AUGUST 6, 2019 @ 7:00 PM
ORPHEUS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
PASIÓN – A CONCERT OF SPANISH & SOUTH AMERICAN MUSIC —
Joaquin Turina, (1882-1949), La Oración del torero, for string orchestra, Op. 34, (1925) —
Joaquin Rodrigo, (1901-99), Zarabanda lejana y villancico, (1930) —
Juan Pablo Jofre, (1983), Tangodromo 1 for bandoneon and strings, (2016) —
Astor Piazzolla, (1921-92), Adiós Nonino, for bandoneon and strings, (1959) —
INTERMISSION
Heitor Villa-Lobos, (1887–1959), Bachianas Brasilieras No. 9 for string orchestra, (1945) —
Gabriela Lena Frank, (1972-), Chasqui and Coqueteos from Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout, (2001) —
Manuel Ponce, (1882-1948), Estampas Nocturnas, (1923) —
La Noche
En tiempos del rey sol
Arrulladora
Scherzo de Puck
Soloist: JP Jofre, bandoneon
WQXR HOST: Terrance McKnight
PROGRAM NOTES
“One afternoon of bullfighting in the Madrid arena…I saw my work. I was in the court of horses. Behind a small door, there was a chapel, filled with incense, where toreadors went right before facing death. It was then there appeared, in front of my eyes, in all its plenitude, this subjectively musical and expressive contrast between the hubbub of the arena, the public that awaited the fiesta, and the devotion of those who, in front of this poor altar, filled with touching poetry, prayed to God to protect their lives.” Joaquín Turina
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
ORPHEUS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
A standard-bearer of innovation and artistic excellence, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra is one of the world’s foremost chamber orchestras. Julian Fifer and a group of like-minded young musicians determined to combine the intimacy and warmth of a chamber ensemble to the richness of an orchestra founded Orpheus in 1972. Performing without a conductor, Orpheus presents an annual series at Carnegie Hall and tours extensively to major national and international venues.
Orpheus believes in empowering the unique voices of all people to make a valuable contribution. Working together as a collective of leaders, members explore each other’s musical ideas using their signature collaborative method, the Orpheus Process®, and give flight to vibrant, unconventional interpretations. Orpheus performances unfold dynamically, moment-by-moment, creating an energy shared by musicians and audiences alike.
Now in its 46th year, the Grammy Award-winning ensemble was founded by a group of like-minded young musicians determined to combine the intimacy and warmth of a chamber ensemble with the richness of an orchestra and has performed without the use of a conductor since its inception. Musicians rotate leadership roles for all rehearsals and performances as well as organizational capacities such as programming and governance. Performing without a conductor, Orpheus presents an annual series at Carnegie Hall and tours extensively to major national and international venues.
Orpheus has recorded over 70 albums on all major classical labels, including a February 2019 release on Deutsche Grammophon of Mendelssohn concertos with pianist Jan Lisiecki. The group has commissioned and premiered 49 new works for chamber orchestra. Orpheus presents an annual performance series in New York City featuring collaborations with world-class guest soloists. A touring ensemble, Orpheus has performed in major international venues across 167 cities in 46 countries across four continents and has appeared regularly in Japan for 30 years.
Orpheus is committed to sharing its collaborative Process® with communities worldwide through engagement programs that promote equity and access to classical music for all ages and demographics. These include underwritten concert tickets and in-class visits from musicians for K-12 NYC students, development programs for emerging professionals in the arts, and Orpheus Reflections, a music and wellness program for people living with Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia and their caregivers.