sold-out performances of the New York Philharmonic performing Edward Elgar’s Violin Concerto with soloist Pinchas Zukerman and Aaron Copland’s Symphony No. 3. Performances take place at Lincoln Center on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 11 a.m. and Saturday at 8 p.m. Mr. Christie will also conduct a Saturday afternoon performance at 2 p.m., which includes Schubert’s Octet, performed by musicians from the orchestra, followed by Copland’s Symphony No. 3. More information about the concerts can be found at www.nyphil.org.

Michael Christie will return to Phoenix the following weekend to conduct performances of Maurice Ravel’s masterpiece Daphnis and Chloé with The Phoenix Symphony and Phoenix Symphony Chorus April 4-6 at Symphony Hall. For more information, visit phoenixsymphony.org.

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About Music Director Michael Christie: Michael Christie is in his third season as the Virginia G. Piper Music Director of The Phoenix Symphony. He also serves as Music Director of the Colorado Music Festival and of the Brooklyn Philharmonic. He has appeared with orchestras across the United States, Europe, and Canada, as well as with the Finnish National Opera, Queensland Opera, and Zürich Opera. In 1995, Mr. Christie was awarded a special prize at the First International Sibelius Conductor's Competition. Following the competition, he became an apprentice conductor with the Chicago Symphony. Michael Christie graduated from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music with a bachelor's degree in trumpet performance. His conducting teachers have included Daniel Barenboim, Robert Spano, Eiji Oue, and Peter Jaffe.

The 76-member Phoenix Symphony presents an annual forty week season from September through the beginning of June, featuring full-length Classical and Pops concerts at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix, along with a variety of symphonic and community performances in Mesa, Prescott, Scottsdale, and throughout central Arizona. The Symphony performs for more than 50,000 students and children, helping to introduce music to new generations through a variety of education and youth-engagement programs.

Catwoman Eartha Kitt Prowls into Town to "Purr–form" with the Phoenix Symphony

The Phoenix Symphony — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Catwoman Eartha Kitt Prowls into Town to “Purr–form” with the Phoenix Symphony

Tickets Now On Sale to Hear Living Legend for One Night Only

PHOENIX (March 20, 2008) – International legend Eartha Kitt joins The Phoenix Symphony for a dazzling night of music on May 31 at 8:00 p.m. The performance, under the direction of Guest Conductor Daryl Waters, will showcase the distinctive and sultry voice of Ms. Kitt as she performs her signature songs including I Wanna Be Evil and C’est Si Bon. The evening concert takes place at Symphony Hall located in downtown Phoenix.

Best known for her role as “Catwoman” on the 1960s television series Batman, Ms. Kitt has been entertaining audiences with her mesmerizing voice for decades. She is one of only a handful of performers to be nominated for a Tony (three times), a Grammy (twice) and an Emmy Award. She captivated New York nightclub audiences during her extended stays at The Café Carlyle and made a triumphant return with a sold-out run last summer. That performance has been captured in her newest recording, Eartha Kitt: Live from the Café Carlyle. Recently, Ms. Kitt has enthralled an entirely new generation of fans as she lent her unique voice to the role of Yzma, in Disney’s animated feature The Emperor’s New Groove, (2001 Annie Award for Best Vocal Performance/Animated Feature). Ms. Kitt will appear in Phoenix shortly after being honored at the April 2008 Wisdom Awards Gala sponsored by the National Visionary Leadership Project.

Tickets to hear Eartha Kitt are $25, $35, $45, and $65, and can be purchased by calling the Phoenix Symphony Box Office at 602.495.1999 or by visiting the Symphony’s website at www.phoenixsymphony.org.

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About Eartha Kitt: Eartha Kitt is an international star who gives new meaning to the word versatile. She has distinguished herself in film, theater, cabaret, music and on television. As a shy teen, a friend dared her to audition for the famed Katherine Dunham Dance Troupe. She won a spot as a featured dancer and vocalist and before the age of 20, toured worldwide with the company. Her unique persona earned her fans and fame and sparked a career that includes several stints on Broadway, national and international tours, a recording contract that produced a succession of best-selling records including Love For Sale, I Want to Be Evil, Santa Baby and Folk Tales of the Tribes of Africa, a role as “Catwoman” on the 1960s television series, Batman, and four best-selling autobiographies. Over the last few years, she has starred in several Broadway roles as well as national tours of The Wizard of Oz and Rogers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Recent appearances include Detroit’s Music Hall, Washington, D.C.’s Blues Alley, Seattle’s Jazz Alley, Florida’s Kravis Center with the Palm Beach Pops, The Mohegan Sun Casino’s Cabaret Showroom, Sarasota, Florida’s Van Wezel Center for the Performing Arts and the famed Ravinia Festival. In February 2007, overseas fans welcomed Ms. Kitt back to London for a special series of six performances at The Shaw Theater.

Eartha Kitt in Concert
Special Event Concert

May 31– Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m.
Symphony Hall

THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY

Daryl Waters, conductor

The one and only Eartha Kitt joins The Phoenix Symphony for a purr-fectly delicious evening! Best known as the Catwoman from Batman, Ms. Kitt is an international star who gives new meaning to the word versatile. Dazzling audiences around the globe, she is devoted to performing in front of live audiences, from intimate cabarets to concert halls with symphony orchestras. Ms. Kitt comes to Phoenix with her sultry and distinctive voice to perform all her signature songs—from I Wanna Be Evil to C’est Si Bon—with the full Phoenix Symphony! Don’t miss this spectacular night as one of America’s most legendary and enduring performers brings her live concert to Phoenix!

TICKETS: $25, $35, $45, $65