Edition 3 | 2019-2020
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WHAT’S INSIDE 3...................WELCOME FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR 5............WELCOME FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 7....................... WELCOME FROM THE BOARD CHAIR 8-11 ......................ABOUT THE ALBANY SYMPHONY MARCH 14 & 15, 2020: 19................................................ BEETHOVEN EIGHT! APRIL 18, 2020: 29......................................SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE MAY 9 & 10, 2020: KEVIN COLE RETURNS: 39............................GERSHWIN IN THE ROARING ‘20s 47........................................CONDUCTOR’S CIRCLE 50-51 ........................................ INDIVIDUAL GIVING 52..................IN HONOR, CELEBRATION, & MEMORY 55................................................ENCORE SOCIETY 57.......................................2019–2020 SPONSORS ALBANY SYMPHONY MUSICIAN 59 ............................................ HOUSING PROGRAM ADVERTISING Onstage Publications Advertising Department 937-424-0529 | 866-503-1966 e-mail: [email protected] www.onstagepublications.com This program is published in association with Onstage Publications, 1612 Prosser Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45409. This program may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Onstage Publications is a division of Just Business, Inc. Contents ©2020. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. ALBANY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | 1 2 | ALBANY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA nomination for a recording we made of his music. We will miss him greatly. The program also includes one of the 19th century’s greatest Romantic masterpieces, Hector Berlioz’ wildly original Symphonie Fantastique (Berlioz was one of Chris’ favorite composers), and a work by another major American composer we lost recently, Steven Stucky, whose Radical Light is an homage to the music of SIbelius. I should also mention that Eric Berlin, our soloist, is also a brilliant photographer whose works were exhibited on opening night this season. Make sure to view remaining pieces for sale in the Palace Theatre lobby as well as the exhibit’s look book, Music For The Eyes (with all proceeds benefitting the Albany Symphony). I am thrilled to welcome back our dear friend, pianist extraordinaire, Kevin Cole, for a very special tribute to 1920’s band leader Paul Whiteman, who commissioned and premiered the “Rhapsody in Blue” in 1924. It turns out the entire collection of Whiteman’s arrangements resides in the Williams College library just over the hill in Williamstown, MA. WELCOME FROM THE With the help of the excellent librarians there, we have put together this program of all the major MUSIC DIRECTOR Gershwin works that were played by the Whiteman Band in the 1920s, and we’ll be recreating those DEAR FRIENDS, works in their original jazz orchestra arrangements, with Kevin at the piano, including the original version We have lots and lots of glorious music ahead on our of the Rhapsody. That all happens on May 9 and 10. spring season at the Albany Symphony. I am so excited One month earlier, Kevin will be entertaining attendees to join our brilliant Albany Symphony musicians, guest at this year’s Symphony Gala: The ‘20s Roar Again, composers, and solo artists to bring it all to you! on April 2nd at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga. He will be performing American Songbook selections for a In March, we continue our Phenomenal Woman night sure to dazzle. I hope you can join us! season with a visit from one of my favorite phenomenal women, Joan Tower, our Hudson Valley neighbor, I hope you’ll also join us at the end of May for the distinguished professor at Bard College, and one American Music Festival, the annual capstone to our of the great composers of our time. She is one of season. Beginning first in Troy and then traveling to the most radiant human beings I know, and that is cities in and beyond the Capital Region, we will be always reflected in her music. Also on the program, celebrating the new 750-mile long “Empire State an exciting new Piano Concerto by Chris Cerrone, Trail” and the beautiful waterways and natural featuring the brilliant, much-talked-about pianist Shai wonders of New York State. Wosner. I’ve been wanting to bring Shai to Albany for years and am so excited he’s finally able to be All our concerts would not be possible without you, with us! The program includes Mozart’s Eine Kleine our most cherished listeners. Your support in and out Nachtmusik, and concludes with Beethoven’s joyous of the concert hall means so much to us. Thank you Symphony No. 8 to ring in his 250th birthday year! for sharing the musical journey with us! Then in April, Christopher Rouse’s Heimdall’s Warm Regards, Trumpet will highlight the musical mastery of our Principal Trumpet, Eric Berlin. It will also serve as a memorial to Chris, one of America’s most important and original composers, who passed away at the age of 70 last summer. The orchestra and I had a very David Alan Miller close relationship with Chris, and received a Grammy Heinrich Medicus Music Director ALBANY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | 3 4 | ALBANY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA and to the cities of Troy, Hudson, Kingston, Schenectady, Albany, Amsterdam, and Schuylerville to experience their cultural, culinary, historical and recreational riches. Check out www.AlbanySymphony.com/AmericanMusicFestival for more details. How do you live the value of Diverse Perspectives? Last season, the Albany Symphony formed its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force as a first step pursuing its strategic priority to “ensure the Albany Symphony is servings the community through its 100th anniversary (2030) and beyond.” This work is a journey—one that requires all of us to think and feel deeply about what it means to be a community that embraces and embodies not just diversity but also equity and inclusivity. Here is the DEI Task Force’s charter. I welcome any thoughts you might have on this topic: Albany Symphony DEI Task Force Charter Incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion best practices in all aspects of the Albany Symphony is a © Gary Wolf Photography Wolf © Gary strategic priority to ensure the organization’s longevity MESSAGE FROM THE and its service to the community: • A diversity of perspectives creates better art, and EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR better dialogue about art. • Creating inclusive environments helps us better EAR RIENDS serve and represent our community. D F , • DEI-friendly environments lead to better business The Albany Symphony holds the following as its outcomes and financial success. core values: The DEI Task Force will guide the development of the • The power of music to transform perspectives vision and plan of action to drive the Albany Symphony’s and lives DEI efforts in all aspects of the organization and the • Excellence in performance, education, and in consumers and community it serves. the audience experience • Championing both our musical heritage and the The DEI Task Force will examine relevant data, review music and composers of our time best practices, review existing conditions, identify • Playing a vital cultural, economic, and social challenges and strategies to further the Albany role in our community Symphony’s DEI efforts. • Diverse perspectives The Task Force will provide leadership within the I hope that you see evidence of our efforts to live the first organization and out in the community on DEI three values in your concert experience! conversations and initiatives. As to our work in being a vital part of the cultural, The Task Force will assist the organization in finding economic, social fabric of our community, I alert you to and allocating the resources (monetary, intellectual, our 2020 American Music Festival—TRAILBLAZE NY. experiential, human) needed for the Albany Symphony to The Festival starts as usual at the end of May, filling Troy, pursue its DEI goals. especially EMPAC at RPI, with wall-to-wall programming, world premieres, and living composers. TRAILBLAZE NY Thank you for being an important part of our community, rolls on through June and the Fourth of July weekend for opening yourself up to new experiences and voices to celebrate the completion of the Empire State Trail: while embracing the richness of our musical past. 750 miles for cycling, walking, and hiking, the longest state trail system in the nation. Over five weekends and across nine counties, the Albany Symphony will present free concerts, trail activities, family fun, craft food and Anna Kuwabara beverage, and multimedia collaborative events, bringing Executive Director thousands of people to our scenic trails and waterways ALBANY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | 5 6 | ALBANY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA • Beethoven Back to the Future | Sunday, March 22nd at 3PM | Zankel Music Center, Skidmore College • Monday Music – A mirrored Sunday Symphony performance intended for elementary school programs and teachers ready to maximize the educational value of the experience. • Tiny Tots – School day concerts for young learners. The series provides a perfect introduction to classical music. • Monday, April 27th at 10:45AM | Tuesday, April 28th at 9:30AM & 10:45AM National Museum of Dance, Saratoga • Wednesday, April 29th at 9:30AM & 10:45AM | Congregation Beth Emeth, Albany We seek to cultivate new listeners of all ages both in and out of our concert halls. Here are some other opportunities for you to deepen your involvement with WELCOME FROM THE the Albany Symphony: • Tea and Treats – An exciting new BOARD CHAIR program in-the-works for facilitating musical- based social happenings for senior communities. With the emergence