23 Season 2015-2016 Thursday, May 5, at 8:00 Friday, May 6, at 2:00 The Philadelphia Orchestra Saturday, May 7, at 8:00 Stéphane Denève Conductor James Ehnes Violin Ravel Pavane pour une infante défunte Williams Violin Concerto I. Moderato II. Slowly (in peaceful contemplation) III. Broadly (Maestoso)—Quickly Intermission Beethoven Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92 I. Poco sostenuto—Vivace II. Allegretto III. Presto—Assai meno presto—Presto IV. Allegro con brio This program runs approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes. Philadelphia Orchestra concerts are broadcast on WRTI 90.1 FM on Sunday afternoons at 1 PM. Visit WRTI.org to listen live or for more details. 24 25 The Philadelphia Orchestra Jessica Griffin The Philadelphia Orchestra Orchestra also reaches Carnegie Hall and the is one of the preeminent thousands of listeners on the Kennedy Center while also orchestras in the world, radio with weekly Sunday enjoying summer residencies renowned for its distinctive afternoon broadcasts on in Saratoga Springs, New sound, desired for its WRTI-FM. York, and Vail, Colorado. keen ability to capture the Philadelphia is home and The Philadelphia Orchestra hearts and imaginations the Orchestra nurtures an of audiences, and admired serves as a catalyst for important relationship with for a legacy of imagination cultural activity across patrons who support the and innovation on and off Philadelphia’s many main season at the Kimmel the concert stage. The communities, as it builds an Orchestra is transforming its Center, and also with those offstage presence as strong rich tradition of achievement, who enjoy the Orchestra’s as its onstage one. The sustaining the highest area performances at the Orchestra’s award-winning level of artistic quality, but Mann Center, Penn’s Landing, Collaborative Learning also challenging—and and other cultural, civic, initiatives engage over exceeding—that level by and learning venues. The 50,000 students, families, creating powerful musical Orchestra maintains a strong and community members experiences for audiences at commitment to collaborations through programs such as home and around the world. with cultural and community PlayINs, side-by-sides, PopUp organizations on a regional concerts, free Neighborhood Music Director Yannick and national level. Concerts, School Concerts, Nézet-Séguin’s highly collaborative style, deeply- Through concerts, tours, and residency work in rooted musical curiosity, residencies, presentations, Philadelphia and abroad. and boundless enthusiasm, and recordings, the Orchestra The Orchestra’s musicians, paired with a fresh approach is a global ambassador for in their own dedicated to orchestral programming, Philadelphia and for the roles as teachers, coaches, have been heralded by United States. Having been and mentors, serve a key critics and audiences alike the first American orchestra role in growing young since his inaugural season in to perform in China, in 1973 musician talent and a love 2012. Under his leadership at the request of President of classical music, nurturing the Orchestra returned to Nixon, The Philadelphia and celebrating the wealth recording, with two celebrated Orchestra today boasts a new of musicianship in the CDs on the prestigious partnership with the National Philadelphia region. For Deutsche Grammophon Centre for the Performing more information on The label, continuing its history Arts in Beijing. The ensemble Philadelphia Orchestra, of recording success. The annually performs at please visit www.philorch.org. 26 Principal Guest Conductor Jessica Griffin As principal guest conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra, Stéphane Denève spends multiple weeks each year with the ensemble, conducting subscription, Family, and summer concerts. His 2015-16 subscription season appearances include his first tour with the Orchestra, of Florida, and a two-week focus on the music of John Williams, a composer he feels passionately about, and with whom he has a close friendship. Mr. Denève has led more programs than any other guest conductor since making his Philadelphia Orchestra debut in 2007, in repertoire that has spanned more than 100 works, ranging from Classical through the contemporary, including presentations with dance, film, and cirque performers. Mr. Denève is also chief conductor of the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, and chief conductor of the Brussels Philharmonic and director of its Centre for Future Orchestra Repertoire. Recent engagements in Europe and Asia include appearances with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; the NHK, Vienna, London, Bavarian Radio, and Swedish Radio symphonies; the Munich Philharmonic; the Orchestra Sinfonica dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome; the Orchestre National de France; the Philharmonia Orchestra; and the Deutsches Symphonie- Orchester Berlin. In North America he made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2012 with the Boston Symphony, with which he is a frequent guest. He also appears regularly with the Chicago and San Francisco symphonies, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He made his New York Philharmonic debut in February 2015. Mr. Denève has won critical acclaim for his recordings of the works of Poulenc, Debussy, Ravel, Roussel, Franck, and Connesson. He is a double winner of the Diapason d’Or de l’Année, was shortlisted in 2012 for Gramophone’s Artist of the Year award, and won the prize for symphonic music at the 2013 International Classical Music Awards. A graduate of, and prizewinner at, the Paris Conservatory, Mr. Denève worked closely in his early career with Georg Solti, Georges Prêtre, and Seiji Ozawa. He is committed to inspiring the next generation of musicians and listeners, and works regularly with young people in the programs of the Tanglewood Music Center and the New World Symphony. For further information please visit www.stephanedeneve.com. 27 Soloist Benjamin Ealovega Born in 1976 in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, James Ehnes made his Philadelphia Orchestra debut in 2000 in Saratoga and his subscription debut in 2009. He has performed with such ensembles as the Boston, Chicago, Pittsburgh, London, and NHK symphonies; the Cleveland and Philharmonia orchestras; the Los Angeles, New York, BBC, and Czech philharmonics; and the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin. Alongside his concerto work, Mr. Ehnes maintains a busy recital schedule. He has appeared at festivals such as City of London, Ravinia, Montreux, Chaise-Dieu, the White Nights in St Petersburg, and Salzburg. He is a regular guest at Wigmore Hall in London, and at the 2007 BBC Proms he premiered a new work for violin and piano by Aaron Jay Kernis. In May 2016 he embarks on a cross-Canada recital tour to celebrate his 40th birthday. As a chamber musician he has collaborated with such leading artists as Leif Ove Andsnes, Louis Lortie, Jan Vogler, and Yo-Yo Ma. In 2010 he formally established the Ehnes Quartet, with which he made his debut European tour in February 2014 and returned in 2015 for performances in London, Paris, and Aix, among others. He is also the artistic director of the Seattle Chamber Music Society. Mr. Ehnes has an extensive discography and has won many awards for his recordings, including a 2008 Gramophone Award for his live recording of the Elgar Concerto with Andrew Davis and the Philharmonia Orchestra. His recording of the Korngold, Barber, and Walton concertos won a 2008 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance and a 2008 JUNO award for Best Classical Album of the Year. Recent releases include concertos by Britten, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, and Khachaturian. Mr. Ehnes began violin studies at the age of four, became a protégé of the noted Canadian violinist Francis Chaplin at nine, made his orchestral debut with the Montreal Symphony at 13, and graduated from the Juilliard School in 1997, winning the Peter Mennin Prize for Outstanding Achievement and Leadership in Music. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and in 2010 was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. He plays the “Marsick” Stradivarius of 1715. 28 Framing the Program Maurice Ravel composed his lilting Pavane for a Dead Parallel Events Princess in 1899 while studying at the Paris Conservatory 1812 Music under Gabriel Fauré. A decade earlier Fauré had written his Beethoven Weber own version of a “pavane,” which was a stately Renaissance Symphony Piano Concerto dance. Ravel originally composed his piece, which he No. 7 No. 2 hoped evoked what “a little princess might, in former times, Literature have danced at the Spanish court,” for piano and its quick Brothers Grimm success prompted him to orchestrate it in 1910. Fairy Tales Art John Williams, widely hailed as today’s preeminent film Géricault composer, has simultaneously written many concert works, The Charging most notably a dozen concertos. He began composing Chasseur his haunting Violin Concerto in 1974, soon after his first History wife, actress Barbara Ruick, died suddenly of a cerebral U.S. declares hemorrhage at age 43. It was she who had originally war on Britain suggested he write a violin concerto and the work is dedicated to her memory. 1899 Music Ravel Elgar Richard Wagner famously characterized Beethoven’s Pavane pour “Enigma” Seventh Symphony as “the Apotheosis of the Dance.” une infante Variations Beethoven was at the height of his popular fame when the défunte Literature jubilant piece premiered in 1813. In this Symphony, unveiled Tolstoy as victory in the Napoleonic wars was close at hand, he Resurrection brilliantly captured the celebratory spirit of the times. Art Toulouse- Lautrec Jane Avril History First magnetic recording of sound 1974 Music Williams Carter Violin Concerto Brass Quintet Literature Benchley Jaws Art Warhol Man Ray History Nixon resigns 29 The Music Pavane pour une infante défunte During his time as a teacher of composition at the Paris Conservatory, Gabriel Fauré was solicitous of his students’ welfare and assiduously cultivated their careers. His generosity won the unwavering affection of his pupils, including such luminaries as Lili and Nadia Boulanger, Charles Koechlin, Florent Schmitt, and the Italian composer Alfredo Casella.