LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 31, 2016) –The Lexington Philharmonic proudly announces it’s 2016-2017 season. LexPhil’s 55th Season celebrates music as the collaborative force of the human spirit that inspires reflection, ecstasy and profundity. LexPhil continues to brilliantly pair the pillars of the classical canon with modern masters. In addition to masterworks of Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Brahms, contemporary works by Grammy-Award winning composer Stephen Paulus and Christopher Theofanidis are also scheduled.
“Programs are centered around music’s power to shape and become inspiration,” says Music Director and Conductor, Scott Terrell. “We pride ourselves on our ability to present diverse repertoire, from the most exciting works being created today to the most powerful pieces of the orchestral canon. Stephen Paulus’ profound oratorio To Be Certain of the Dawn, Davies’ celebratory An Orkney Wedding at Sunrise and Conrad Tao’s intriguing Pangu, will make audiences want to hear more by these contemporary composers. Highlights from the orchestral canon include Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, Sibelius’ brooding Symphony No. 1, the sultry music of Bizet’s Carmen, and the orchestral fireworks of Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra.”
“The 2016-2017 season represents what has become expected in LexPhil’s programming,” echoes LexPhil Executive Director, Allison Kaiser. “The pairing of works that tell epic stories about our shared humanity attracts individuals from all backgrounds – young, old, seasoned and first-time concert goers. We want to be an organization known for innovative concert experiences of the highest standards and meaningful engagement. Next season will not disappoint.”
LexPhil’s 2016-2017 season includes performances by world-class soloists, several with Kentucky roots, and many of whom Maestro Terrell has worked with across the globe. Guest artists making their LexPhil debut include two Avery Fisher Career Grant winners, violinist Tessa Lark for Barber’s Violin Concerto, and Conrad Tao for Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F. New to the 16-17 season, LexPhil has appointed Lexington native Ryan Shirar as Arranger-in-Residence. Shirar has worked with renowned orchestras throughout the United States and abroad, such as the Calgary Philharmonic, New Jersey Symphony, and the San Francisco Symphony. As Arranger-in-Residence, Shirar will increase LexPhil’s capacity for artistic excellence and education and community outreach efforts.
“The creation of this position fills an important niche within LexPhil’s programming,” says Music Director and Conductor Scott Terrell. “Ryan will arrange music for both full orchestral and ensemble programs. We are committed to delivering artistic excellence in the concert hall and beyond. Ryan’s role as Arranger-in-Residence will provide LexPhil the ability to grow and expand quality repertoire for both our ensembles and full orchestra, which in turn enables us to be more engaged in the rich cultural life of our city.”
Rapture opens the 2016-2017 season on September 16, 2016. Kentucky-born violinist Tessa Lark comes home to perform Barber’s exhilarating Violin Concerto. Lark received an Avery Fisher Career Grant in March 2016, a highly coveted grant recognizing talented instrumentalists who have great potential for solo careers. Contemporary American composer Christopher Rouse’s Rapture and Tchaikovsky’s rousing Symphony No. 5 completes the program.
On Oct. 21, 2016, LexPhil explores the fascinating phenomena of the aurora borealis with The Legend of the Northern Lights, an immersive multimedia work featuring film and narration by Grammy-nominated composer Christopher Theofanidis. Described by the Chicago Tribune as a “seamless fusion of science and fantasy,” the work features awe-inspiring visuals of the aurora borealis by astronomer Dr. José Francisco Salgado with a “lush” and “accessible” score by Theofanidis. Sibelius’ ode to his homeland Finlandia and his Symphony No. 1 complete an evening exploring the vast north.
The revelation of the 2016-2017 season is a special collaborative performance of Grammy Award-winning composer Stephen Paulus’ profound oratorio To Be Certain of the Dawn on November 11, 2016. Premiered in 2005, To Be Certain of the Dawn was commissioned by the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis as a gift to Temple Israel Synagogue in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camps in 1945. Paulus’ masterwork is paired with Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony, op. 110, a work inscribed as having been written “In memory of victims of fascism and war” and inspired by Shostakovich’s visit of Dresden following its destruction by Allied firebombing in 1945. LexPhil will once again unite nearly 300 voices from Eastern Kentucky University, Berea College, Centre College, Asbury University, and the Danville Children’s Choir for this once-in-a-lifetime performance experience. Soloists will be from the Kentucky Opera Studio Artist program, and the production will be semi-staged by director John de los Santos.
LexPhil heats up on February 10, 2017 with Carmen, a Spanish romance-themed concert featuring works by Piazzolla, Granados, and Bizet. The concert opens with Granados’ lush Tres danzas espanolas. The orchestra is then joined by world renowned Argentinean bandoneonist Héctor Del Curto for Piazzolla’s Bandoneón Concerto written for the classic tango instrument, followed by Piazzolla’s Oblivion. The night concludes with a passionate performance of Serebrier’s arrangement of Bizet’s famous Carmen Symphony.
Beethoven & Brahms headlines the April 14, 2017 concert along with an unusual piece that features bagpipes. Davies’ celebratory An Orkney Wedding at Sunrise opens the evening, followed by the work that began one of the most important careers in music, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1. Brahms’ Concerto for Violin and Cello, known to many as Brahms’ Double Concerto, features guest artists Marc Rovetti, violin and Yumi Kendall, cello. Both Rovetti and Kendall are members of the Philadelphia Orchestra. LexPhil audiences will remember Yumi’s brother Nick Kendall who is one third of the talented trio Time for Three, LexPhil’s guest artists for October 2015’s American Soundscapes.
LexPhil closes the season with a very special guest artist, pianist Conrad Tao, for Gershwin & Tao on May 12, 2017. Dubbed a musician of “probing intellect and open-hearted vision” by the New York Times, 23 year-old Tao is already an accomplished composer, educator, and soloist. After LexPhil performs his work for orchestra, Pangu, Tao will bring his dazzling virtuosity to a performance of Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F. The 2016-2017 season ends with the unmatched exuberance of Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra.
In addition to LexPhil’s 2016-2017 Season Series concerts, LexPhil will also present two Special Concerts during December 2016. Building on the success of last year’s diverse program Gloria, LexPhil will once again offer a rich program of sacred music in celebration of the holiday season. A Cathedral Christmas will be presented at the Cathedral of Christ the King on Saturday, December 10, 2016 with emerging soloists Jarrett Ott, baritone and Sarah Shaffer, soprano and organist Jon Johnson. The concert features works by composers John Rutter, Gerald Finzi, Vaughan Williams, and Bach in a first-ever collaboration between the Lexington Chamber Chorale and the chamber choir ECCO. The choir, established in 2008, is comprised of 24 singers specializing in performance of sacred a cappella music.
For a third year, LexPhil will provide premiere entertainment for ringing in the New Year in Lexington. LexPhil will transport all to the dangerously glamorous world of everyone’s favorite spy, Bond, James Bond, at Casino Royale on Saturday, December 31, 2016 at the Lexington Opera House. LexPhil and talented vocalist Hilary Kole perform the best music of the Bond film catalog, including Casino Royale, Goldfinger, Diamonds are Forever, and more.
All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted, and are presented at the Singletary Center for the Arts, with the exception of A Cathedral Christmas at the Cathedral of Christ the King and Casino Royale: The Music of James Bond at the Lexington Opera House. Concert nights are Friday and/or Saturday, depending on the program and concert venue.
LexPhil is currently accepting renewals for Full Series Subscribers. Subscriptions will be available to the public for purchase beginning May 1, 2016. Full Series Subscriptions include six concerts plus one Special Concert. Single concert tickets go on sale July 11, 2016. Call 859-233-4226 to renew or order subscriptions. For more information, please contact the Lexington Philharmonic at (859) 233-4226, or visit the website at www.lexphil.org.
Scott Terrell, Music Director and Conductor
Conductor Scott Terrell in his seventh season as LexPhil’s Music Director and Conductor. Since joining LexPhil in April 2009, he has led the orchestra in a significant transformation to align with the organizational values of artistic excellence, collaboration, innovation and accessibility. Scott is passionate about engaging the broadest possible community in music as listeners, musicians, composers and advocates. His programming has expanded the orchestra’s repertoire and enhanced the national reputation of the organization through new music, multi-media and inter-disciplinary projects. Through LexPhil collaborations with high schools, colleges and youth performing arts groups, Scott dedicates a tremendous amount of time and energy to educating emerging musical artists.
In addition to his post in Lexington, he is on the cover conductor staff of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Mr. Terrell has simultaneously maintained a busy schedule of guest conducting that include international debut engagements in 2016 with Opera Hong Kong and the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and multiple returns to the Aspen Music Festival and School.
Lexington Philharmonic
The Lexington Philharmonic, founded in 1961, is the only professional orchestral organization in central Kentucky. LexPhil presents approximately 200 concerts and educational programs each year, including Season Series concerts, Peanut Butter & Jelly concerts for young audiences, special concerts, community programs and outdoor summer concerts. It is the mission of the Lexington Philharmonic is to foster excellence and innovation in the performance and presentation of great music; to enrich the lives of our diverse citizenry; to educate current and future audiences; and to bring distinction to our community through the orchestra’s presence and standing. More information and tickets can be found at www.lexphil.org.
All Lexington Philharmonic programs are made possible through the generous support of LexArts. In 2015-2016, the Lexington Philharmonic will receive a total of $170,000 in unrestricted support.
LexPhil’s 2015-2016 season is presented by the Dupree Initiative for Innovation, funded by the tremendous generosity of Thomas and Ann Todd Dupree.
The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, provides operating support to the Lexington Philharmonic with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Saykaly Garbulinska Foundation, funder of the Saykaly Garbulinska Composer-in-Residence Program, generously brings innovative composer Avner Dorman to LexPhil for the 2015-2016 season.
Special thanks to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government for its continued partnership in ensuring a flourishing future for the arts in Lexington and central Kentucky.
LexPhil 2016-2017 Season Schedule and Repertoire
Dates, times, locations and programs are subject to change.
Opening Night: Rapture
September 16, 2016, 7:30 pm
Singletary Center for the Arts
Christopher Rouse: Rapture
Barber: Violin Concerto
Tessa Lark, violin
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5
Finlandia & The Northern Lights
October 21, 2016, 7:30 pm
Singletary Center for the Arts
Sibelius: Symphony No. 1
Sibelius: Finlandia
Christopher Theofanidis: The Legend of the Northern Lights
Peter Van de Graaff, narrator
multimedia work featuring film and narration
To Be Certain of the Dawn
November 11, 2016, 7:30 pm
Singletary Center for the Arts
Shostakovich: Chamber Symphony, op. 110a
Paulus: To Be Certain of the Dawn
With the combined choirs of Berea College, Asbury University, Centre College, Danville Children’s Choir, and
KY Opera Studio Artists
John de los Santos, stage director
Carmen
February 10, 2017, 7:30 pm
Singletary Center for the Arts
Granados: Tres danzas españolas
Piazzolla: Concerto for Bandoneon
Héctor Del Curto, bandoneon
Piazzolla: Oblivion
Bizet (arr. Serebrier): Carmen Symphony
Beethoven & Brahms
April 14, 2017, 7:30 pm
Singletary Center for the Arts
Maxwell Davies: An Orkney Wedding at Sunrise
Beethoven: Symphony No. 1
Brahms: Concerto for Violin and Cello
Marc Rovetti, violin and Yumi Kendall, cello
Gershwin & Tao
May 12, 2017, 7:30 pm
Singletary Center for the Arts
Conrad Tao: Pangu
Gershwin: Piano Concerto in F
Conrad Tao, piano
Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra
Special Concerts:
A Cathedral Christmas
Saturday, December 10, 2016, 8:00 pm
Cathedral of Christ the King
with the Lexington Chamber Chorale and ECCO
Sarah Shaffer, soprano
Jarett Ott, baritone
Jon Johnson, organ
Casino Royale: The Music of James Bond
Saturday, December 31, 2016, 7:30 pm
Lexington Opera House
Hilary Kole, vocalist
For more information or to purchase tickets, please contact the Lexington Philharmonic at (859) 233-4226,
or visit the website at www.lexphil.org.
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