SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
World Premiere, Ruth Lenz Violin soloists, tie in with NMA Art + Environment Conference
The Reno Philharmonic opens the 43rd season of the MasterClassics series by showcasing the wealth of musical talent here at home-in America and right here in Nevada. This concert, titled “Welcome Home,” launches an on-going collaboration with the Nevada Museum of Art’s “Art + Environment” conference and features two of Reno’s finest talents—a violinist and a composer, as well as one of the most popular symphonies, Antonin Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.” The concerts are Sunday, October 2 at 4pm and Tuesday, October 4 at 7:30 pm at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts.
The concert begins with Reno born-and-raised composer Sean Shepherd and a second world premiere with his hometown ensemble. Sean grew up listening to the Reno Philharmonic and playing in the Reno Philharmonic Youth Orchestras. Soon after graduating from Julliard, Mr. Shepherd had premieres of commissioned works by major ensembles such as the Cleveland Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. He has been named Composer-in-Residence at the Cleveland Orchestra. His music has appeared in celebrated venues across the US and Europe and has been added to the prestigious Boosey & Hawkes library. This concert will have the RPO perform a second composition, Desert Garden, which follows in the wake of February’s world premiere of Silvery Rills. As part of Nevada Museum of Art’s “Art + Environment” conference, Mr. Shepherd and Music Director Laura Jackson will be featured presenters speaking to the attendees on Saturday morning about composing about place, using Sean’s most recent compositions as reference. The 3-day conference at the NMA will be attended by art professionals from around the world. As part of the opening season weekend, Sean Shepherd along with Laura Jackson and the orchestra will be performing in “Phil’s Family Show,” and interactive concert for kids. (See side story below.)
Following the premiere, Ruth Lenz, the RPO’s recently appointed concertmaster, performs the virtuosic and lyrical violin concerto of Erich Korngold, a composer recruited by Hollywood for classic 1930s scores such as The Adventures of Robin Hood for his Romantic Austro-Hungarian pedigree. The concert closes with one of the most beloved symphonies of all time, Antonin Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.” Dvořák was brought to America to encourage young American composers to find a distinctive style of composition, an American musical voice. In his “New World” symphony, Dvořák sought to capture the vibrancy of life in his ‘new world’ quoting Native-American song and African American spirituals as a sonic guide to the wonders of musical culture in the United States.
The concert preview with Laura Jackson take place on Sunday at 3:00 pm in the concert hall, doors open at 2:45 pm. Tuesday’s preview will take place at 7:00 pm in the Exhibition Hall of the Pioneer Center. Doors open on Tuesday at 6:30 pm.
All performances take place in the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts. Prices start at $20 with discounts available to seniors. For more information visit www.renophil.com, or call the RPA business office (775) 323-6393.
Calendar Information:
Welcome Home
Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, Laura Jackson conducting
Sunday, October 2 at 4:00 pm, concert preview with Ms. Jackson at 3pm
Tuesday, October 4 at 7:30 pm, concert preview with Ms. Jackson at 6:30 pm
Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts
Season Opener of the Reno Philharmonic’s MasterClassics Series
Sean SHEPHERD Desert Garden (World Premiere)
Erich KORNGOLD Concerto for Violin in D Major, op. 35, featuring Ruth Lenz, violin
Antonín Dvořák Symphony No. 9, op. 95 in E Minor, From the New World
Tickets are $73-20, with senior and student discounts
For more information: Renophil.com or 775/323-6393
Related Story
Phil’s Family Show
The Reno Philharmonic’s family show on Saturday, October 1 is an introduction to music-making with Composer-in-Residence and internationally acclaimed artist Sean Shepherd along with the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra led by Music Director, Laura Jackson. Mr. Shepherd will give the audience an inside-view on how to make music with his composition Silvery Rills, along with two additional pieces written for the concert. This multi-media concert also features one of the most well-known orchestral works especially for young listeners: Benjamin Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, which begins and ends with an overview of the whole orchestra with demonstrations of each instrument. The musicians of Celebrate Strings will perform a new Sean Shepherd composition on the program. Celebrate Strings is a Reno Philharmonic after-school violin instruction at four Title One Washoe County School District sites. Tickets are $10 and $5 for kids 18 and under.
Calendar information:
Phil’s Family Show
Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, Laura Jackson Conducting
Saturday, October 1, 2011, 10:00 a.m.
Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts
Tickets are $10 and $5 for kids 18 and under.
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