All-Mozart program for Valentine’s with Spokane Symphony

Feb 3, 2010

For Immediate Release

Contact: Annie Matlow 464-7074

SPOKANE— The Spokane Symphony, conducted by Music Director Eckart Preu, will perform an all-Mozart program on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010, at 3 p.m. at the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox. The concert will also feature the Spokane Symphony Chorale and solos by Spokane Symphony musicians Bruce Bodden, flute, and Earecka Tregenza, harp. There will be a pre-concert lecture in the hall one hour before the concert.

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, a Wine and Chocolate Special is available for preorder. It consists of wine served in a pair of souvenir wine glasses, and two decadent chocolate deserts. This package may be purchased for only $20 at the Spokane Symphony Ticket Office or on line at www.spokanesymphony.org.

Mozart was one of the most prolific and influential of Classical composers – he wrote more than 600 pieces –  and his music enjoyed enduring popularity. This concert is a small sampling of very different pieces by the master.  The first is Mozart’s masterpiece, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (A Little Serenade), a delightful chamber piece performed by a chamber-sized string orchestra. The serenade, written at the same time as the opera Don Gionvani, is deceptively simple and yet sophisticated enough to withstand the test of time. This music reveals the fun-loving Mozart who knew how to have a good time.

The Concerto for Flute and Harp is a fine example of Mozart’s ability to write great music on demand in order to make a living. It was commissioned by the Duke of Guînes, a flutist, to be played with his harpist daughter. At the time, the harp was still in development and was not considered an orchestral instrument, so composing a duo concerto for this combination was considered revolutionary by some. Mozart worked to be sure each instrument would have an equal voice so that neither the Duke or his daughter would be offended; the flute and harp alternate having the melody and accompanying lines, and occasionally creating counterpoint with each other.

The concerto solo parts will be performed by Spokane Symphony musicians Bruce Bodden, flute, and Earecka Tregenza, harp.  Bruce Bodden has been Principal Flute of the Spokane Symphony since December, 1990. Growing up in Seattle, he began studying the flute at the age of nine. He received his Bachelor of Music at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and pursued graduate study at BostonUniversity. Bodden has appeared as soloist with the Symphony on several occasions and reviewers have often characterized his performances “especially memorable”. He spends his summers in Iowa as principal flutist of the Des Moines Metro Opera Orchestra, and has been on the music faculty of EasternWashingtonUniversity since fall of 2004.

Earecka Tregenza is Principal Harp of the Spokane Symphony and performs as a substitute principal and extra harp with the Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera and Houston Symphony. Earecka was a recipent of the Alice Chalifoux Prize, and a national finalist in both the ASTA/NSOA National Solo Competition and the Anne Adams Awards of the American Harp Society. Her summer festival engagements include fellowships at the Tanglewood Music Center, National Orchestral Institute and International Festival Institute at Round Top. She earned her Master of Music from RiceUniversity, Shepherd School of Music and her Bachelor of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music. She is harp faculty at Whitworth and GonzagaUniversities.

The concert concludes with one of Mozart’s most popular and respected pieces; the Requiem. Written at the end of his tragically short life – he was only 35 when he died – the story of the Requiem is fraught with mystery and myth, not the least of which was how much of it was completed by Mozart and how much was completed by others after his death. In addition, it is rumored that Mozart believed he was composing this piece for his own funeral. What is certain is that the Requiem is an emotionally intense work filled with section after section of exquisitely poignant music.

The Requiem will feature the Spokane Symphony Chorale, directed by Julián Gómez Giraldo. This 100-voice choir was established in 1955, and has been an official entity of the Spokane Symphony since 1978. Each year they appear in numerous Classics and Super Pops concerts, including most recently, the Holiday Pops concert and the New Year’s Eve performance of Beethoven’s Ninth. Dr.Giraldo, Director of Orchestras at EasternWashingtonUniversity, has served as Interim Director of Orchestras, Professor of Choral Activities and Director of Choral Music Education at the University of Northern Colorado. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Conducting from the National Pedagogic University of Bogotá, and also earned Master’s degrees from TexasChristianUniversity in Choral and Orchestral Conducting, and in Theory and Composition. He has a Doctorate in Orchestral Conducting with Music History emphasis from the University of Northern Colorado.

The Requiem will also feature four solo vocalists. Esther Heideman, soprano, has a silvery, pure, sweet tone that is frequently described as angelic. In 2000, she won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and the Licia Albanese Competition. In 2001, she made her Metropolitan Opera debut singing Pamina in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, having launched her career singing Handel’s Messiah at Carnegie Hall. In addition to performing the staples of traditional concert repertoire, such as Haydn’s Creation, Mozart’s C- minor Mass, Handel’s Messiah and Orff’s Carmina Burana, she has been featured prominently in the premieres of some of today’s most respected contemporary composer.

MaryAnn McCormick, mezzo, has been hailed as “charismatic”, “spell-binding”, and “elegant”. Internationally acclaimed both abroad - her international credits include Isabella in L’italiana in Algeri at La Scala, Azucena in Il trovatore at the Teatro Regio Torino, and First Maid in Elektra with Christoph von Dohnanyi at the Opéra National de Paris – and with the Metropolitan Opera of New York, where she has performed roles in many operas over 12 seasons She has recorded with the Emerson String Quartet, The New York Philharmonic, and Orchestre National de France, and is featured singing in the Miramax film “The Talented Mr. Ripley”.

Marcus Shelton, tenor, continues to receive praise for his “excellent control and high notes to blow the roof off” and is one of the brightest up and coming talents today. Not only as a singer, but as an actor on stage, Marcus has been compared to Hugh Grant in his portrayal of Tonio (Fille du Regiment) and Chris Elliot in his characterization of Beppe (Donizetti’s Rita). Having recently been featured in Opera Now Magazine’s “Who’s Hot” section, Marcus has been featured with opera and concert companies around the world. Marcus recently completed his second year as a young artist with Seattle Opera’s Young Artist Program.

John Packard, baritone, holds international prominence on the opera stage. Creating the role of Joseph de Rocher in the San Francisco Opera world premiere of Dead Man Walking, the San Francisco Chronicle proclaims his voice to be full of “...ferocious power and insistence,” and The New York Times affirms his characterizations as “...deeply and vividly affecting.” Currrently, he performs Braxton in The Mines of Sulphur at the Wexford Festival; makes his role debut as Sweeney in Sweeney Todd , Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Teatro Comunale di Modena and Tearto Comunale in Piacenza.In addition, he made his New York City Opera debut as Marcello in La Bohème, and toured twice with the company as Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia and as Marcello in La Bohème.

Concertgoers can access new Interactive Program Notes, now available for each of the concerts in the Classics series on the Spokane Symphony website. These notes include audio clips from the music and a pop-up glossary of musical terms to enhance your understanding and enjoyment of the concerts. Notes for Classics 6 can be accessed at http://www.spokanesymphony.org/notes/classics6.htm

Tickets for either performance are $22, $32, $40, and $44. Tickets are available in advance at the Box Office, located at the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, 1001 W. Sprague, or by calling 509-624-1200. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.spokanesymphony.org Tickets are also available at all TicketsWest outlets.

These concerts have been underwritten by Anonymous in Support of Holy Names Music Center.

CALENDAR LISTING:

Mozart’s Faces, Classics Concert; Eckart Preu conducts the Spokane Symphony; Spokane Symphony Chorale directed by Dr. Julián Gómez Giraldo; Bruce Bodden, flute; Earecka Tregenza, harp; Esther Heideman, soprano; Mary Ann McCormick, mezzo; Marcus Shelton, tenor; John Packard, baritone; Saturday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 14 at 3 p.m. in the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox. Tickets are $22 to $44; tickets are available by calling the Box Office at (509) 624-1200 or in person at the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, 1001 W. Sprague; tickets are also available at www.spokanesymphony.org and through all TicketsWest outlets.