Spec s Charitable Foundation Salute to Educators Concert

Transcription

1 APRIL 24, 2014 Spec s Charitable Foundation Salute to Educators Concert Robert Franz, conductor *Charles Seo, cello Gold Medal winner, 2013 Houston Symphony League Concerto Competition Houston Youth Symphony Michael Webster, music director Thursday, April 24, :30 pm Jones Hall Prokofiev Sinfonia Concertante for Cello and Orchestra, Opus 125 ca. 37 I Andante II Allegro giusto Andante Allegro assai III Andante con moto Allegretto Allegro marcato Houston Symphony I N T E R M I S S I O N Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Opus 74 (Pathétique) ca. 45 I Adagio Allegro non troppo Andante II Allegro con grazia III Allegro molto vivace IV Finale: Adagio lamentoso Combined Orchestras *Houston Symphony debut 28

2 NOTES BY CARL R. CUNNINGHAM APRIL 24 SINFONIA CONCERTANTE FOR CELLO AND ORCHESTRA, OPUS 125 Sergei Prokofiev ( ) Recording Cellist Gautier Capuçon, with Valery Gergiev conducting the St. Petersburg Mariinsky Theater Orchestra (Virgin Classics) Instrumentation two flutes (one doubling piccolo), pairs of oboes, clarinets and bassoons, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, celesta and strings Tonight we honor the dedicated men and women who work in greater Houston-area schools for their devotion and the crucial difference they make in the lives of young people. Along, troubled history preceded the final version of Sergei Prokofiev s last major orchestral work. The Sinfonia Concertante for Cello and Orchestra was originally composed as Prokofiev s Cello Concerto, Opus 58, between 1933 and 1938, but the work was not well received at its premiere and was promptly shelved. Only after nine years was it revived by the young, struggling cellist, Mstislav Rostropovich, To honor the work of an administrator active in encouraging music education in schools, the Spec s Charitable Foundation Award for Excellence in Music Education will be presented this evening. The evening s presentation of The Jacob L. and Sophia Meyer Farb School Bell Award is sponsored by the Farb Family Endowment Fund. April

3 NOTES CONTINUED SPEC S CHARITABLE FOUNDATION SALUTE TO EDUCATORS CONCERT APRIL 24 who persuaded the composer that it had valuable musical ideas worth reworking. With Rostropovich s help, Prokofiev revised the work between 1950 and 1952, and Rostropovich gave the new version its first performance. Still dissatisfied, the composer made further extensive revisions during the last year of his life, attaching a new title, Sinfonia Concertante, to the third, finally successful version. For one thing, it is a brilliant, showy piece in which the solo cello is an almost constant participant. And although the concerto has only one featured soloist, rather than two or more (common in the old sinfonia concertante), the delicate chamber music scoring in much of the work allows many solo voices to emerge within the orchestral ensemble. The large design of the work has traditional as well as unusual traits. It is cast in three movements: a sonata movement, a scherzo and trio, and a set of variations, but the tempo markings in general call for a slow-fast-slow sequence of movements. The slow opening movement is the most elusive, beginning with a sardonic tramping rhythmic figure in the orchestra. The solo cello soon enters with a theme marked by arching leaps. It is then alternately discussed by the soloist and orchestra. After a slight relaxation in the tempo, the high, muted violins enter with a gentle, graceful second theme based on a descending scale. Other thematic suggestions, episodes and a development evolve from these themes. At the end of the movement, the music quietly dissolves rather than coming to a forceful conclusion. The scherzo is the longest, most interesting and most complex of the three movements. After a piquant orchestral introduction, the solo cellist engages in some passage work, and then introduces a wideranging main theme. This gives way to a sharper staccato theme, followed by a gentle lyrical theme in the trio section. In turn, this dissolves into a lengthy, challenging solo cadenza. Eventually, the earlier themes return, along with several flourishes for the cellist, but then alternate in different order and are fragmented and combined as in a development, finally culminating in an imposing coda. Along the way, there are some fastidiously colorful orchestral touches, especially a passage with silvery harmonic tones for the strings. The finale offers simpler, more obvious music. It opens with a broad theme, almost like a patriotic hymn, initially stated by the solo cello and then taken up by the orchestra. It is followed by a dozen variations, presenting the theme in numerous guises and in several charming orchestral colors. The third variation is a solo cadenza for the cello; three centrally located variations are based on a sharp-tempered substitute theme, forming a contrasting middle section in the movement. Toward the end, there is a sweet, delicate variation featuring the celesta. Elaborate figuration in the solo cello and the string choir dominates the coda at the end of the work, where the trumpets suddenly state a tune strongly reminiscent of the staccato theme heard in the preceding scherzo. SYMPHONY NO. 6 IN B MINOR, OPUS 74 (PATHÉTIQUE) Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky ( ) Recording Mariss Jansons conducting the Oslo Philharmonic (Chandos) Instrumentation three flutes (one doubling piccolo), pairs of oboes, clarinets and bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion and strings Images of death have repeatedly been attached to Tchaikovsky s final symphony. Though Tchaikovsky was in good spirits after its premiere, he ignored warnings not to drink unboiled water during a cholera epidemic and reportedly died of the disease a few days later. A letter from his physician bears out this version, but some scholars and others have questioned it in favor of a more sensationalistic tale. They cite long-suppressed legends that he secretly poisoned himself a few days before drinking the water, obeying orders from a clandestine court of honor that threatened to expose an alleged homosexual affair he had with a military academy student. Although Tchaikovsky never publicly described the symphony s meaning, a written sketch found among his papers indicates that death was indeed on his mind. The ultimate essence of the plan of symphony is LIFE, he wrote. First part all impulsive passion, confidence, thirst for activity. Must be short. (Finale: DEATH result of collapse.) Second part love; third disappointments; fourth ends dying away (also short). The title of the symphony, which was supplied by Tchaikovsky s brother, Modest, the morning after the premiere, reflects the character of the composer s description. Biographer John Warrack notes that patetichesky, the Russian equivalent of Pathétique, suggests meanings of passionate, emotional and suffering, rather than pathetic. The Pathétique Symphony represents Tchaikovsky s most plastic adaptation of symphonic form to his dramatic purposes. The opening sonata movement begins with the gloomiest of slow introductions in the bassoons and low strings. Its thematic motive soon becomes the anxiously pleading main theme, which is rigorously worked out before giving way to a relaxed, lyrical second theme in the violins. The development suddenly explodes upon the scene as an agitated contrapuntal episode, coming to its climax in the return of the first theme followed by the second and a solemn processional for a coda. The two central movements are among the most engaging of Tchaikovsky s numerous symphonic waltzes and marches. The second movement is distinguished by the use of an irregular 5/4 meter rather than the standard ¾ meter, thus extending his arch of its phrases. A moody minor-mode trio is set in contrast to its lyrical outpouring. The third-movement march is noteworthy for its relentless, carefully-scaled growth into overpowering climaxes. As in the first movement, the strings and bassoon set the tone for the sighing, dejected music of the finale, a daring departure from the exuberant, even bombastic finales typical of 19 th -century symphonies, most especially those by Tchaikovsky. The printed music for Tchaikovsky s Symphony No. 6 was donated by Charles King Sanders. 2014, Carl R. Cunningham Biographies ROBERT FRANZ, conductor In his sixth season as Associate Conductor of the Houston Symphony, Robert Franz has led the Symphony in a broad range of creative educational and family concerts. Highlights for the Season include a performance at the annual awards of the Anti- Defamation League and tonight s performance. Last summer, Franz conducted the orchestra s 100 th Birthday Concert. 30

4 BIOGRAPHIES CONTINUED SPEC S CHARITABLE FOUNDATION SALUTE TO EDUCATORS CONCERT APRIL 24 Franz is also the Music Director of the Boise Philharmonic, the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival Opera and Orchestra and the Windsor Symphony in Ontario, Canada. He serves as Music Director Emeritus of the Carolina Chamber Symphony, an orchestra that he founded, and provides educational programming workshops at the National Repertory Orchestra during the summer. Under his direction, both the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (2008) and the Louisville Orchestra (2001) were awarded ASCAP s Leonard Bernstein Award for Educational Programming. The Louisville Orchestra s award led to the creation of an education program for Kentucky Educational Television entitled Creating Music and Stories. Winner of the 2008 BPO/ECMEA Music Educators Award for Excellence, Franz has created arts education programs for the Carolina Chamber Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Louisville Orchestra, West End Chamber Ensemble and the Winston-Salem Piedmont Triad Symphony. He has also authored his first children s book with CD, Stella s Magical Musical Tour of America. Franz received his Bachelor of Music degree in oboe performance in 1990 from the North Carolina School of the Arts and his Master of Music degree in conducting in 1992 from the same institution. CHARLES SEO, cello Charles Seo, 18, is a senior at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. He performs tonight as the Gold Medal winner of the Houston Symphony League Concerto Competition. He studies with Brinton Averil Smith, principal cellist of the Houston Symphony, and is eager to decide where he will begin his college career. In 2011, Seo was accepted with scholarship to the Meadowmount School of Music. Most recently, he has been chosen as a National YoungArts Foundation finalist. As a result, he became a U.S. Presidential Scholars candidate. In May, he will participate in the Stulberg International String Competition in Kalamazoo. The list of competitions Seo has won is impressive: the Houston Civic Symphony Young Artist Competition and the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, among other local competitions. He was selected as principal cellist of the TMEA Texas All-State Symphony Orchestra twice and was chosen as Outstanding Performer for the Texas State Solo-Ensemble Contest. He won first place in the American Protégé International Concerto Competition and performed at Carnegie Hall. He played Sarasate s Zigeunerweisen on NPR s From the Top, one of the nation s most popular classical music programs. In 2013, he won first place at the Schmidbauer International Young Artist Competition and achieved a Gold Medal at 2013 Lynn Harrell Concerto Competition. Seo was a semi-finalist at Stulberg International and Klein International and was recently accepted to the Colburn School, Julliard and the New England Conservatory. HOUSTON YOUTH SYMPHONY The Houston Youth Symphony (HYS) is the recipient of national acclaim, including five consecutive years as the national first prize winner of the Mark of Excellence Award from The Foundation for Music Education ( ) and the American Prize in Orchestral CONTINUED ON PAGE 50 April

5 Vintage Virtuoso Every year, Spec s Wines, Spirits and Finer Foods invites members of the wine and liquor industry to come together for an event to benefit the Houston Symphony s education programs. The event has grown from dozens of people to dozens of companies coming together to support the Symphony with representatives bringing products for all to taste and share. This year s event on November 13, 2013, provided the Houston Symphony with $265,000 in support. The Houston Symphony and Spec s Wines, Spirits and Finer Foods thank all of the donors to this event. Gold Bacardi USA Brown Forman Creative Distributors Diageo Freixenet USA Jim Beam Pernod Ricard The Wine Group Silver E&J Gallo Winery Proximo Spirits Winemaker Zonin USA Bronze Anheuser-Busch Banfi Vintners Bank of America Merrill Lynch Colección Internacional del Vino Constellation Brands International Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits Kobrand Corporation Palm Bay International Patron Spirits Serendipity Wines Silver Eagle Distributors St Michelle Wine Estates Tito s Handmade Vodka Trinchero Wine & Spirits Underwriters E&J Gallo Freixenet USA Harco Insurance Services Pearl Vodka Pernod Ricard Terlato Family Vineyards BIOGRAPHIES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 ROMEO AND JULIET APRIL 10, 12, 13 JOHANNES MOSER, cello German-Canadian cellist Johannes Moser has been hailed by Gramophone magazine as one of the finest among the astonishing gallery of young virtuoso cellists. He has performed with the world s leading orchestras and works regularly with conductors at the highest level. In addition to this appearance with the Houston Symphony, he debuts this season with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Oregon Symphony. Moser has an affinity for new music. An enthusiastic advocate for the electric cello, he premiered Magnetar by Enrico Chapela. As a dedicated chamber musician, he has played with Joshua Bell, Emanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos, Menahem Pressler, James Ehnes, Midori and Jonathan Biss. He received two ECHO Klassik awards and the German Record Critic s Award for his recordings on Hänssler Classics. His concerto debut disc, which features the complete works of Saint- Saëns for cello and orchestra with the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, was honored as one of Classics Today s Top 10 CDs of Born into a musical family in 1979, a dual citizen of Germany and Canada, Moser began studying the cello at age 8. He was the top prize winner at the 2002 International Tchaikovsky Competition and was awarded the Special Prize for his interpretation of the Rococo Variations. Johannes Moser is a voracious reader and an avid outdoorsman. BIOGRAPHIES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 APRIL 24 Performance Youth Orchestra Division (2010 and 2011, runnerup in 2012 and 2013). Founded in 1946 through a collaboration between the Houston Parks and Recreation Department and the Houston Independent School District, its first concert was performed on December 28, Today, more than 300 young musicians between the ages of seven and 19 come from across the greater Houston area to perform in one of Houston Youth Symphony s four orchestras. In addition to the core orchestra program, HYS offers an advanced chamber music training and performance program and the HYS Melody Program, which provides free private music lessons for talented youth in select economically disadvantaged communities. 50