OVERTURE - Schenectady Symphony OrchestraOVERTURE In This Issue President’s Message Concert...
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O VERTURE In This Issue President’s Message Concert Preview Upcoming Events Concert Calendar April 2004 Volume 4 , No.4 Walter is a scientist at General Electric’s Global Research Center in Niskayuna, NY, with a strong interest in most forms of western music. He currently plays keyboards with the GE Global Research band ”The Blues Doctors.” Concert Review – February 22 Concert Spring Fever By Walter V. Cicha, Ph.D. In spite of Punxsutawney Phil showing his shadow on February 2, spring came a month early to Schenectady’s Union College. On a fittingly pleasant and sunny February 22 nd , perhaps the warmest day of the still young 2004, the serene College Chapel was radiant with sunlight streaming in through its southwest facing windows while the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra filled the air with its inspiring and uplifting rendition of “Spring,” the 1 st movement of Antonio Vivaldi’s famous but yet rarely performed The Four Seasons. Led by the nearly perfect and charmingly animated soloing of Concertmaster Michael Emery, who appeared to be dancing with his magic violin during certain more dramatic passages and had me tapping both my feet to his rhythm, the SSO (atypically “on tour” from their regular home at Proctor’s Theatre) followed “Spring” with the rest of the seasons, displaying a mesmerizing combination of technical finesse and intimate feeling for the music. The Four Seasons presented a perfect opportunity for the SSO’s very fine string section to showcase its talents for the appreciative audience, and it did so with style, beautifully alternating gentle lyrical passages with powerful outbursts, according to the season. The deep concentration and highly varied dynamics of the SSO players, under the most able direction of Charles Schneider, were very effectively complemented by the regular and powerful narration provided by Rayna Schneider. The College Chapel’s outstanding acoustics, which are regularly benefited from by some of the world’s best chamber ensembles, also contributed to making the SSO’s performance of Vivaldi’s Baroque masterpiece one to cherish for a long time to come. Presentation of the Encore Award to the past president of the SSO Board, Mr. Howard G. Carpenter, Jr., for his exceptional service to the Board, spotlighted the intermission. The Board’s current president, Dr. Herbert Reilly, Jr. , M.D., made the presentation, while both men gave speeches very worthy of the honor’s significance. Having a father named Walter, I wondered if perhaps adding “Jr.” to my name might somehow increase my chances of gaining more public acclaim… The second half of the afternoon’s Baroque bliss featured two compositions of a man who has had more than enough well deserved public acclaim to last many lifetimes, Johann Sebastian Bach. Not unlike the apparently restless sheets of music that decided to literally become “music in the air,” as guest harpsichordist and conductor Charles Schneider charmingly quipped following his adventures during the1 st movement of Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 (more on that shortly), my recollection of the afternoon program’s Bach portion is a bit flighty. Even my usually reliable notes seem oddly disorganized. What was the mysterious force behind the elevated entropy that possessed the Union College Chapel sometime between 4 and 5 p.m. on February 22 nd , 2004? Following a highly respectable rendition of the complex Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, which is a three movement composition lacking an explicit second movement into which two masterfully timed chords were inserted by the SSO to transition from the 1 st to 3 rd movement, an unforeseen need for improvisation beset the already customized SSO cast during Brandenburg Concerto No. 5. With conductor Charles Schneider most impressively playing the demanding harpsichord passages and solo flutist Beth Chinery - her blue dress interestingly contrasting with the black and white attire of the rest of the musicians - with equal finesse leading from front and center stage alongside concertmaster Michael Emery, Mr. Schneider’s musical score took on a life of its own. Sometime during the latter half of the 1 st movement, the well-worn bulk of Bach music proved too much for the inadequately high wooden music support stand built into the seemingly period piece harpsichord, and in a matter of seconds sections of the score were scattered to the stage floor. Through absolutely unbelievable presence of mind, Mr. Schneider’s playing did not falter in the least. Credit also must be given especially to one violinist and three or four other SSO members, who displayed great agility in very quickly resurrecting the harpsichord score for Mr. Schneider without any noticeable sacrifice to the enthralling performance. In fact, the one violinist (or perhaps violist?) admirably remained at Mr. Schneider’s side holding on to the Bach bulk for the remaining 2 nd and 3 rd movements, to ensure that the unusually dynamic musical score did not repeat its unsolicited soloing. Perhaps it was a form of premonition, but it struck me as rather odd to see Mr. Schneider almost single-handedly rearranging the stage during the intermission, to properly position the harpsichord in relation to the other required instruments. It seemed analogous to a star hockey player spending an intermission during a hockey game driving the zamboni that smoothes the ice surface. There was something badly amiss with the picture, an obvious indicator of the troubling financial malice that has affected the SSO. Highest praise must be given to Charles Schneider and the SSO musicians, who miraculously pulled out of a near disaster to put on a musical spring performance well worthy of the respective Baroque composers’ genius.
Transcript of OVERTURE - Schenectady Symphony OrchestraOVERTURE In This Issue President’s Message Concert...
OV E R T U R EIn This Issue
President’s MessageConcert Preview
Upcoming EventsConcert Calendar
April 2004 Volume 4 , No.4
Walter is a scientist at General Electric’s GlobalResearch Center in Niskayuna, NY, with a stronginterest in most forms of western music. Hecurrently plays keyboards with the GE GlobalResearch band ”The Blues Doctors.”
Concert Review – February 22 Concert
Spring Fever By Walter V. Cicha, Ph.D.
In spite of Punxsutawney Phil showing hisshadow on February 2, spring came amonth early to Schenectady’s UnionCollege. On a fittingly pleasant and sunnyFebruary 22nd, perhaps the warmest day ofthe still young 2004, the serene CollegeChapel was radiant with sunlightstreaming in through its southwest facingwindows while the Schenectady SymphonyOrchestra filled the air with its inspiringand uplifting rendition of “Spring,” the 1st
movement of Antonio Vivaldi’s famous butyet rarely performed The Four Seasons.
Led by the nearly perfect and charminglyanimated soloing of Concertmaster MichaelEmery, who appeared to be dancing withhis magic violin during certain moredramatic passages and had me tappingboth my feet to his rhythm, the SSO(atypically “on tour” from their regularhome at Proctor’s Theatre) followed“Spring” with the rest of the seasons,displaying a mesmerizing combination oftechnical finesse and intimate feeling forthe music. The Four Seasons presented aperfect opportunity for the SSO’s very finestring section to showcase its talents forthe appreciative audience, and it did sowith style, beautifully alternating gentlelyrical passages with powerful outbursts,according to the season.
The deep concentration and highly varieddynamics of the SSO players, under themost able direction of Charles Schneider,were very effectively complemented by theregular and powerful narration provided byRayna Schneider. The College Chapel’soutstanding acoustics, which are regularlybenefited from by some of the world’s bestchamber ensembles, also contributed tomaking the SSO’s performance of Vivaldi’sBaroque masterpiece one to cherish for along time to come.
Presentation of the Encore Award to thepast president of the SSO Board, Mr. HowardG. Carpenter, Jr., for his exceptional serviceto the Board, spotlighted the intermission.
The Board’s current president, Dr. HerbertReilly, Jr. , M.D., made the presentation,while both men gave speeches very worthyof the honor’s significance. Having a fathernamed Walter, I wondered if perhapsadding “Jr.” to my name might somehowincrease my chances of gaining more publicacclaim…
The second half of the afternoon’s Baroquebliss featured two compositions of a manwho has had more than enough welldeserved public acclaim to last manylifetimes, Johann Sebastian Bach. Notunlike the apparently restless sheets ofmusic that decided to literally become“music in the air,” as guest harpsichordistand conductor Charles Schneidercharmingly quipped following hisadventures during the1st movement ofBrandenburg Concerto No. 5 (more on thatshortly), my recollection of the afternoonprogram’s Bach portion is a bit flighty. Evenmy usually reliable notes seem oddlydisorganized. What was the mysteriousforce behind the elevated entropy thatpossessed the Union College Chapelsometime between 4 and 5 p.m. onFebruary 22nd, 2004?
Following a highly respectable rendition ofthe complex Brandenburg Concerto No. 3,which is a three movement compositionlacking an explicit second movement intowhich two masterfully timed chords wereinserted by the SSO to transition from the1st to 3rd movement, an unforeseen need forimprovisation beset the already customizedSSO cast during Brandenburg Concerto No. 5.With conductor Charles Schneider mostimpressively playing the demandingharpsichord passages and solo flutist BethChinery - her blue dress interestinglycontrasting with the black and white attireof the rest of the musicians - with equalfinesse leading from front and center stagealongside concertmaster Michael Emery,Mr. Schneider’s musical score took on a lifeof its own. Sometime during the latter half
of the 1st movement, the well-worn bulk ofBach music proved too much for theinadequately high wooden music supportstand built into the seemingly period pieceharpsichord, and in a matter of secondssections of the score were scattered to thestage floor.
Through absolutely unbelievable presenceof mind, Mr. Schneider’s playing did notfalter in the least. Credit also must be givenespecially to one violinist and three or fourother SSO members, who displayed greatagility in very quickly resurrecting theharpsichord score for Mr. Schneider withoutany noticeable sacrifice to the enthrallingperformance. In fact, the one violinist (orperhaps violist?) admirably remained at Mr.Schneider’s side holding on to the Bachbulk for the remaining 2nd and 3rd
movements, to ensure that the unusuallydynamic musical score did not repeat itsunsolicited soloing.
Perhaps it was a form of premonition, but itstruck me as rather odd to see Mr.Schneider almost single-handedlyrearranging the stage during theintermission, to properly position theharpsichord in relation to the otherrequired instruments. It seemed analogousto a star hockey player spending anintermission during a hockey game drivingthe zamboni that smoothes the ice surface.There was something badly amiss with thepicture, an obvious indicator of thetroubling financial malice that has affectedthe SSO. Highest praise must be given toCharles Schneider and the SSO musicians,who miraculously pulled out of a neardisaster to put on a musical springperformance well worthy of the respectiveBaroque composers’ genius.
Concert Preview - April 18 Concert
FarewellMenagerie
Sunday, April 18, 2004 – 3:00 PM
Proctor’s TheatreBy Walter V. Cicha, Ph.D.
President’s MessageThose who did not attend the Baroquestring ensemble concert at the UnionCollege Memorial Chapel missed a fineperformance in a perfect location.With Maestro Charles Schneider on theHarpsichord and Concertmaster MichaelEmery soloing on the violin, this concertshowed again the diversity of ourConcert Series. We will conclude ourseason on April 18 at Proctors with twomore of our extraordinary talentedyoung local musicians, Aaron Levy andJonathan Chu, as violin soloists.
Our Musical Operations Committeeunder the capable leadership of RichardCampagnoni is already working onplanning another diverse andinteresting program for the 04-05 Series.I would like to thank all of you for yoursupport of the Schenectady Symphonythis year. I hope you will continue yoursupport by your ticket purchases andsustaining memberships next year.These are so important to yourorchestra as we try to maintain thequality program you deserve.
I would remind you that it is not too lateto plan to attend the April 18th concertand call to your attention the majorfund raising Gala at SPAC this August18th with an elegant dinner at the Hall ofSprings, followed by a performance ofthe Philadelphia Orchestra. Theprogram is titled THOSE FABULOUSPHILADELPHIANS (Part Two)and features:Charles Dutoit, conductor; StephenHough, piano and Roberto Díaz, violaRAVEL Valses nobles et sentimentalesSAINT-SAËNS Piano Concerto No. 4BERLIOZ Harold in Italy
For information or to order tickets,
please call Edna Scheper at 393-9370.
Yours truly,
Herbert F. Reilly, Jr., MDPresident, Schenectady SymphonyOrchestra Association
On Sunday, April 18, the SSO will return to Proctor’s Theater from its briefUnion College “tour,” for its 2003-04 season finale. A rather eclecticprogram, dominated by three relatively modern southwest Europeancomposers, will be their offering. Two exceptional young violinists,Aaron Levy and Jonathan Chu, will highlight the afternoon by providingtheir soloist virtuosity.
Georges Bizet’s lively mid-19th century Symphony No. 1 will lead off themusical celebration. Perhaps sensing his very limited longevity – hedied at age 37 – Bizet wrote this major orchestral work, which isrenowned for its interplay of pleasing melodies and harmonies, at onlyseventeen years of age.
The Lark Ascending will feature Aaron Levy as the soloist on violin. Writtenin 1914 just before the start of WWI, Ralph Vaughn Williams’ Romance forViolin and Orchestra did not premiere until three years after the war’send, in 1921. Unusual poetic beauty and originality distinguish thisthree-movement composition.
Perhaps the least known of the afternoon’s treats, Gabriel Fauré’s Pavane,will follow the intermission. The late 19th century composition has onlyone movement, and is a variation on a court dance originating in Italybut popularized in France.
Niskayuna native Jonathan Chu will be featured as the violin soloist forthe afternoon’s and SSO season’s finale, Pablo de Sarasate’s CarmenFantasy. Interestingly, the composition is a series of variations onmelodies from Georges Bizet’s famous opera, Carmen, thus closing thecircle of the afternoon’s imaginative musical menagerie. Come out andshow the SSO your appreciation for another impressive season ofexceptional musical performance!
Tickets are available now for the concert – call Proctor’s Box Office forphone orders – 346-6204 - $22.00 /adults, $12.00/students (high school/college)
This concert is underwritten in part by Stewart’s Shops and the OpenDoor Bookstore.
Special Opportunity – Post Concert Dinner
at the Stockade Inn. Join fellow classical musicenthusiasts for a lovely dinner featuring a garden salad, a choice ofseafood fettuccine, beef sirloin, or rosemary lemon chicken, coffee, teaand dessert for the modest price of $33.00 per person (including tip).Reserve your place now – only 60 seats are available! Call MannyAragosa at 372-2311 by April 14. See you after the Symphony!
The League of the Schenectady Symphony sponsors concertpreviews, featuring a discussion with Maestro Schneider aboutthe music to be performed at the upcoming concert. JoinLeague members and guests at 9:30 A.M. on Thursday, April 15,2004 at the home of Douglas and Ann Phillips, 1354 RosehillBlvd. Niskayuna, NY.
February 9, 2004
Howard G. Carpenter, Jr.,is the recipient of theSchenectady SymphonyOrchestra’s 2004 EncoreAward. This year marks amilestone in that it is the20th annual presentationof the award by the SSOfor exceptional volunteerservice to the orchestra.Last year the award wasreceived by Dr. JimLommel, while the firstrecipient – in 1985 – wasMarvin Friedman.
A longtime and prominent resident of Schenectady/Niskayuna,Mr. Carpenter was elected to the Board of Directors of the SSOin 1994 and eventually served as its energetic 1st Vice-Presidentbefore taking the reins as President of the SSO Association, fromJuly of 2000 to June of 2003. This was a period ofunprecedented challenges for the SSO, largely due to theeconomic and psychological downturn that followed 9/11/01.Mr. Carpenter’s admirable diligence and vision not onlybrought the orchestra through the crisis unscathed but led tosignificant progressive developments.
“In this time of difficulty for most symphonies, both large andsmall, Howard’s leadership has helped keep us afloat financiallyand led to artistic improvement,” said current SSO AssociationPresident, Bert Reilly. “Not only did he have to take over asInterim President because of illness, but he also had to copewith illness of the Music Director. He was also instrumental inworking with Assemblyman Paul Tonko in setting up thesuccessful summer outdoor concerts in Amsterdam, whichprovided opportunities for the orchestra members andhopefully will attract people from that area to our regularconcerts.”
2004-2005 SeasonUnderway
Musical Operations is preparing an excitingyear for classical music lovers. The SymphonyOrchestra will continue to showcase youngarea talent in the upcoming season. Winnersof past Parillo and Stefan competitions as wellas youth chorale groups will be featured anda local composer will have one of his workspremiered by the Symphony. A return toUnion College Memorial Chapel is apossibility based on the successful debut ofthe Orchestra there this past February.Maestro Schneider is developing programthemes to complement next year’s soloists,selecting from works recommended by anaudience survey. Concerts dates aretentatively scheduled for October 24,November 18, 2004, February 20, and April 7,2005. Mark your calendars so as not to missany of these performances by yourSchenectady Symphony Orchestra.
Howard Carpenter, Jr.of Niskayuna Wins2004 Encore AwardBy Walter V. Cicha, Ph.D.
SchenectadySymphonyOrchestra’s AnnualChildren’s Concert
SSO musicians will bring the exuberance oflive classical music to area schoolchildrenthrough an original composition by SSOprincipal trumpeter Carleton Clay – TheConstruction Zone — at its annual Children’sConcert on April 21, 2004 at Proctor’s Theatre.The piece furnishes an introduction to basicmusical concepts and shows the relationshipbetween folk and “classical” musical styles.Students who play the recorder will have theunique opportunity to learn the theme of TheConstruction Zone: Building an Orchestra, and willjoin the orchestra to play the theme underthe baton of Maestro Schneider with theSchenectady Symphony.
Student tickets are only $3.00 – adult teacher/chaperone tickets are free. Tickets are stillavailable – for information call Audie Reilly at399-1725.
Overture is the newsletter of theSchenectady Symphony Orchestra.
We are a community-basedsymphony orchestra, founded in 1934,
whose objectives are culturalenrichment, music education andappreciation, and provision of an
outlet for the talents of accomplishedmusicians in the community.
O V E R T U R ENon-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAIDPermit No. 103
Schenectady, NY
for information about any event, call the Symphony office – 372-2500
The Schenectady Symphony OrchestraProctor’s Arcade • 432 State Street
Schenectady, NY 12305www.schenectadysymphony.org
Calendar
April 21, 2004 – 9:00 AM – Tiny Tots Dress Rehearsal; 10:00 Children’sConcert – Proctor’s Theatre
May 12, 2004 – 7:00 PM – the McChesney Room, Schenectady PublicLibrary – joint concert of the Parillo Competition winners and theStephan Competition winners — open to the public.
July 18, 2004 – 9:30 - noon – Classical Breakfast, sponsored bySchenectady VanCurler Music, to benefit the Schenectady SymphonyOrchestra. Look for more information in June!
Tuesday July 20, 2004 – Riverlink Park, Amsterdam, NY
Tuesday August 17, 2004 – Riverlink Park, Amsterdam, NY
August 18, 2004 – evening – Gala at SPAC – call Edna Scheper(393-9370) for details
Charles Dutoit, conductor;Stephen Hough, piano and Roberto Díaz, violaRAVEL Valses nobles et sentimentalesSAINT-SAËNS Piano Concerto No. 4BERLIOZ Harold in Italy
Classical Breakfast
