FEBRUARY - MARCH 2016 I ISSUE 5 BEYOND THE SCORE® ELGAR: ENIGMA VARIATIONS CARMINA BURANA GOLDEN HARVEST WORLD PREMIERE KIDS CONCERTS: MAXIMUS MUSICUS VISITS THE ORCHESTRA wso.ca I 204-949-3999 MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR As we make our way through the musical season, I am always struck by the huge diversity in programs the WSO provides for the community. In this upcoming series of concerts we move through Strauss’ glorious Four Last Songs with soprano Joni Henson, to the full symphonic splendour of Bruckner’s Symphony No.4 in E-flat major (Romantic).This is a concert to satisfy the hearts of the most dedicated lovers of symphonic music, or for those that have an interest in the ultimate symphonic experience where the full orchestra is put through the most demanding of technical and expressive repertoire. As audience members, we can immerse ourselves in the rich glory of the music.You cannot help but be deeply moved by experiencing this music live. Then we move to a wonderful exploration of great music developed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Beyond the Score® series.This year’s presentation features Edward Elgar’s much loved Enigma Variations.The work is based on musical sketches of fourteen people in the composer’s life, and the wonderful material and research provided by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra provides exceptional clarity and insight that adds immensely to the experience of the music. We continue our partnership with the Philharmonic Choir in a performance of Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang, and then we explore the musical genius of Rufus Wainwright.This is a marvellous opportunity to experience the great musical talent and extraordinary song writing that Rufus Wainwright brings to our stage.We move then to a world premiere of Larysa Kuzmenko’s Golden Harvest, an oratorio honouring the 125th anniversary of Ukrainian settlement in Canada.We welcome Andriana Chuchman, Manitoba’s globe-trotting opera star, back to her home orchestra, and also feature the ever popular Carmina Burana. We end this portion of the season with a delightful concert for children. It is indeed a journey of musical discovery to move through the year with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. During this year’s New Music Festival, I read a comment somewhere (I cannot remember the location or source) that “art decorates space, and music decorates time.”While I don’t think that “decorate”is quite the right word, I love the idea that through music, we are able to add colour, dimension, passion, and joy to the seconds, minutes, and hours of our lives.The WSO is pleased to provide these exceptional musical moments to add beauty to your life. Enjoy your WSO enhanced time. Trudy Schroeder Executive Director Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra February – March 2016 I OVERTURE 1 WSO SPONSORS, FUNDERS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The WSO proudly acknowledges the ongoing support of the following sponsors, media and funders: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PARTNER EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS IN MEMORY OF PETER D. CURRY POPS KIDS CONCERTS CLASSICS A SERIES SERIES SERIES WSO IN BRANDON POWER SMART HOLIDAY TOUR INDIVIDUAL CONCERTS SOUNDCHECK PROGRAM CANADA DAY AT THE FORKS POPS PRESENTING OFFICIAL RADIO STATION OFFICIAL RADIO STATION MEDIA SPONSOR OF MEDIA PARTNER OF THE POPS SERIES OF THE WSO CLASSICS WSO KIDS CONCERTS PIANO RAFFLE CAR RAFFLE CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY MATCHING SHARE DONATION CAMPAIGN THE MUSIC Women’s Committee of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra FUNDERS February – March 2016 I OVERTURE 3 CONDUCTORS Alexander Mickelthwate, Music Director German conductor Alexander Mickelthwate is renowned for his “splendid, richly idiomatic readings” (LA Weekly),“fearless” approach and “first-rate technique” (Los Angeles Times). Critics have noted Alexander’s extraordinary command over the Austro-Germanic repertoire, commenting on the “passion, profundity, emotional intensity, subtlety and degree of perfection achieved” in Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7 as “miraculous” (Anton Kuerti, 2011). Following on from his tenure as assistant conductor with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, which he completed in 2004, Alexander Mickelthwate was associate conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic for three years, under the direction of Essa-Pekka Salonen. Now in his tenth season as music director of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Alexander has significantly developed the orchestra’s profile through active community engagement and innovative programming initiatives like the annual New Music Festival and the Indigenous Music Festival. Chosen to perform at the Carnegie Hall Spring For Music Festival in New York, May 2014, due to “creative and innovative programming” (CBC Manitoba Scene), the orchestra was the only Canadian ensemble in the showcase. As well as significantly contributing to the New Music Festival and Indigenous Festival, Alexander led the orchestra’s first out of province tour since 1979 to the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, launched the International Conducting masterclasses, the New Music Festival 2012 film project and played a major part in the acoustic overhaul of the Centennial Concert Hall. Photographer: Grajewski Fotograph Inc. Julian Pellicano, Resident Conductor Julian Pellicano’s voracious musical appetite makes him a formidable interpreter of the symphonic repertoire. He is currently resident conductor of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Artist-in-Residence at the Norfolk Chamber Music festival, and music director of the University of Manitoba Symphony Orchestra. Pellicano has built his career by following an unconventional path.The creation, with Dr. Paul Lehrman, of a new performance edition of George Antheil's Ballet Mecanique first brought Pellicano to the public’s attention. From 2009 to 2013 he served as music director of the Longy School of Music Conservatory Orchestra where he established a rigorous and distinctive new orchestral program. Pellicano has conducted the Orquestra Sinfonica de Porto Alegre (Brazil), Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Eastern Connecticut Symphony, New Britain Symphony, The Kallisti Ensemble, Boston’s Dinosaur Annex Ensemble and Milwaukee's Present Music. He has worked in masterclasses with Kurt Masur, Peter Eötvös, Zsolt Nagy, Martyn Brabbins, and Carl St. Clair. As a young musician he played drums, percussion, organ, and accordion in rock, blues and jazz groups. An autodidact, he was accepted to the Peabody Conservatory as a percussionist without any formal training. He holds degrees from the Peabody Conservatory, the Royal College of Music (Stockholm), and the Yale School of Music where he was awarded the 2008 Presser Music Award and the Philip F.Nelson Award. He premiered Martin Bresnick’s critically acclaimed opera My Friend's Story at the International Festival of Arts and Ideas and conducted at Carnegie Hall with the Yale Philharmonia Orchestra. Photographer: Nardella Photography Inc. 4 OVERTURE I February – March 2016 WINNIPEG SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 2015-2016 SEASON MUSIC DIRECTOR CELLOS TRUMPETS Alexander Mickelthwate Yuri Hooker, Principal Isaac Pulford, Acting Principal Leana Rutt, Assistant Principal Paul Jeffrey RESIDENT CONDUCTOR Alex Adaman Brian Sykora Julian Pellicano The Patty Kirk Memorial Chair Arlene Dahl Carolyn Nagelberg FIRST VIOLINS TROMBONES Gwen Hoebig, Concertmaster Emma Quackenbush Steven Dyer, Principal The Sophie-Carmen Eckhardt- Sean Taubner Keith Dyrda Gramatté Memorial Chair, endowed by the Eckhardt-Gramatté Foundation BASSES BASS TROMBONE Karl Stobbe, Associate Concertmaster Meredith Johnson, Principal Julia McIntyre, Principal Mary Lawton, Assistant Concertmaster Andrew Goodlett, Assistant Principal Chris Anstey Travis Harrison TUBA **Jeremy Buzash Paul Nagelberg Chris Lee, Principal Mona Coarda Bruce Okrainec TIMPANI Rodica Jeffrey Daniel Perry Hong Tian Jia Mike Kemp, Acting Principal Meredith McCallum FLUTES Jane Pulford PERCUSSION Jan Kocman, Principal Frederick Liessens, Principal Julie Savard Martha Durkin Jun Shao HARP *Karin Andreasen PICCOLO Richard Turner, Principal *Simon MacDonald Martha Durkin Endowed by W.H. & S.E. Loewen SECOND VIOLINS Darryl Strain, Principal OBOES ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL Elation Pauls, Assistant Principal Beverly Wang, Principal MANAGER Karen Bauch Robin MacMillan Chris Lee Kristina Bauch ENGLISH HORN **Calvin Cheng PRINCIPAL LIBRARIAN Robin MacMillan **Teodora Dimova Raymond Chrunyk Elizabeth Dyer **Jonathan Garabedian CLARINETS ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN Bokyung Hwang Micah Heilbrunn, Principal Laura MacDougall Takayo Noguchi Michelle Goddard Claudine St-Arnauld *Jane Pulford BASSOONS *On Leave *Susan McCallum *Alex Eastley, Principal **Temporary Position Kathryn Brooks, Acting Principal VIOLAS Please note: Non-titled (tutti) Daniel Scholz, Principal string players are listed HORNS Anne Elise Lavallée, alphabetically and are seated Patricia Evans, Principal Assistant Principal according to a rotational system. Ken MacDonald, Associate Principal Laszlo Baroczi Margaret Carey James Robertson Fred Redekop is the official Piano Richard Bauch The Hilda Schelberger Memorial Chair Tuner and Technician of the WSO. Greg Hay Caroline Oberheu Merrily Peters Michiko Singh Mike Scholz February – March 2016 I OVERTURE 5 The Official Radio Station for the WSO Masterworks Series. Winnipeg’s only dedicated classical & jazz music station Bruckner & Strauss: Nature, Love & Longing CLASSICS Alexander Mickelthwate, conductor Joni Henson, soprano Vier letzte Lieder (Four Last Songs) Richard Strauss (1864-1949) Frühling (Spring): Allegretto September: Andante Beim Schlafengehn (Going to Sleep): Andante