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2015–2016 Schedule of Events



Ensemble Español

Saturday, 19 September 2015, 7:30 PM

Ensemble Español

Dame Libby Komaiko, Artistic Director

Essence of Spain, Flamenco Passion

". . . exciting, sensual, and breathtaking ensemble dancing" - Sid Smith, Chicago Tribune

"A dazzling, beautifully structured program, it not only evoked the great range of music and dance (both folk-rooted and flamenco) that has emerged from Spain's many different geographical regions, but it suggested how both individual performers and an impeccably polished ensemble can put a distinctive stamp on such work." - Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun Times


Founded in 1976, by Dame Libby, Ensemble Español is the premier Spanish dance company in the United States. It is devoted to the presentation, preservation, and promotion of the classical, folkloric, flamenco, and contemporary dance and music traditions of Spain. Dame Libby Komaiko was the first American artist in history to be decorated with Spain's highest honor, "Lazo de Dama" or "Ribbon of the Dame," by the King of Spain for her artistic, cultural and educational work throughout the United States.

Flamenco Passion is their lavish concert of original Spanish classical ballets, folkloric suites, and fiery flamenco dramas.

Ensemble Español Home Page

Program Notes for the Evening's Concert.



Seaman photo O'Riley photo

Friday, 16 October 2015, 7:30 PM

Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra

Christopher Seaman, Conductor
Christopher O'Riley, Piano

Debussy: "Ibéria" from Images
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 22, K. 482
Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98

"O'Riley played so delicately that he seemingly left no fingerprints on the keys, yet his melodies sung out with sweet clarity..." - The Washington Post

Photo of Maestro Seaman: Walter Colley

Acclaimed for his engaging and deeply committed performances, the pianist Christopher O'Riley is known to millions as the host of NPR's From the Top. His repertoire spans a kaleidoscopic array of music from the pre-Baroque to present-day. He performs around the world and has garnered widespread praise for his untiring efforts to reach new audiences.

Highlights of British conductor Christopher Seaman's 2014/15 season and beyond include the Warsaw and Rochester Philharmonic Orchestras, Milwaukee, Nashville and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras, and the Auckland Philharmonia and Orquestra Filarm�nica de Minas Gerais in Brazil. He has recently worked with Orquestra Nacional do Porto, Orchestra of Opera North, the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony and the Minnesota Orchestra. Seaman was Music Director of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra until 2011, and was subsequently named conductor laureate.

The Rochester Philharmonic Home Page

NPR Tiny Desk Concert with Christopher O'Riley and Matt Haimovitz

Program Notes for the Evening's Concert



Stare photo Piccinini photo

Friday, 5 February 2016, 7:30 PM

Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra

Ward Stare, Conductor
Marina Piccinini, Flute

Haydn: Symphony No. 67 in F major
Kernis: Flute Concerto (premiere commission)
Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, Op. 60

"He (Ward Stare) inspired the musicians to impressive heights." - The New York Times

Photo of Maestro Stare: www.wardstare.com

Hailed by Gramophone as "the Heifetz of the flute," Marina Piccinini is in demand as a soloist with orchestras around the world, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Tokyo Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Montreal Symphony, Rotterdam Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, Ottawa's National Arts Centre Orchestra, and many more. She has worked with conductors Alan Gilbert, Seiji Ozawa, Kurt Masur, Pierre Boulez, Leonard Slatkin, Peter Oundjian, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Myung-whun Chung. In 2014-15, Marina Piccinini toured with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, performing the Nielsen Flute Concerto in Innsbruck, Bregenz, and Vienna, with Jukka-Pekka Saraste conducting. A devoted chamber musician, Marina Piccinini is a founding member of Tre Voci with violist Kim Kashkashian and harpist Sivan Magen, and the trio's debut CD was released in the Fall of 2014 by ECM prior to their first European Tour.

American-born conductor Ward Stare has been described as "one of the hottest young conductors in America" by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and "a rising star in the conducting firmament" by the Chicago Tribune. He was recently appointed music director of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. This past season included a number of highly anticipated debuts with orchestras around the world, including performances with the Baltimore Symphony, Sydney Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, and the New World Symphony. He returns to the Lyric Opera of Chicago in November to lead performances of Porgy and Bess.

The Rochester Philharmonic Home Page

Marina Piccinini plays Bach Sonata in G Minor, BWV 1020: I. Allegro

Program Notes for the Evening's Concert.

This concert is partially supported by a grant of public funds from NYSCA's Decentralization Program, administered locally by Finger Lakes Community Arts Grants (FLCAG).



Chanticleer photo

Thursday, 7 April 2016, 7:30 PM

Chanticleer

Over the Moon


Featured composers: Antoine Busnois, Claudio Monteverdi, Gustav Mahler, Edward Elgar, Gerald Finzi, Jakko Mäntyjärvi, Mason Bates, Josquin des Prez, Henry Mancini, Cole Porter, Elbow (Guy Garvey)

"Precise, pure and deeply felt singing." - The New York Times

"Chanticleer fascinates and enthralls for much the same reason a fine chocolate or a Rolls Royce does: through luxurious perfection." - Los Angeles Times

Photo: Lisa Kohler


Called "the world's reigning male chorus" by The New Yorker, the San Francisco-based, GRAMMY award winning ensemble Chanticleer celebrates its 38th season in 2015-16. Last season the ensemble performed approximately 100 concerts in 25 of the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Sweden. Praised by the San Francisco Chronicle for its "tonal luxuriance and crisply etched clarity," Chanticleer is known around the world as "an orchestra of voices" for the seamless blend of its twelve male voices, ranging from soprano to bass, and its original interpretations of vocal literature, from Renaissance to jazz and popular genres, as well as contemporary compositions.

The group is named after the clear-singing rooster in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. They have recorded more than 30 albums for Teldec/Warner Classics and Chanticleer Records.

The Chanticleer Home Page

Chanticleer's youtube videos

Program Notes for the Evening's Concert.

This concert is partially supported by a grant of public funds from NYSCA's Decentralization Program, administered locally by Finger Lakes Community Arts Grants (FLCAG).



Jeff Tyzik photo Juliana Athayde photo

Friday, 6 May 2016, 7:30 PM

Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra

Jeff Tyzik, Conductor
Juliana Athayde, Violin
with the Rochester City Ballet dancing to "Tangazo"

Bernstein: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
Tyzik: Violin Concerto (premiere)
Piazzolla: Tangazo
Ellington: The River

"His (Jeff Tyzik's) concert is the kind of thing that's likely to give classical music a good name, perhaps even make it seem, dare I say, relevant." - John Pitcher, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle

Appointed concertmaster of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra in 2005 at age twenty-four, Juliana Athayde became the youngest person to hold the position since the orchestra's inception in 1922. She has appeared as guest concertmaster for the Houston and Kansas City Symphonies as well as the National Arts Center Orchestra in Ottawa, Ontario. She has performed with the Cleveland Orchestra in the United States and Europe. A fellow at the Aspen Music Festival and School for six years, Ms. Athayde was awarded the prestigious Dorothy DeLay fellowship in 2005 and was subsequently invited to return in 2010 to deliver the festival's convocation speech.

A tremendously versatile artist, Jeff Tyzik is many things to many people. Onstage, audiences love him for his engaging podium style and stellar trumpet playing. Behind the scenes, musicians love him for his brilliant arranging, intelligent programming and straight-shooting professionalism. An anomaly among conductors, Tyzik creates every one of his signature programs from scratch, including his programs with guest artists, and he always provides opportunities to feature members of the orchestra.

Jeff Tyzik is the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra's principal pops conductor and is also principal pops conductor of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the Oregon Symphony Orchestra. He maintains a busy guest-conducting schedule with orchestras including the Boston Pops, the New York Pops, the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the Toronto Symphony, among others.

The Rochester Philharmonic Home Page

Program Notes for the Evening's Concert

This concert is partially supported by a grant of public funds from NYSCA's Decentralization Program, administered locally by Finger Lakes Community Arts Grants (FLCAG).


Williams logoHWS logoWyckoff logoGC logoGC logoThis series is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Williams Family Foundation,by a continuing subscription from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, by a grant from the Wyckoff Family Foundation, by a grant of public funds from NYSCA's Decentralization Program, administered locally by Finger Lakes Community Arts Grants (FLCAG),and by the friends of Geneva Concerts.