Symphony Celebrates Musical Expression

Mar 5, 2008

For Immediate Release

Contact: Annie Matlow 326-3136

The Spokane Symphony, conducted by Eckart Preu, presents a trio of sensuous musical delights from the era of lavish orchestras and uninhibited emotions on Saturday, March 15 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 16 at 3 p.m. in the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox. Russian pianist Alexandre Moutouzkine will perform with the Symphony, along with the 80-voice Spokane Symphony Chorale, directed by Lori Wiest.

The evening begins with another jewel from the Moldenhauer Archive, Im Sommerwind, subtitled Idyll for Large Orchestra, by Anton Webern. Composed in 1904, before Webern's devotion to 12-tone music, Im Sommerwind echoes the works of Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss. Though the composer spent much of his time in Vienna, he often retreated to the country estate belonging to his family nestled in the Alps of southern Austria. It was while he was vacationing from his studies at the University of Vienna, that Webern wrote this beautiful tone-poem which as a musical expression of the perfection he saw in nature, an impressionistic description of a summer day in woods and fields. The music slowly moves from tremulous birdcalls towards a powerful climax of joy before returning to the hushed wonder of its opening.

Alexander Scriabin's wrote his Concerto in F-sharp minor for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 20, in order to best show off his superb abilities as a pianist and was his first composition for orchestra. Although it was panned by Rimsky-Korsakov, Russia's most knowledgeable teacher of composition at the time, the work was a very attractive, conservative piece heavily influenced by the music of Chopin. The piano part is very difficult to play but lacks any obvious display of the musician's virtuosity. The music is often dominated by the beautiful orchestral score, threatening to overpower the soloist. Nevertheless, the work is an intensely expressive piece, alternating between control lyricism and intense ecstasy.

Moutouzkine will play the piano solo of Scriabin's concerto. Born into a family of professional musicians in Yoshkar-Ola, Russia, he began piano lessons with his mother, before continuing his formal training at the Nizhniy-Novgorod College of Music. After winning numerous competitions, including the St. Petersburg International Piano Competition at age 14, Moutouzkine made a stunning entrance onto the U.S Concert scene at age 19, winning the Special Award for Artistic Potential at the 11th Cliburn International Piano Competition. In 2002, he performed at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall as the grand prize winner of the 26th Frinna Awerbuch International Piano Competition. Moutouzkine earned his Master of Music in 2003 at the Manhattan School of Music and his Artist Diploma Music Program under Dr. Solomon Mikowsky in 2006.

The second half of the concert features Daphnis and Chloe, generally thought to be the greatest work by French composer Maurice Ravel. Based on the romantic tale of two shepherd-lovers by the third century A.D. Greek poet Longus, the piece was commissioned by Sergei Diaghilev, director of the Ballet Russes in Paris, as the score for a ballet. Unfortunately, the music was the subject of clashing artistic visions: Daighilev envisioned dramatization of the primitive images on ancient Greek pottery, while Ravel wanted a musical fresco based on the Greece of my dreams. While the ballet enjoyed limited success, Ravel's music was immensely popular. He published two concert suites based on the music, both of which will be played by the Symphony. The first, based on Acts 1 and 2 of the ballet, paints an idyllic pastoral scene with shimmering strings as statues at a Grecian shrine come to life. The story continues with a sensuous portrayal of the young lovers sung by in a wordless chorus, followed by a fierce dance, played by brass, woodwinds and percussion, depicting the attacking pirates who kidnap Chloe. The second suite draws from the final act of the ballet. Opening with the sunrise painted with a wide range of orchestral sounds, the story ends in a celebratory pagan dance written in 5/4 meter.

Tickets are $19, $29, $37, and $41. Tickets are available in advance at the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox Box Office, 1001 W. Sprague, or by calling 509-624-1200. Tickets are also available at all TicketsWest outlets or by calling 1-800-325-SEAT, or on line at www.spokanesymphony.org.

CALENDAR LISTING:
Celebration of Expression; Eckart Preu conducts the Spokane Symphony and the Spokane Symphony Chorale directed by Lorie Wiest, Alexandre Moutouzkine, piano; March 15 at 8 p.m. and March 16 at 3 p.m. in the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox. Tickets are $19 to $41; Call the Spokane Symphony Ticket Office at (509) 624-1200; tickets are also available through all TicketsWest outlets or by calling 325-SEAT or 1-800-325-SEAT.