Romance Prevails in VSO Masterworks Concerts
Burlington, VT — Romance is the theme of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra
Masterworks Series Concert, the third season performance featuring “Music of Our Time,” to be held on Saturday, January 24 at the Flynn Theater in Burlington at 8:00 p.m., and again on Sunday, January 25 at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland as part of the “Rutland Sunday Matinee” series at 4 p.m. World renowned violinist, and VSO music director, Jaime Laredo and cellist Sharon Robinson will perform with dynamic young conductor, Sarah Hicks, on the podium. Continuing with “Music of Our Time” to celebrate the VSO’s forthcoming 75th anniversary, the program includes Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet Suite (1936), Jorge Martín’s Romance for Orchestra (1999/2008), and the world premiere of a Double Concerto for violin, cello and orchestra, written especially for Laredo and Robinson by VSO composer-in-residence David Ludwig.
Sergei Prokofiev, one of the greatest composers of the 20th century was born in Russia in 1891. After the Revolution he traveled abroad where he worked in America and Paris, returning to Russia in 1936. The Romeo & Juliet Suite was originally written on commission from the Kirov Theater in Leningrad. Prokofiev was a formidable pianist, and originally presented the work as a piano score. The dramatic and poignant Romeo & Juliet Suite is one of his best-known works.
In 1999, the VSO commissioned Jorge Martín to write a short piece of music for an ensemble consisting of a “Mozart orchestra”--a few winds, strings, no brass or percussion--for the “Made in Vermont Music Festival” tour. When the VSO decided to include his piece in the 2008-2009 Masterworks Series, the composer added a few more winds, horns, brass and harp to his original piece. “The title Romance suggests a story,” says Martín, “but also what Mozart understood by ‘Romanze:’ a lyrical slow movement with a stormy middle. In my piece the storm passes quickly, like a spasm of anger or regret. The work is a short melodic motif that floats throughout in many guises, mostly beatific and sweet,” he says. “The music does not tell a specific ‘story,’ but I encourage the listener to hear a story made up as the music unfolds.” The piece and a mini residency with Jorge Martín is funded in part through Meet The Composer’s MetLife Creative Connections program.
David Ludwig’s Double Concerto in honor of Jaime Laredo and Sharon Robinson portrays three kinds of love--Eros, Agape and Phila--as told in three ancient stories. The music of the first movement based on the love of Odysseus and Calypso from Homer’s Odyssey, is sensual and rhythmic. The second movement follows the medieval story of Tristan and Iseult, dwelling in forbidden courtly love. The third movement is about love of brotherhood and mankind from the story of the life of Buddha, with music that becomes bright and celebratory, with ringing bells and chimes.
Guest conductor Sarah Hatsuko Hicks was noted in the New York Times as part of “a new wave of female conductors in their late 20’s through early 40’s.” Her versatile and vibrant musicianship has secured her place in “the next generation of up-and-coming American conductors.” She received her BA magna cum laude from Harvard University as a composition major; she holds an Artists’ Degree in conducting from the Curtis Institute of Music where she served as a member of the faculty from 2000-2005. Her talents have been recognized with numerous prizes and scholarships.
A pre-concert discussion, “Musically Speaking,” moderated by Walter Parker will be held at 7 p.m. at the Flynn Center, free for members of the audience. The discussion will feature Sarah Hicks, David Ludwig and Jorge Martín, providing entertaining insight into the music, composers and musicians themselves.
Concerts by the VSO are made possible in part by the State of Vermont and individuals, businesses and foundations throughout Vermont. Vermont Public Radio is the co-sponsor for the 2008/2009 season. WCVT-FM is the 2008/2009 media sponsor and Northfield Savings Bank is the co-sponsor of the series. Additional support is provided by the Concert Artists Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation, and the Lintilhac Foundation. The January concert is also made possible in part by Kittell Branagan & Sargent, the Courtyard Marriott, and Bravo Society members Malcolm and Gladys Severance.
For additional information or tickets, please call the FlynnTix Regional Box Office at (802) 86-FLYNN (863-5966), the VSO office at 800-VSO-9293, extension 10, or visit on line at www.vso.org. Tickets for the “Sunday Matinee Series” performance in Rutland on January 25 may also be purchased directly through the Paramount Theatre Box Office at 802-775-0903.
