Many patrons this weekend were asking about the encore numbers that Jon Nakamatsu played:
Friday night: Liszt Widmung
Saturday night: Chopin Fantasie Impromptu, Op. 66
The blog is the perfect place to comment on Jon's performance. Do you want him to come back to Charleston? Let us know! Please see our website for links to Jon Nakamatsu's web site for more info about his recordings.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
WVSO Opening Night is Just Weeks Away
As we approach Labor Day, you can feel that fall is in the air in WV. The kids are back in school, we’ve enjoyed our summer vacations and the leaves start changing to wonder shades of red and orange across the mountain state. Here at the WVSO, we are celebrating our 70th year and getting ready to launch another fantastic season of the state’s best classical music.
Our Opening Night Performance is just weeks away on September 11-12 at the Clay Center. The performance features one of the world’s foremost classical pianists (Orli Shaham), a deeply loved major symphonic work and a piece by a new up-and-coming composer. There is certainly something for everyone to enjoy.
Below you will find some information about the pieces in the first concert. I hope that this will wet your appetite for what is going to be a great 2009-2010 season!
The concert opens with a wonderful work by Marc Mellits called 3 Machines. Marc says of his composition:
Three Machines, for orchestra, is a three movement work built more like three machines, rather than three musical movements. It is based on an earlier chamber work called Five Machines. This orchestral version was commissioned by the Carpenter Family for the bicentennial of Vienna, NY, and the score is inscribed “in honor of our parents who nurtured a deep love for music.” The musicians work together in tight formation, creating musical lines by close interaction with each other. Each musician plays a fundamental role with the others, fitting together like cogs in a wheel in one giant machine. The Cellos may have a line that turns a wheel that connects to the Violas, which in turn provides a springboard for the woodwinds, which then triggers the Violins to alternate notes in between. All the musicians fit together very closely in this fashion, and each only play a role in the larger machine that they all form together. The parts themselves do not reveal this overall musical structure; only when combined does the musical architecture come forth.
For more information about the composer and 3 Machines, check out his website at http://www.marcmellits.com/.
The next piece on the program is Beethoven’s Piano Concert No.4 in G with world-class pianists Orli Shaham. If you are not familiar with Orli, she is the virtuosic pianist sister of violinist Gil Shamam. She has soloed with some of the world’s greatest orchestras including: the Cleveland and Philadelphia Orchestras, the Chicago, San Francisco and BBC Symphonies, as well as the Filarmonica della Scala, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Stockholm Philharmonic, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and many many others. You cannot miss what is sure to be a fantastic performance.
You may also know Orli from her Classical Public Radio Network show, Dial A Musician that has been on the air since 2005. This unique program has listeners “dial in” to ask questions of musicians, musicologists and other classical music experts.
For more information about Orli Shaham visit her website at: http://www.orlishaham.com/.
The final piece of the evening is Brahms’ grand Symphony No.1 in C Minor. Brahms himself claimed that it took over 20 years for him to complete this master work. “In four movements, the symphony launches itself into existence by exploring—briefly and with enormous power—the musical concept of ‘c minor.’ The two interior movements are songlike in character but give way to a final reiteration of c minor as the finale begins. Dramatically developed, this ultimate expression of the symphony’s home key finally gives way to a redemptive theme in the horn and flute which lead us to the beautiful principal section of the movement, now in C Major.” - Robert Turizziani
Of Brahms’s four symphonies, this is probably the most popular.
To listen to an excerpt from Brahms’ Symphony No.1 or any of the other pieces from WVSO’s Opening Night Concert visit: http://www.instantencore.com/concert/details.aspx?PId=5038124.
Visit West Virginia’s Symphony at www.wvsymphony.org.
Our Opening Night Performance is just weeks away on September 11-12 at the Clay Center. The performance features one of the world’s foremost classical pianists (Orli Shaham), a deeply loved major symphonic work and a piece by a new up-and-coming composer. There is certainly something for everyone to enjoy.
Below you will find some information about the pieces in the first concert. I hope that this will wet your appetite for what is going to be a great 2009-2010 season!
The concert opens with a wonderful work by Marc Mellits called 3 Machines. Marc says of his composition:
Three Machines, for orchestra, is a three movement work built more like three machines, rather than three musical movements. It is based on an earlier chamber work called Five Machines. This orchestral version was commissioned by the Carpenter Family for the bicentennial of Vienna, NY, and the score is inscribed “in honor of our parents who nurtured a deep love for music.” The musicians work together in tight formation, creating musical lines by close interaction with each other. Each musician plays a fundamental role with the others, fitting together like cogs in a wheel in one giant machine. The Cellos may have a line that turns a wheel that connects to the Violas, which in turn provides a springboard for the woodwinds, which then triggers the Violins to alternate notes in between. All the musicians fit together very closely in this fashion, and each only play a role in the larger machine that they all form together. The parts themselves do not reveal this overall musical structure; only when combined does the musical architecture come forth.
For more information about the composer and 3 Machines, check out his website at http://www.marcmellits.com/.
The next piece on the program is Beethoven’s Piano Concert No.4 in G with world-class pianists Orli Shaham. If you are not familiar with Orli, she is the virtuosic pianist sister of violinist Gil Shamam. She has soloed with some of the world’s greatest orchestras including: the Cleveland and Philadelphia Orchestras, the Chicago, San Francisco and BBC Symphonies, as well as the Filarmonica della Scala, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Stockholm Philharmonic, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and many many others. You cannot miss what is sure to be a fantastic performance.
You may also know Orli from her Classical Public Radio Network show, Dial A Musician that has been on the air since 2005. This unique program has listeners “dial in” to ask questions of musicians, musicologists and other classical music experts.
For more information about Orli Shaham visit her website at: http://www.orlishaham.com/.
The final piece of the evening is Brahms’ grand Symphony No.1 in C Minor. Brahms himself claimed that it took over 20 years for him to complete this master work. “In four movements, the symphony launches itself into existence by exploring—briefly and with enormous power—the musical concept of ‘c minor.’ The two interior movements are songlike in character but give way to a final reiteration of c minor as the finale begins. Dramatically developed, this ultimate expression of the symphony’s home key finally gives way to a redemptive theme in the horn and flute which lead us to the beautiful principal section of the movement, now in C Major.” - Robert Turizziani
Of Brahms’s four symphonies, this is probably the most popular.
To listen to an excerpt from Brahms’ Symphony No.1 or any of the other pieces from WVSO’s Opening Night Concert visit: http://www.instantencore.com/concert/details.aspx?PId=5038124.
Visit West Virginia’s Symphony at www.wvsymphony.org.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Snowshoe Festival more than just concerts
For some reason, my Snowshoe experience this past weekend aligned with lots of my Monday morning arts/news catch-up!
Most of my responsibility comes before the actual trip, making sure that production notes remind our stagehands to take "everything we might possibly need" since we are so far from home once we get on the mountain.
My journey TO Snowshoe the last two years has included the delightful task of transporting Byron Adams, musicologist and composer who participates in the pre-concert talks with Maestro Cooper and other guests as available. Byron is a great storyteller who is always having musical adventures. It was so much fun to catch up with his latest antics as a college professor, musicologist and composer.
Imagine my non-surprise when the article about the Bard Festival (which Byron regularly attends) mentions Byron as one of the liveliest presenters. Byron told me a bit about the Festival which focused on the music of Richard Wagner. Of course this article is not nearly as exciting as hearing Byron tell about it.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/08/wagner-at-bard-college.html
Friday night, while some patrons were checking in and others were attending a special reception, I was watching The Soloist in the middle of Snowshoe Village in walk-up movie style. Chairs were provided, a big screen, Starbucks close by. Who could ask for anything more? Okay, a warm fuzzy blanket would have helped...
Little did I know that while I was watching this troubling movie about a young man with a promising cello career that went awry, the very man this true story was based on was sitting in a Los Angeles Philharmonic Concert, listening to YoYo Ma play. He even met Ma after the concert. I find this out on Monday morning while checking on my ArtsJournal.com updates. (Insert cold chill here.)
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/08/yoyo-ma-and-nathaniel-ayers-.html
As for The Soloist, it's a moving story about the power of music, and the cinematography and point of view are unique. Maybe not a date movie, but a must see for classical music and power of journalism fans.
While at Snowshoe, my main task is to facilitate the pre-concert talks. This is trickier than I like remember from year to year. I joke that I get to be the Vanna White of the talks, directing patrons to the easiest entrance to a hidden room in a bizarre building. As the room flooded with patrons, there is the scramble for seats and finding more chairs, and requesting that more chairs are available for the following day as word gets out that the power of knowing more about the music makes the concert even more meaningful.
This is where Byron comes in!
Hear what Mona Seghatoleslami thought about her trip to the Snowshoe Festival.
http://www.wvpubcast.org/newsarticle.aspx?id=11036
Do you have stories to tell about your trip to Snowshoe?
Most of my responsibility comes before the actual trip, making sure that production notes remind our stagehands to take "everything we might possibly need" since we are so far from home once we get on the mountain.
My journey TO Snowshoe the last two years has included the delightful task of transporting Byron Adams, musicologist and composer who participates in the pre-concert talks with Maestro Cooper and other guests as available. Byron is a great storyteller who is always having musical adventures. It was so much fun to catch up with his latest antics as a college professor, musicologist and composer.
Imagine my non-surprise when the article about the Bard Festival (which Byron regularly attends) mentions Byron as one of the liveliest presenters. Byron told me a bit about the Festival which focused on the music of Richard Wagner. Of course this article is not nearly as exciting as hearing Byron tell about it.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/08/wagner-at-bard-college.html
Friday night, while some patrons were checking in and others were attending a special reception, I was watching The Soloist in the middle of Snowshoe Village in walk-up movie style. Chairs were provided, a big screen, Starbucks close by. Who could ask for anything more? Okay, a warm fuzzy blanket would have helped...
Little did I know that while I was watching this troubling movie about a young man with a promising cello career that went awry, the very man this true story was based on was sitting in a Los Angeles Philharmonic Concert, listening to YoYo Ma play. He even met Ma after the concert. I find this out on Monday morning while checking on my ArtsJournal.com updates. (Insert cold chill here.)
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/08/yoyo-ma-and-nathaniel-ayers-.html
As for The Soloist, it's a moving story about the power of music, and the cinematography and point of view are unique. Maybe not a date movie, but a must see for classical music and power of journalism fans.
While at Snowshoe, my main task is to facilitate the pre-concert talks. This is trickier than I like remember from year to year. I joke that I get to be the Vanna White of the talks, directing patrons to the easiest entrance to a hidden room in a bizarre building. As the room flooded with patrons, there is the scramble for seats and finding more chairs, and requesting that more chairs are available for the following day as word gets out that the power of knowing more about the music makes the concert even more meaningful.
This is where Byron comes in!
Hear what Mona Seghatoleslami thought about her trip to the Snowshoe Festival.
http://www.wvpubcast.org/newsarticle.aspx?id=11036
Do you have stories to tell about your trip to Snowshoe?
Summertime and the living, working is easy? How about steady!
It has been awhile since I have posted anything to the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra Blog, but it's not because there hasn't been a lot happening. (It was really to allow the two newest members of the staff--both men--to take over some of the fun of writing posts. Alas, this has not happened yet.)
Several of the musicians have asked how bored we office/administrative staff have been without the musicians around all summer. The answer is...we have not been bored at all.
While the Opening Night concerts are coming up very soon, the actual preparation for a concert begins about 10-12 weeks in advance. And, that ten-week window takes into account that we already know what music is scheduled to be played, and that the bulk of our contracted musicians have already signed contracts and are available for the concert.
In my new official role in operations, I have created countless versions of the upcoming season, first for the Clay Center regarding the hall rental for concerts and rehearsals, then for the musicians regarding rehearsals and concerts, for Network Parking regarding musicians and patrons, for ushers regarding concerts, for security regarding rehearsals and concerts. No two versions are quite the same as far as time and space needs!
For our concerts away from the Maier Foundation Performance Hall, there are truck rentals for for our chairs and stands, and busses to haul musicians.
Marcia Graves, Assistant to the President, has been busy with flight and hotel arrangements for guest artists and piano tuning schedules, and setting up files with all the contracts and details for the season.
While all of this is a bit overwhelming at the start of the new season, with all the big pieces in place now, the rest of the details come concert by concert!
And since school has started, the Artists-in-Residence that teach in the Strings Program for Kanawha Couty Schools have hit the ground running.
Schools have received information about Montclaire School Performances available this year, and the Education Offerings by the WVSO brochure is at the printer, ready to go to thousands of schools in WV, OH and KY at all levels.
Where did the summer go?
Several of the musicians have asked how bored we office/administrative staff have been without the musicians around all summer. The answer is...we have not been bored at all.
While the Opening Night concerts are coming up very soon, the actual preparation for a concert begins about 10-12 weeks in advance. And, that ten-week window takes into account that we already know what music is scheduled to be played, and that the bulk of our contracted musicians have already signed contracts and are available for the concert.
In my new official role in operations, I have created countless versions of the upcoming season, first for the Clay Center regarding the hall rental for concerts and rehearsals, then for the musicians regarding rehearsals and concerts, for Network Parking regarding musicians and patrons, for ushers regarding concerts, for security regarding rehearsals and concerts. No two versions are quite the same as far as time and space needs!
For our concerts away from the Maier Foundation Performance Hall, there are truck rentals for for our chairs and stands, and busses to haul musicians.
Marcia Graves, Assistant to the President, has been busy with flight and hotel arrangements for guest artists and piano tuning schedules, and setting up files with all the contracts and details for the season.
While all of this is a bit overwhelming at the start of the new season, with all the big pieces in place now, the rest of the details come concert by concert!
And since school has started, the Artists-in-Residence that teach in the Strings Program for Kanawha Couty Schools have hit the ground running.
Schools have received information about Montclaire School Performances available this year, and the Education Offerings by the WVSO brochure is at the printer, ready to go to thousands of schools in WV, OH and KY at all levels.
Where did the summer go?
Monday, July 27, 2009
I love it when Music just Happens...
Writing to you from the operations side of the WVSO, I can attest that there are so many details that go into a single concert--so when an impromptu performance "happens" and brightens the lives of people who "happen" to be in attendance, I smile.
This particular location is the atrium of the Mayo Clinic. The piano is there...
http://www.fark.com/cgi/vidplayer.pl?IDLink=4365716
I can't help wonder about the story behind this couple.
Were they concert pianists who toured? What other styles of music could they play? Why that particular song? Has music been the force that keeps them going, well into their nineties? And kept them together for over sixty years?
And what about the audience?
How many people sitting in that atrium area smiled and were soothed by that simple act of music? And the joy is obvious on the faces of the performers?
I see the life-long power of music!
Thanks to Ruth Hopkins, a Snowshoe attendee from New Jersey last summer, for sharing this link.
This particular location is the atrium of the Mayo Clinic. The piano is there...
http://www.fark.com/cgi/vidplayer.pl?IDLink=4365716
I can't help wonder about the story behind this couple.
Were they concert pianists who toured? What other styles of music could they play? Why that particular song? Has music been the force that keeps them going, well into their nineties? And kept them together for over sixty years?
And what about the audience?
How many people sitting in that atrium area smiled and were soothed by that simple act of music? And the joy is obvious on the faces of the performers?
I see the life-long power of music!
Thanks to Ruth Hopkins, a Snowshoe attendee from New Jersey last summer, for sharing this link.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Summer Reading can include books about music!
Several writers have weighed in on keeping young minds in books for a part of the summer. Here's one such list that I found impressive.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/opinion/05kristof.html?em&emc=eta1
If you want to interest children in the possibilities that music has to offer, try a few of these books, available as soon as I return them to the main branch of the Kanawha County Public Library in Charleston.
Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin by Lloyd Moss JE
This book is partly about families of instruments and partly about counting the number of players in musical ensembles. We all know the words solo, duet, trio, and quartet, but can we count to ten in "ensemble"?
"...It's music that we all adore, It's what we go to concerts for." (Moss)
Also, wordless readers can delight in watching the sub-plot of the two cats who appear on every spread of opened pages and the mouse they chase. When the oboist brings her dog, the sub-plot really gets into a big chase. See how it ends!
The Musical Life of Gustav Mole by Michael Twinn JE
What a whirlwind life story of a little mole, Gustav, who grows up in a musical family. From birth he is introduced to music. My favorite part is when he wants to sell his instrument at the music store because the object of his affection does not seem to respond, even when he composes for her.
There is a guest appearance by the Famous Frogharmonic who appear to be quite a serious performing orchestra.
This delightful story came out in audio cassette as well as book form, so I'm anxious to hear the audio that goes with these delightful illustrations by Kathyrn Meyrick.
These are only a few of the books that are on my musical summer reading list...more later!
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/opinion/05kristof.html?em&emc=eta1
If you want to interest children in the possibilities that music has to offer, try a few of these books, available as soon as I return them to the main branch of the Kanawha County Public Library in Charleston.
Zin! Zin! Zin! a Violin by Lloyd Moss JE
This book is partly about families of instruments and partly about counting the number of players in musical ensembles. We all know the words solo, duet, trio, and quartet, but can we count to ten in "ensemble"?
"...It's music that we all adore, It's what we go to concerts for." (Moss)
Also, wordless readers can delight in watching the sub-plot of the two cats who appear on every spread of opened pages and the mouse they chase. When the oboist brings her dog, the sub-plot really gets into a big chase. See how it ends!
The Musical Life of Gustav Mole by Michael Twinn JE
What a whirlwind life story of a little mole, Gustav, who grows up in a musical family. From birth he is introduced to music. My favorite part is when he wants to sell his instrument at the music store because the object of his affection does not seem to respond, even when he composes for her.
There is a guest appearance by the Famous Frogharmonic who appear to be quite a serious performing orchestra.
This delightful story came out in audio cassette as well as book form, so I'm anxious to hear the audio that goes with these delightful illustrations by Kathyrn Meyrick.
These are only a few of the books that are on my musical summer reading list...more later!
It was WET! No doubt about it!
Saturday, July 4 was a wet evening in Charleston, WV, but the old adage "the show must go on!" was our motto! Thanks to the crowd who appeared (slowly, but surely) to hear patriotic music played by the West Virginia Symphony and to see the fireworks show sponsored by WQBE and the City of Charleston.
I would share pictures of the event, but it was a bit hard to juggle the umbrella and the camera, much less the hot dog I enjoyed during the concert.
Having been in a few planning meetings for this event (including a few conversations about a rain plan), I can tell you that an outdoor event is as difficult to decide to cancel as it is to put on.
For an outdoor concert, the symphony grapples with hour-by-hour weather alerts, calls to the National Weather Service, coordinating the set-up of stands and chairs in an effort to keep the musicians safe, the instruments dry, and the audience comfortable.
That doesn't even include the details of safety, traffic, vendors, boaters, and fireworks prep that the City of Charleston had in place on Saturday night.
Having checked my watch all week to make the sure the 9:30 p.m. start time for fireworks wouldn't be too light over the Charleston skies, I was delighted to see the fireworks begin at 9:10 p.m. against the overcast, but brighter blue sky that made those red stars and purple bursts look ever more magnificent. Accompanied by patriotic music broadcast on WQBE, the evening ended in time for me to get home to dry out and enjoy a cup of tea before turning in.
Happy Birthday, America!
I would share pictures of the event, but it was a bit hard to juggle the umbrella and the camera, much less the hot dog I enjoyed during the concert.
Having been in a few planning meetings for this event (including a few conversations about a rain plan), I can tell you that an outdoor event is as difficult to decide to cancel as it is to put on.
For an outdoor concert, the symphony grapples with hour-by-hour weather alerts, calls to the National Weather Service, coordinating the set-up of stands and chairs in an effort to keep the musicians safe, the instruments dry, and the audience comfortable.
That doesn't even include the details of safety, traffic, vendors, boaters, and fireworks prep that the City of Charleston had in place on Saturday night.
Having checked my watch all week to make the sure the 9:30 p.m. start time for fireworks wouldn't be too light over the Charleston skies, I was delighted to see the fireworks begin at 9:10 p.m. against the overcast, but brighter blue sky that made those red stars and purple bursts look ever more magnificent. Accompanied by patriotic music broadcast on WQBE, the evening ended in time for me to get home to dry out and enjoy a cup of tea before turning in.
Happy Birthday, America!
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