Press Release - Oregon Symphony presents Mozart

Press Releases

Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 25, 2010

For further information contact:
Nancy Stockdale, Executive Director at 503-364-0149
or Karin Holton, Marketing & Education Director marketing@orsymphonysalem.org

OREGON SYMPHONY PRESENTS MOZART’S PIANO CONCERTO NO. 23

Salem, Ore.—After a brief holiday hiatus in Salem, the Oregon Symphony will return to the Smith Auditorium stage on Monday, February 22, 2010 to start the second half of their Salem season. The orchestra will be under the direction of Resident Conductor Gregory Vajda as they are joined by guest pianist Angela Hewitt performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23. The orchestra will also perform Webern’s Passacaglia and Berlioz’ Symphonie fantastique.

The concert will open with the Passacaglia. Austrian composer and conductor Anton Webern studied composition under the great Arnold Schoenberg. The Passacaglia was written as his graduation piece in 1908. While not a prolific composer, Webern is most well known for his atonal works much in the style of his teacher. This performance of the Passacaglia will be the Oregon Symphony’s first ever performance of this work in Salem.

Touted as one of the most gorgeous pieces written by Mozart, the 23rd Piano Concerto is sure to delight. Completed in 1786, around the time of the premiere of the composer’s great opera The Marriage of Figaro, the concerto is written in three movements. A portion of the second movement, was later used by the composer in his opera Don Giovanni. Performing the solo piano part will be Angela Hewitt who began her piano studies at the age of three, winning her first scholarship at the age of five. In 2005 she concluded an eleven-year project recording all of the major piano works of J.S. Bach. She was named Gramophone artist of the year in 2006. Salem audiences may remember Hewitt from her last visit to Salem when the orchestra’s bus was delayed due to mechanical difficulties. Rather than having the audience just sit and wait, Hewitt took the stage and performed a full recital.

The orchestra will conclude the concert with the perennial favorite by composer Hector Berlioz, Symphonie fantastique. Written in five movements it is still seen today as one of the most important and representative works of the early Romantic period and remains a favorite with audiences around the world.

Prior to the concert Gregory Vajda will lead the informal yet informative lecture/discussion Take Ten in Cone Chapel. Take Ten will be moderated by Dr. Diane Baxter. Maestro Vajda is the Resident Conductor of the Oregon Symphony. Dr. Baxter is a professor of piano and music department chair at Western Oregon University. Take Ten begins at 7pm and is free of charge.

Before Take Ten, join fellow symphony-goers for dinner at Alessandro’s Ristorante. Reservations must be made in advance by calling the restaurant at (503) 370-9951.

Classical Tickets range in price from $25 to $43 and may be purchased at www.TicketsWest.com, by calling TicketsWest at 1-800-992-8499 or by visiting any Safeway TicketsWest outlet (a service fee will apply). Discounted tickets for groups of ten or more are available through the OSAS office at 503-364-0149. In addition, a limited number of general admission seats are available for $20 at the box office and a $5 student ticket fee is offered at the box office, the night of the concert. They are available for any student, any age, with ID. The box office at Smith Auditorium opens at 7 p.m. the night of the concert. Directions to Smith can be obtained at http://www.willamette.edu/wu_directions_print.pdf and attendees may park in any of the permit parking lots after 5:00 p.m
###

(503) 364-0149
www.orsymphonysalem.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 25, 2010

For further information contact:
Nancy Stockdale, Executive Director at 503-364-0149
or Karin Holton, Marketing & Education Director marketing@orsymphonysalem.org

OREGON SYMPHONY PRESENTS MOZART’S PIANO CONCERTO NO. 23

Salem, Ore.—After a brief holiday hiatus in Salem, the Oregon Symphony will return to the Smith Auditorium stage on Monday, February 22, 2010 to start the second half of their Salem season. The orchestra will be under the direction of Resident Conductor Gregory Vajda as they are joined by guest pianist Angela Hewitt performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23. The orchestra will also perform Webern’s Passacaglia and Berlioz’ Symphonie fantastique.

The concert will open with the Passacaglia. Austrian composer and conductor Anton Webern studied composition under the great Arnold Schoenberg. The Passacaglia was written as his graduation piece in 1908. While not a prolific composer, Webern is most well known for his atonal works much in the style of his teacher. This performance of the Passacaglia will be the Oregon Symphony’s first ever performance of this work in Salem.

Touted as one of the most gorgeous pieces written by Mozart, the 23rd Piano Concerto is sure to delight. Completed in 1786, around the time of the premiere of the composer’s great opera The Marriage of Figaro, the concerto is written in three movements. A portion of the second movement, was later used by the composer in his opera Don Giovanni. Performing the solo piano part will be Angela Hewitt who began her piano studies at the age of three, winning her first scholarship at the age of five. In 2005 she concluded an eleven-year project recording all of the major piano works of J.S. Bach. She was named Gramophone artist of the year in 2006. Salem audiences may remember Hewitt from her last visit to Salem when the orchestra’s bus was delayed due to mechanical difficulties. Rather than having the audience just sit and wait, Hewitt took the stage and performed a full recital.

The orchestra will conclude the concert with the perennial favorite by composer Hector Berlioz, Symphonie fantastique. Written in five movements it is still seen today as one of the most important and representative works of the early Romantic period and remains a favorite with audiences around the world.

Prior to the concert Gregory Vajda will lead the informal yet informative lecture/discussion Take Ten in Cone Chapel. Take Ten will be moderated by Dr. Diane Baxter. Maestro Vajda is the Resident Conductor of the Oregon Symphony. Dr. Baxter is a professor of piano and music department chair at Western Oregon University. Take Ten begins at 7pm and is free of charge.

Before Take Ten, join fellow symphony-goers for dinner at Alessandro’s Ristorante. Reservations must be made in advance by calling the restaurant at (503) 370-9951.

Classical Tickets range in price from $25 to $43 and may be purchased at www.TicketsWest.com, by calling TicketsWest at 1-800-992-8499 or by visiting any Safeway TicketsWest outlet (a service fee will apply). Discounted tickets for groups of ten or more are available through the OSAS office at 503-364-0149. In addition, a limited number of general admission seats are available for $20 at the box office and a $5 student ticket fee is offered at the box office, the night of the concert. They are available for any student, any age, with ID. The box office at Smith Auditorium opens at 7 p.m. the night of the concert. Directions to Smith can be obtained at http://www.willamette.edu/wu_directions_print.pdf and attendees may park in any of the permit parking lots after 5:00 p.m
###

(503) 364-0149
www.orsymphonysalem.org