Playbill March 2018 | the Philadelphia Orchestra
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March 2018 4 From the Executive Office Dear Friends: From its earliest days, The Philadelphia Orchestra has traveled beyond its hometown borders, introducing those from far and wide to its magnificent music-making. Just four days after its very first concert, in November 1900, the ensemble dipped its toes into the touring pool by performing in nearby Reading. Over the next 27 years the boundaries gradually expanded to include such metropolises as New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., St. Louis, and Detroit, as well as smaller cities such as Lima (OH), Meriden (CT), North Adams (MA), and Ypsilanti (MI). Ryan Fleur Then, from April to May 1936, under Leopold Stokowski’s baton, the Orchestra undertook a mammoth transcontinental train tour, traveling 11,000 miles and performing 33 concerts in 30 days. Since then the Fabulous Philadelphians have become one of the most widely traveled orchestras in the world, performing across America, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, Asia, and South America. This spring the Orchestra returns to Europe, 69 years after its first time (and 70 years after the implementation of the Marshall Plan), a voyage by boat to Great Britain consisting of 28 concerts in 27 days. The 2018 Tour brings the Philadelphia Sound to devoted fans in Brussels, Luxembourg, Paris (a debut performance at the Jean Nouvel-designed Philharmonie Matthew Loden de Paris), Düsseldorf, Hamburg (a debut performance at the Herzog & de Meuron-designed Elbphilharmonie), and Vienna. Following the two concerts in Vienna, the Orchestra continues to Israel, with performances in Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem, all in celebration of Israel’s 70th anniversary. This leg of the tour, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, marks only the second time the ensemble has traveled to Israel—the first was in 1992. In addition to the concerts, Orchestra musicians will participate in residency activities, collaborating with Israeli citizens, including students and musicians. The Philadelphia Orchestra is only the third major American symphony to visit the country since its founding. The 2018 Tour will be under Yannick’s brilliant direction, and will feature pianists Hélène Grimaud in Brahms’s First Piano Concerto and Jean-Yves Thibaudet in Bernstein’s Symphony No. 2. Touring is an important part of The Philadelphia Orchestra’s mission as cultural diplomats, and our work has been recognized by the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and by numerous ambassadors and the Commonwealth. Cultural diplomacy benefits Philadelphia by bringing new arts and business opportunities to our region and the markets where we perform, and is uniquely fulfilling to our artists. Being on the road helps The Philadelphia Orchestra offer its music to patrons around the world, and creates real home-town pride for all Philadelphians. Sincerely, Ryan Fleur Matthew Loden Interim Co-President Interim Co-President 6 Music Director Chris Lee Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin is now confirmed to lead The Philadelphia Orchestra through the 2025-26 season, an extraordinary and significant long-term commitment. Additionally, he becomes the third music director of the Metropolitan Opera beginning with the 2021-22 season, and from 2017-18 is music director designate. Yannick, who holds the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Chair, is an inspired leader of The Philadelphia Orchestra. His intensely collaborative style, deeply rooted musical curiosity, and boundless enthusiasm, paired with a fresh approach to orchestral programming, have been heralded by critics and audiences alike. The New York Times has called him “phenomenal,” adding that under his baton, “the ensemble, famous for its glowing strings and homogenous richness, has never sounded better.” Yannick has established himself as a musical leader of the highest caliber and one of the most thrilling talents of his generation. He is in his 10th and final season as music director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic, and he has been artistic director and principal conductor of Montreal’s Orchestre Métropolitain since 2000. In summer 2017 he became an honorary member of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. He was also principal guest conductor of the London Philharmonic from 2008 to 2014. He has made wildly successful appearances with the world’s most revered ensembles and has conducted critically acclaimed performances at many of the leading opera houses. Yannick and Deutsche Grammophon (DG) enjoy a long-term collaboration. Under his leadership The Philadelphia Orchestra returned to recording with two CDs on that label. He continues fruitful recording relationships with the Rotterdam Philharmonic on DG, EMI Classics, and BIS Records; the London Philharmonic for the LPO label; and the Orchestre Métropolitain for ATMA Classique. In Yannick’s inaugural season The Philadelphia Orchestra returned to the radio airwaves, with weekly Sunday afternoon broadcasts on WRTI-FM. A native of Montreal, Yannick studied piano, conducting, composition, and chamber music at Montreal’s Conservatory of Music and continued his studies with renowned conductor Carlo Maria Giulini; he also studied choral conducting with Joseph Flummerfelt at Westminster Choir College. Among Yannick’s honors are a appointment as Companion of the Order of Canada; Musical America’s 2016 Artist of the Year; Canada’s National Arts Centre Award; the Prix Denise-Pelletier; and honorary doctorates from the University of Quebec in Montreal, the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, and Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, NJ. To read Yannick’s full bio, please visit philorch.org/conductor. 8 The Philadelphia Orchestra 2017–2018 Season Yannick Nézet-Séguin Violas Flutes Music Director Choong-Jin Chang, Principal Jeffrey Khaner, Principal Walter and Leonore Annenberg Chair Ruth and A. Morris Williams Chair Paul and Barbara Henkels Chair Kirsten Johnson, Associate David Cramer, Associate Principal Stéphane Denève Principal Rachelle and Ronald Kaiserman Principal Guest Conductor Kerri Ryan, Assistant Principal Chair Kensho Watanabe Judy Geist Erica Peel, Piccolo Assistant Conductor Renard Edwards First Violins Anna Marie Ahn Petersen Oboes David Kim, Concertmaster Piasecki Family Chair Richard Woodhams, Principal Dr. Benjamin Rush Chair David Nicastro Samuel S. Fels Chair Juliette Kang, First Associate Burchard Tang Peter Smith, Associate Principal Concertmaster Che-Hung Chen Jonathan Blumenfeld Joseph and Marie Field Chair Rachel Ku Edwin Tuttle Chair Ying Fu, Associate Concertmaster Marvin Moon Elizabeth Starr Masoudnia, English Marc Rovetti, Assistant Meng Wang Horn Concertmaster Joanne T. Greenspun Chair Barbara Govatos Cellos Robert E. Mortensen Chair Hai-Ye Ni, Principal Clarinets Jonathan Beiler Priscilla Lee, Associate Principal Ricardo Morales, Principal Hirono Oka Yumi Kendall, Assistant Principal Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Richard Amoroso Wendy and Derek Pew Chair Robert and Lynne Pollack Chair Foundation Chair Samuel Caviezel, Associate Yayoi Numazawa Richard Harlow Principal Jason DePue Gloria dePasquale Sarah and Frank Coulson Chair Larry A. Grika Chair Orton P. and Noël S. Jackson Socrates Villegas Jennifer Haas Chair Paul R. Demers, Bass Clarinet Miyo Curnow Kathryn Picht Read Peter M. Joseph and Susan Elina Kalendarova Robert Cafaro Rittenhouse Joseph Chair Daniel Han Volunteer Committees Chair Yiying Li Ohad Bar-David Bassoons William Polk John Koen Daniel Matsukawa, Principal Derek Barnes Richard M. Klein Chair Second Violins Mollie and Frank Slattery Chair Mark Gigliotti, Co-Principal Kimberly Fisher, Principal Alex Veltman Angela Anderson Smith Peter A. Benoliel Chair Holly Blake, Contrabassoon Paul Roby, Associate Principal Basses Sandra and David Marshall Chair Harold Robinson, Principal Horns Dara Morales, Assistant Principal Carole and Emilio Gravagno Jennifer Montone, Principal Anne M. Buxton Chair Chair Gray Charitable Trust Chair Philip Kates Michael Shahan, Associate Jeffrey Lang, Associate Principal Mitchell and Hilarie Morgan Principal Daniel Williams Family Foundation Chair Joseph Conyers, Assistant Jeffry Kirschen Booker Rowe Principal Ernesto Tovar Torres Joseph Brodo Chair, given by John Hood Shelley Showers Peter A. Benoliel David Fay Davyd Booth Duane Rosengard Trumpets Paul Arnold Robert Kesselman David Bilger, Principal Lorraine and David Popowich Chair Nathaniel West Marguerite and Gerry Lenfest Dmitri Levin Chair Boris Balter Some members of the string Jeffrey Curnow, Associate Amy Oshiro-Morales sections voluntarily rotate Principal Mei Ching Huang seating on a periodic basis. Gary and Ruthanne Schlarbaum Yu-Ting Chen Chair Jeoung-Yin Kim Anthony Prisk Robert W. Earley ROSTER CONTINUES ON PG. 10 10 The Philadelphia Orchestra 2017–2018 Season Trombones Percussion Librarians Nitzan Haroz, Principal Christopher Deviney, Principal Robert M. Grossman, Principal Neubauer Family Foundation Anthony Orlando, Associate Steven K. Glanzmann Chair Principal Matthew Vaughn, Co-Principal Angela Zator Nelson Stage Personnel Eric Carlson James J. Sweeney, Jr. Blair Bollinger, Bass Trombone Piano and Celesta James P. Barnes Drs. Bong and Mi Wha Lee Chair Kiyoko Takeuti Tuba Keyboards Carol Jantsch, Principal Davyd Booth Lyn and George M. Ross Chair Harp Timpani Elizabeth Hainen, Principal Don S. Liuzzi, Principal Patricia and John Imbesi Chair Dwight V. Dowley Chair Angela Zator Nelson, Associate Principal Musicians Behind the Scenes Angela Zator Nelson Associate Principal Timpani