Philadelphia Orchestra 2010 - 2011

[listener]

full story at
http://www.playbillarts.com/features/article/print/8346.html

... The season culminates with Berlioz's massive The Damnation of Faust for soloists, chorus, and orchestra—a work of such operatic and dramatic breadth that its composer called it a  légende dramatique. A world-renowned exponent of the music of Berlioz, Maestro Dutoit concludes his third season as The Philadelphia Orchestra's chief conductor with a star cast that includes Paul Groves in the title role and Susan Graham as Marguerite.

Among the new works to be presented in 2010-11 are a Violin Concerto by Scottish composer James MacMillan featuring violinist Vadim Repin, a joint commission with the London Symphony and ZaterdagMatinee; a Flute Concerto by New Jersey-born composer Jonathan Leshnoff commissioned by Principal Flute Jeffrey Khaner; the first Philadelphia Orchestra performances of a Piano Concerto by Iranian-born composer Behzad Ranjbaran featuring pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet; and the Oboe Concerto by American composer Christopher Rouse with Principal Oboe Richard Woodhams as soloist. ...

...Once again this season Maestro Dutoit conducts all three Beyond the Score programs— focusing on Shostakovich's turbulent Fourth Symphony, Strauss's semi-autobiographical Ein Heldenleben, and Gustav Holst's The Planets.

The Orchestra seeks to present an ever-wider variety of formats, said Orchestra Vice President of Artistic Planning Jeremy Rothman, "that are inviting to our familiar audiences and welcoming to newcomers alike." Toward achieving this end is a new Multimedia Series of programs with a global outlook: Chinese-born composer Tan Dun will present his The Map, Concerto for Cello, Video, and Orchestra, and place it in its cultural contexts; Peruvian-American conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya presents Music of the Inca Trail; and Michael Tilson Thomas will introduce The Thomashefsky Project featuring music and memories of his late grandparents, Boris and Bessie Thomashefsky, stars of the Yiddish theater of late- 19th and early-20th-century America...

... Maestro Dutoit further underscores the French contribution to the symphonic repertoire with works by Saint-Saëns, Lalo, and Roussel, and with three compositions by the nonagenarian Henri Dutilleux: Métaboles; Timbres, espace, mouvement, ou La Nuit étoilée; and the first Orchestra performances of L'Arbre des songes for violin and orchestra, featuring violinist Renaud Capuçon in his Orchestra subscription debut.

Also notable are first Philadelphia Orchestra performances of Strauss's Second Horn Concerto featuring Principal Horn Jennifer Montone—a bittersweet, autumnal homage to the composer's late father that is a world apart from his youthful First Concerto. Gianandrea Noseda in his Orchestra debut performs the Orchestra premiere of Sibelius's tone poem Hakon Jarl, based on the legend of a Norwegian warrior, and Robert Spano presents the first complete Orchestra performances of the Suite No. 1 from Sibelius's The Tempest.

Much of the 2010-11 season has a "Russian accent": In addition to the music of Stravinsky and Shostakovich, Maestro Dutoit will conduct Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony. Prokofiev is represented by Romeo and Juliet, the Piano Concerto No. 5 with soloist Garrick Ohlsson, and the Sixth Symphony featuring conductor Vladimir Jurowski. Other Tchaikovsky works to be heard include his Sixth Symphony led by Kurt Masur, the Violin Concerto with soloist Leonidas Kavakos, and the relatively rare Piano Concerto No. 2 with soloist Stephen Hough.

[Spotswood]

The "contemporary" pieces are typical middle of the road Philadelphia fare: Rouse and MacMillan. Not much to get excited about here.

[knight66]

First time I have ever heard of MacMillan as being middle of the road. I find a number of his works quite tough.

Mike

[Spotswood]

Well, they are doing Tan Dun, so that should be fun. And plenty of Stravinsky, which makes me happy.

[knight66]

I bought some Tan Dun when visiting a friend in Finland, he especially enjoys contemporary music. We listened while we drove. After about 20 minutes of cats being tortured, I ejected the disc from the player and whizzed it out of the window. Not a moment of regret from either of us.

Mike

[MN Dave]

I bought some Tan Dun when visiting a friend in Finland, he especially enjoys contemporary music. We listened while we drove. After about 20 minutes of cats being tortured, I ejected the disc from the player and whizzed it out of the window. Not a moment of regret from either of us.

Mike

At that point, did you insert the Hank Williams disc?

[knight66]

Only after our ears had stopped bleeding.

Mike

[Spotswood]

I bought some Tan Dun when visiting a friend in Finland, he especially enjoys contemporary music. We listened while we drove. After about 20 minutes of cats being tortured, I ejected the disc from the player and whizzed it out of the window. Not a moment of regret from either of us.

Mike

Oh, I have got to hear it now.

[jimmosk]

Gianandrea Noseda in his Orchestra debut performs the Orchestra premiere of Sibelius's tone poem Hakon Jarl, based on the legend of a Norwegian warrior,

Is this an utter typo, and they meant to write Smetana, or has there been a recent discovery of a "new" Sibelius tone poem?

[matti]

At that point, did you insert the Hank Williams disc?

No. Andy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxEazBfPVFg

[jochanaan]

I bought some Tan Dun when visiting a friend in Finland, he especially enjoys contemporary music. We listened while we drove. After about 20 minutes of cats being tortured, I ejected the disc from the player and whizzed it out of the window. Not a moment of regret from either of us.

Mike

On the other hand, I heard a lovely live performance of Tan Dun's Circle for Four Trios, Conductor and Audience last spring here in Denver.  I only wish I could have played in it!