2011–2012 CAFÉ LUDWIG CHAMbER SERIES · flutist Marcel Moyse or the work’s dedicatee, louis...

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Pacific Symphony • 1 CLAUDE DEBUSSY Syrinx, L129 (1862–1918) Benjamin Smolen CLAUDE DEBUSSY Première Rhapsodie, L116 (1862–1918) Benjamin Lulich Orli Shaham MAURICE RAVEL Chansons Madécasses, Op. 78 (1875–1937) Nahandove Aoua Il est doux Benjamin Smolen Timothy Landauer Susana Poretsky Orli Shaham GABRIEL FAURé Piano Quartet No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 15 (1845–1924) Raymond Kobler Robert Becker Timothy Landauer Orli Shaham INTERMISSION FEB. 12 SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS Samueli Theater Concert begins at 3 p.m. chamber series presents ORLI SHAHAM • PIANO AND HOST | BENJAMIN SMOLEN • FLUTE BENJAMIN LULICH • CLARINET | RAYMOND KOBLER • VIOLIN | ROBERT BECKER • VIOLA TIMOTHY LANDAUER • CELLO | SUSANA PORETSKY • MEZZO-SOPRANO 2011–2012 CAFÉ LUDWIG CHAMBER SERIES

Transcript of 2011–2012 CAFÉ LUDWIG CHAMbER SERIES · flutist Marcel Moyse or the work’s dedicatee, louis...

Page 1: 2011–2012 CAFÉ LUDWIG CHAMbER SERIES · flutist Marcel Moyse or the work’s dedicatee, louis Fleury. either way, Syrinx is a cornerstone of the modern flute repertory. its ethereal

Pacific Symphony • 1

Claudedebussy syrinx,l129 (1862–1918) Benjamin Smolen

Claudedebussy PremièreRhapsodie,l116 (1862–1918) Benjamin Lulich Orli Shaham

MauRiCeRavel ChansonsMadécasses,Op.78 (1875–1937) Nahandove aoua ilestdoux Benjamin Smolen Timothy Landauer Susana Poretsky Orli Shaham

GabRielFauRé PianoQuartetNo.1inCMinor,Op.15 (1845–1924) Raymond Kobler Robert Becker Timothy Landauer Orli Shaham

iNTeRMissiON

Feb.12SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS

samueliTheaterConcertbeginsat3p.m.

chamber series

presents

Orli Shaham•PiaNOaNdhOsT|Benjamin SmOlen•FluTeBenjamin lulich•ClaRiNeT|raymOnd KOBler•viOliN|rOBert BecKer•viOla

timOthy landauer•CellO|SuSana POretSKy•MezzO-sOPRaNO

2011–2012 CAFÉ LUDWIG CHAMbER SERIES

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N O T e s by michael clive

FRENCH IMPRESSIONS

Thatsound!Thatsinuous,sensuous,seductiveFrenchsound.WhatisitaboutFrenchclassicalmusicofthelate19thandearly20thcenturiesthatmakesitsodistinctivelyFrench?

datesalonetellmuchofthestory.ClaudedebussyandMauriceRavel,theanchorcomposersoftheimpressionistmovementinFrenchmusic,werebornin1862and1875,respectively,andbothsurvivedwellintothe20thcentury.Theywereexperimenterswhosoughttofindnewmodesofmusicalexpressionatatimewhenmusicwasbeingtransformed.RichardWagner,TheComposerWhoChangedeverything,wasbornalmost50yearsearlierthandebussy;bythetimethenewcenturydawned,thesecondvienneseschoolwouldshocktheworldwithitsexplorationsofatonalityandserialism.ThoughGabrielFauréwassomewhatolder(bornin1845),allthreematuredinamusicalworldinflux.

bycontrast,Gounodandsaint-saëns—thegrandoldmenoftheFrencholdguardinclassicalcomposition—werebornnotlongafterWagner(1818and1835,respectively).TheywereactiveatthesametimeasWagner,butworkedoutsidetheinfluenceofhisrevolutionaryideas.somecriticswouldcontendthattheywerelookingbackwardswhileWagnerwasattheheightofhispowers,duringtheveryyearswhendebussyandRavelwereprodigiesabsorbingthemusicaroundthem.bythetimetheybegantheiradvancedmusicaleducationWagnerhaddied,buthisimpactwaseverywhere;themusicalworldseemedtobesayingadieutoRomanticism,andmodernismlaydeadahead.atthesametime,startinginthe1870s,impressionismwasrockingthefoundationsofFrenchpainting.

Nowhereinthemusicalworld—notinvienna,oranywhereelse—isthetrainingmorerigorousorstyle-consciousthaninParis.debussyandRavel,liketheirpredecessorsinFrenchcomposition,hadgreatreservesoftheoryandtechniquetodrawupon,andtheirworksexhibitthetraditionalFrenchvirtuesofelegance,economyofexpressionandasuperbsenseoforchestralcolor.buttheysetoutinnewdirectionswhenitcametotheuseofmodes,harmonies,rhythmsandexoticethnicinfluences.Theirdeploymentofnewscalesandcrystallineharmoniesinthecreationoftranslucenteffectshasforeverlinkedthemwiththeimpressionistpainters.JustasthegenerationofpaintersnurturedbyCamillePissarro—onceconsidereddaringlyexperimental—dazzletoday’sviewerswiththeirexpressiveness,sodebussyandRavelequippedagenerationofFrenchcomposerstobringimpressionismintomusic,andequippedtherestofustolisten.

Thestylisticparallelsarestriking:whileimpressionistpaintersseemedtorecreatetheworldthroughcolorandlightratherthanthesolidityofobjects,impressionistcomposersfoundnewwaystocreatesensualeffectssuffusedwithlight,textureandmotion.Theyseemtodomorewithless,conjuringshimmeringtexturesandcontourswithastonishingdelicacyofmeans.Thescalesandintervalscansoundunfamiliaratfirst,buttheyquicklyseducetheear.

CriticalconsensusholdsthatGabrielFauréisnotquiteanimpressionistcomposer,butratheralate-Romanticmaster.still,hewasprogressiveenoughtobeinfluencedbytheemergenceofimpressionisminhismusic,whichdisplaysanappealingmixtureofnewfreedomandtraditionaltechnique.

Syrinx, L129

D ebussycomposedSyrinxin1913asincidentalmusictobeplayedoffstageduringPsyché,aplaybyGabrielMourey.ThetitlereferencesanymphpursuedbyPan,thewoodsy

classicalgodwhowasneverwithouthispipesandhisinsatiablelibido.infact,theplaywasoriginallytobecalledFlûte de Pan,whichsupportsdebussy’schoiceoftheinstrumentasacentraldramaticelementintheplay.unfortunately,Mourey’splaywasnevercompleted.

Wethinkofgods,nymphsandflutes,withtheirbreathysensuality,asfiguringprominentlyindebussy’smusic—especiallyinthefamousintroductiontohisApres midi d’un faune.soitisremarkabletoconsiderthatSyrinxwasthefirstmajorworkforsoloflutewrittensinceC.P.e.bach’ssonatainaminor,whichdatesbackto1763,precedingdebussy’sworkbyacenturyandahalf.Thoughtheplaywasneverfullyproduced,debussy’smusicvividlycapturesitsmagical,eroticqualitiesinamusicalnarrativeinwhichtheirasciblePanisattractedtosyrinx,abeautifulnymphwhoisloyaltoartemisthehunter.afterfailingtowooher,hechaseshertoariverbankwhere,strandedbetweentheamorousPanandtherushingwaters,shecallsouttoherfriendsforhelp.Rescuedbyfaithfulwaternymphs,syrinxleavesthebereftPanwithabreathtakingimage:justashebelieveshehasherwithinhisembrace,heisleftwithonlyanarmfulofreeds.

unaccompaniedworksforsolofluteremainscarce,andSyrinxisthefirstsuchcompositionforthemoderntransverseflute.inthisworkaswellastheopeningbarsofApres midi —onearhapsodic,self-containedcomposition,theotherasolopassagelastingmereseconds—debussyputsthefluteatthecenterofanintenselyromanticdramathataffordstheflutistroomforinterpretivefreedomandvirtuosicdisplay;infact,itisunclearwhethertheoriginalperformingedition’sbarlinesandbreathmarkswereprovidedbydebussyhimself,orlefttothesoloist’sdiscretionandaddedlaterby

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N O T e sflutistMarcelMoyseorthework’sdedicatee,louisFleury.

eitherway,Syrinxisacornerstoneofthemodernfluterepertory.itsetherealairofenchantmentisachievedthroughrelaxed,pliantrhythms,softlycontouredlines,andambiguousharmoniesthatsuggesttoneandmoodwithouteverquiteresolving.indeed,debussymightwellhavehadSyrinxinmindwhenhewrote,“myfavoritemusicisthosefewnotesanegyptianshepherdplaysonhisflute:heisapartofthelandscapearoundhim,andheknowsharmoniesthataren’tinourbooks.”

suchcommentscanmakethemagicalqualitiesofdebussy’snarrativesoundeasy,buttheyareachievedonlywithprecise,sophisticatedcraft.PartofSyrinx’sexoticismstemsfromdebussy’sextensiveuseofthewhole-tone,or“perfect”scaleconsistingonlyofsevenwholestepsperoctave.youcantrythisathomeonyourpianokeyboardbyplaying,forexample,C/d/e/F-sharp/G-sharp/a-sharp/C.asalittlemoreexperimentationwillprove,thishighlyemotivescale,whichlackssimpleintervalssuchasfifths,isdevilishlydifficulttoworkwith.

Première Rhapsodie, L116

T houghitisrelativelybriefandintimatelyscaled,thismasterlychamberwork—writtenasanexaminationpiecefortheParisConservatory—signalsdebussy’srising

internationalsuccessasacomposer.

Theyearsjustprecedingdebussy’scompositionoftherhapsodyin1910,whenhewasinhismid-40s,wereaperiodofmatureartistryandmajorcompositionforthecomposer.hismostimportantbreakthroughasacomposercamein1909,when—havingbeencoollyreceivedatits1902premieresevenyearsearlier—hisoperaPelléas et MélisandewasrapturouslyreceivedatCoventGarden,whereitwasrecognizedasanimportantmasterpiece.FollowingsuccessfulperformancesofLa merandL’après-midi d’une faunethepreviousyear,thesuccessofhisgreatoperaconfirmeddebussy’sstatusasacomposerofinternationalstature.

hisstrongertiestotheprestigiousandstatus-consciousParisConservatorywerearesultofthisgrowingrecognition,andthePremière rhapsodieforclarinetandpianoarosefromthehappycircumstanceofhisappointmenttotheboardofdirectorsoftheParisConservatorybyitsdirector,GabrielFauré.asadirector,debussywasimmediatelyfacedwiththeresponsibilityofcomposingtwoworksforthefollowingyear’sclarinetexaminations,andtherhapsodywaswrittentosatisfythisdemand.itwasusedintheexaminationsinthesummerof1910initsoriginalpiano-and-clarinetscoring.debussy’sfascinatingcommentariessurviveregardingboththeperformancesandthequalityofthecompositionitself,andhisseriousnessonthesesubjectsindicatesthesubstantialeffortthatbothcomposerandpupilslavishedonthiscommission.

“Theclarinetcompetitionwentextremelywell,”hewrotetohiseditorJacquesdurand,“andtojudgebytheexpressionsonthefacesofmycolleagues,therhapsodywasasuccess…Oneofthecandidates,vandercruyssen,playeditbyheartandverymusically.

Therestwerestraightforwardandnondescript.”Thefollowingyeardebussypublishedhisownorchestratedversionoftherhapsodyinthefamiliarperformingeditionweknowtoday,anduponhearingitspremiereperformancebyclarinetistProsperMimart,themaestrodeclareditoneofthemostpleasingpieceshehadeverwritten.

Thoughthedesignation“premiere”suggestsheintendedtowriteanothersuchrhapsody,andperhapsmorethanone,hedidnotsurvivetofulfillthisambition.

Chansons Madécasses, Op. 78

O neofthegloriesofimpressionistmusicisitsdazzlinglydescriptivetone-paintingofforeignlocationsandexoticclimes.MauriceRavel,ofcourse,lovedsunlitlandscapes

andseemedtohavespaininhisblood.butthisremarkablesuiteofsongs,scoredforvoice,flute,celloandpiano,issetinamoredistant,southerly,andartisticallychallenginglocation:Madagascar.Theexoticismoftheafricanisland-nation’slocationnotonlyengagesRavel’spowersofatmosphericdescription,butalsoseemstoengageasenseofFrance’shistoryasacolonialpower;thesettingrepresentsboththespecificenvironmentofMadagascarandthegeneralsenseofthelessdeveloped,colonializedlocalecoloredbyakindofgeneralizedethnicexoticism.Thetexts,adaptedfromthe18th-centuryCreolepoetevariste-désirédeParny,seemtoconfirmthisview—especiallyinthesecondsong,whichexpressesarathermodernanti-colonialfeelingandhasbeencalleda“cryforfreedom”bymorethanonecritic.

Whateverelsetheymaybe,thesesongsarebeautiful.Oftenliquidandlanguorous,theyevokeastrongsenseofplaceyetstandontheirownasartsongs.TheymayalsorankamongRavel’smostprogressivecompositions,atleastjudgingfromhisownassessment.“iamquiteconsciousofthefactthatmyChansons madécassesare

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N O T e sinnowayschoenbergian,”hesaidofthem,referencingthegiantofviennesemodernismandatonality.“butidonotknowwhetherishouldhavebeenabletowritethemhadschoenbergneverwritten.”

Piano Quartet No. 2

G abrielFauréwrotetwochamberworksintheconventionalcombinationofpiano,violin,violaandcello.Ofthese,hisNo.1inCminorisbyfarthemorewidelyadmired

andprogrammed.despiteitsminorkeysignature,apositivetonepredominatesinthiswork,withmajor-keydevelopmentsandanoverallqualityofwarm,dreamylyricism.

Faure’sworkonthequartetcoincidedwithhiseffortfulcourtshipofMarieanneviardot,daughterofthecelebratedoperastarPaulineviardot:hebeganthequartetinthesummerof1876andbecameengagedtoMarieannein1877,afterwooingherforfiveyears.buttheirengagementwasseveredafteronlyfourmonths,andevidenceofitsemotionaltolliscitedbysomeanalystsofthequartet.

PerhapsonlyhistherapistcouldhearFaure’slovelifeinthequartet,buthismusicalinfluencesseemlessuncertain.CriticscitetheverydisparatefiguresofsaintsaënsandbrahmsfortheirimpactonFauré—saint-saënsforhislimitlessinvention,superbcraftandFrenchstyle;andtheveryun-Gallicbrahmsfortheorganic,flowingqualityofhischambermusicandhisstructuralmastery.TheimpactofRavelanddebussywasyettobefelt(RavelwasbornjustayearbeforeFaurébegancomposingthequartet).

NocritichassurpassedCarldahlhaus’descriptionofthequartet’sfirstmovement,withits“almostopulentcantabileandextremerefinementoftexture.”Theflowingfirstthemecontrastswithasecondthemewithlightlystressedoff-beats.inthesecondmovement,abuoyantscherzomarkedallegrovivo,Fauréallows

hisinstrumentaliststoindulgeinabitofshowingoff:thescherzobalancesthemoreunderstatedpassagesofthequartetwithbrilliantlyvirtuosicwriting—rapidarticulationsofpizzicatoandbowednotes.

Followingtheenergeticgoodcheerofthesecondmovementcomesanadagiopervadedwithsadnessconveyedthroughtruncatedharmonicprogressionsandascendingmelodicfragmentsthatseemtoexpressunfulfilledyearning.isthisthelamentoftherejectedlover?ThecriticstephenJohnsonthinksso,assertingthatthemovementprovides“morethanahint”ofFaure’sresponsetohisbrokenengagement.buthenotesthat“theemotionisalwaysnoblyrestrained,withnoteventheslightesthintofself-indulgence.”andFauréreturnstohismoreupbeatemotionalforminthebriskfinalmovement,inwhichtheinitialtheme,introducedinCminor,isunitedwithasecondthemethatresolvesinCmajor,concludingthequartetonanaffirmativenote.

Michael Clive is editor-in-chief of the Santa Fe Opera and blogs as The Operahound for Classical TV.com.

Be our friend! Facebook • Twitter • www.PacificSymphony.org

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DON’T MISS OUR FINAL CAFÉ LUDWIG CONCERT OF THE 2011-12 SEASON!

Czech Matesunday,May13,2012,3p.m.

Orlishaham-pianoRaymondKobler-violin•bridgetdolkas-violinRobertbecker-viola•Timothylandauer-cello

Janácek:Pohadka(FairyTale)Martinu:ThreeMadrigalsdvorák:Quintet

Janácekwrote“Pohádka”inhisearly60s,beginningaperiodofrenewedproductivitythatresultedinseveralmasterpieces.Martinualsowroteanumberofexquisitepieces,amongthem“ThreeMadrigals.”dvorák,renownedforhissymphoniesandconcertos,alsowrotedelightfulchambermusicandwassurelyaninspirationtohiscountrymen.

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meet the guest artists

Aconsummatemusicianrecognizedforhergrace,subtletyandvitality,Orlishahamhasestablishedanimpressiveinternationalreputationasoneoftoday’smostgiftedpianists.hailedbycriticsonfourcontinents,shahamisindemandforherprodigiousskillsand

admiredforherinterpretationsofbothstandardandmodernrepertoire.The St. Louis Post-Dispatchrecentlypraisedher“wit,passion,delicacyandhumor,”andlondon’sGuardianhascalledshaham’splaying“perfection.”

shahamhasperformedwithmostmajororchestrasintheunitedstates,aswellaswiththebbCsymphonyOrchestra,Filarmonicadellascala,israelPhilharmonicOrchestra,stockholmPhilharmonicandthesydneysymphonyOrchestra,amongothers.sheisafrequentguestatnumeroussummerfestivalsfromMostlyMozarttoverbier,andhasgivenrecitalsatCarnegiehall,TheKennedyCenter,amsterdam’sConcertgebouw,andmanymorearoundtheworld.shehasworkedwithmanyeminentconductorsincludingsirNevilleMarriner,sirRogerNorrington,Christopherhogwood,davidRobertson,Wolfgangsawallisch,leonardslatkin,RobertspanoandGerardschwarz.

shaham’sinternationalperformanceschedulein2011-12includestheworldpremiereofapianoconcertowrittenforherbystevenMackey,withthest.louissymphonyconductedbydavidRobertson.shahamreleasesthreenewrecordingsin2011-2012:aCdofhebrewMelodies(CanaryClassics),recordedwithherbrother,theviolinistGilshaham;arecordingofthebrahmshornTrioandschubert’slied“aufdemstrom”(albany)featuringRichardKing;andsaint-saëns’“Carnivaloftheanimals”withpianistJonKimuraParkerandthesandiegosymphony(sandiegosymphony).alsoin2011-2012,shahambeginsanewroleashostofthepublicradioseriesamerica’sMusicFestivals,atwo-hourweeklyprogrambroadcastonmorethan100stations.

shaham’shighlyacclaimedclassicalconcertseriesforyoungchildren,“babyGotbach,”continuesinNewyorkCityandaroundthecountry.Forpreschoolers,“babyGotbach”provideshands-onactivitieswithmusicalinstrumentsandconceptsandconcertperformancesthatpromotegoodlisteningskills.

drivenbyapassiontobringclassicalmusictonewaudiences,shahammaintainsanactiveparallelcareerasarespectedbroadcaster,musicwriterandlecturer.in2005,shebeganacollaborationwithClassicalPublicRadioNetworkasthehostof“dial-a-Musician,”afeatureshecreatedespeciallyfortheradionetwork.herprogramhostedover60guestsincludingcomposerJohnadams,pianistsemanuelaxandsopranoChristinebrewer.shahamhastaughtmusicliteratureatColumbiauniversity,andcontributedarticlestoPiano Today, Symphony,andPlaybillmagazinesandNPR’sdeceptiveCadenceblog.shahamhasservedasartistinresidenceonNationalPublicRadio’sPerformance Today.

shahamwasrecognizedearlyforherprodigioustalents.shereceivedherfirstscholarshipformusicalstudyfromtheamerica-israelCulturalFoundationatagefivetostudywithluisayoffeattheRubinacademyofMusicinJerusalem.byage7,shetraveledtoNewyorkwithherfamilytobeginstudywithNancystessin,andbecameascholarshipstudentofherbertstessinatTheJuilliardschoolayearlater.shehasalsowontheGilmoreyoungartistawardandtheaveryFisherCareerGrant,twoprestigiousprizesgiventofurtherthedevelopmentofoutstandingtalent.inadditiontohermusicaleducation,shahamholdsadegreeinhistoryfromColumbiauniversity.shahamlivesinNewyorkandst.louiswithherhusband,conductordavidRobertson,college-agestepsonsPeterandJonathan,andpreschooltwinsNathanandalex.

ORLI SHAHAMPiaNOaNdhOsT

O R l i meet the host

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B enjaminsmolenwasappointedprincipalflutistofPacificsymphonyinseptember2011.sincebeginninghisstudiesattheageof10inCharlotte,NorthCarolina,hehaswontopprizesatthehaynesinternationalFluteCompetition,theJamesPappoutsakis

MemorialFluteCompetitionandtheNewyorkFluteClubyoungartistCompetition.hehasalsogivensoloperformanceswiththePrincetonuniversityOrchestra,CharlotteCivicandyouthOrchestras,GardnerWebbsymphonyOrchestra,andonNationalPublicRadio’sFrom the Top withpianistChristopherO’Riley.hisperformanceshavebeenfeaturedonNPR,WGbh-boston,FrenchNationalRadio,andtheNaxosandModerecordlabels.duringthesummer,smolenhasparticipatedintheManchesterMusicFestival,theamericaninstituteofMusicalstudiesFestivalOrchestrainGraz,andtwiceasafellowattheTanglewoodMusicCenter.

smolencompletedhisundergraduatestudiesinthemusicandslavicdepartmentsatPrincetonuniversity,duringwhichtimehealsocompletedaperformancediplomaattheMoscowTchaikovskyConservatory.hesubsequentlyearnedamasterofmusicdegreeinfluteperformanceattheNewenglandConservatoryandaperformancecertificatefromtheuniversityofMichigan.hisprimaryteachersincludePaulaRobison,MichaelParloff,amyPorter,JaynRosenfeldandJenniferdior.

B enjaminlulichwasappointedprincipalclarinetofPacificsymphonyinMayof2007.hehasalsoperformedwiththelosangelesPhilharmonic,TheClevelandOrchestra,KansasCitysymphonyandtheiRisChamberOrchestra.anavidchambermusician,lulichhas

appearedonPacificsymphony’sCaféludwigseriesandhasbeenaguestartistforchambermusicatazusaPacificuniversity,Chapmanuniversity,CaliforniastateuniversityFullerton,anduCla.alsointerestedinnewmusic,lulichwasamemberofthesecondinstrumentalunit,acontemporarymusicensemblebasedinNewyorkCity,wherehetookpartinaconcerthonoringMiltonbabbittatCarnegiehall’sWeillRecitalhall.lulichhaswonconcertocompetitionsattheClevelandinstituteofMusic,interlochenartsacademy,MarrowstoneMusicFestivalandtwiceatMusicacademyoftheWest.hehasalsoperformedforrecordalbumsandfilmscores,includingWater for ElephantsandThe Tourist.lulichoccupiesthehansonFamilyFoundationChair.

V iolinistRaymondKoblerwasappointedconcertmasterofPacificsymphonyin1999.duringhisillustriouscareerhehasappearedassoloistonnumerousoccasionswiththeClevelandOrchestra,baltimoresymphony,zurichChamberOrchestraandsanFrancisco

symphony.inthiscapacity,hehascollaboratedwithsuchconductorsasandréPrevin,lorinMaazel,sirNevilleMarriner,leonardslatkin,Christopheschenbach,NeemiJärvi,andherbertblomstedt.atthefestivitiessurroundingtheopeningofdaviessymphonyhallinsanFranciscoin1980,heperformedthebachdoubleConcertowithyehudiMenuhin.in1995,KoblerwasappointedbysirGeorgsoltitobeconcertmasteroftheWorldOrchestraforPeace,anensemblecomprisedofconcertmastersandprincipalmusiciansfrommajororchestrasaroundtheglobe.KobleroccupiestheeleanorandMichaelGordonChair.

bENjAMIN SMOLENFluTe

bENjAMIN LULICHClaRiNeT

RAyMOND KObLERviOliN

a b O u T the symphony musicians

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P rincipalviolaofPacificsymphonysince1982,Robertbeckerwasrecentlyappointedtothepositionoffull-timedirectorofstringstudiesatChapmanuniversity’sConservatoryofMusic.internationallyknownasapedagogueoftheviolaandchambermusicand

founderoftheviolaWorkoutinCrestedbutte,Colo.,heisdedicatedtothetrainingofyoungviolistsandstringplayersforafuturecareerinperforming,teaching,chambermusicandorchestralplaying.

ContinuinghistenureasprincipalviolaofPacificsymphony,heservedasprincipalandsoloviolaforamericanballetTheatre’sWestCoastperformancesatdorothyChandlerPavillionandsegerstromCenterfortheartsin2009-10.beckeroccupiestheCatherineandJamesemmiChair.

P acificsymphonyprincipalcellistTimothylandauerwashailed“acellistofextraordinarygifts”byThe New York TimeswhenhewonthecovetedConcertartistsGuildinternationalawardin1983inNewyork.landaueristhewinnerofnumerous

prestigiousprizesandawards,amongthemtheyoungMusiciansFoundation’sNationalGregorPiatigorskyMemorialCelloaward,thesamuelapplebaumGrandPrizeoftheNationalsoloCompetitionoftheamericanstringTeacher’sassociationandthe1984hammer-Rostropovichscholarshipaward.landauer’sextensiveengagementsincludehishighlyacclaimedrecitalsatCarnegieRecitalhall,theambassadorauditoriuminlosangeles,theOrfordartsCenterinMontreal,theCityhallTheaterinhongKongandinhanover,Germany.

H ailedbytheSan Francisco Chronicleforhavingavoiceof“extraordinarypassionandpower”andher“grandbutemotionallytransparent”characterizations,susanaPoretsky’sfutureengagementsincludeareturntosandiegoOperaasFenenain

Nabuccoandperformancesofverdi’sRequiemwiththeWashingtonChorus.shealsojoinsthesanFranciscoballetforleoniddesyatnikov’sRussian SeasonsasapartofalexeiRatmansky’sDiamond Project,aworkshepremieredinthe2005-06seasonandreprisedthefollowingseasonwiththeNewyorkCityballet.inthe2007-08season,shereturnedtotheroleofPaulineinPique DameatthesaitoKinenFestivalunderthebatonofseijiOzawaaswellassangannainMaria StuardawithsandiegoOpera.shealsojoinedtheRoyaldanishballettoreprisehersought-afterperformancesofleoniddesyatnikov’sRussian Seasons.

RObERT bECKERviOla

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SUSANA PORETSKyMezzO-sOPRaNO