Conductor’s Corner
Our next program on May 1 celebrates the 200th birthday of Franz Liszt, and I am pleased we are able to present Judit Gabos as our soloist in the Liszt Piano Concerto No. 2. This work, with its great variety in one continuous movement, is rarely heard, and this is an opportunity for our orchestra and our community to hear this wonderful piece. Judit is a sabbatical replacement for Marina Lomasov at USC this semester. The solo recital she gave there a few weeks ago was met with rave reviews, and I’m sure you won’t want to miss hearing her perform with the Brevard Philharmonic. Opening the program will be Otto Nicolai’s overture to Merry Wives of Windsor, another rarely-heard work, whose opera Nicolai patterned on Shakespeare’s comedy. Though he died in 1849 at the age of 38, Nicolai’s legacy still lives on in that he was the founder of the Vienna Philharmonic. Of all Dvorak’s Symphonies, Nos. 8 and 9 (the New World Symphony) are the most famous and most performed, and we will be closing the program with No. 8, full of wonderful melodies and exciting music. Please come join us for the final concert of our very successful 2010-2011 season.
Letter from our President
We are so fortunate that Maestro Portnoy is able through his connections to obtain guest artists for us, and on our final subscription concert on May 1 Judit Gabos will perform the Liszt Piano Concerto No. 2. Judit has been teaching and performing at USC this semester, and has been a huge success. She is a European born and trained musician, performing and teaching now in Liszt’s home country, having obtained her doctorate from the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. Come hear Liszt performed by an artist immersed in his culture.
For our pre-concert program piano students from the Governor’s School in Greenville, South Carolina will once again be performing for us, this time in Scott Concert Hall. Be sure to come hear these astoundingly talented teenagers.
Following the concert there will be our usual Q&A session with Maestro Portnoy and Judit. For those of you interested in learning about the difference between American and European music making, teaching, and anything else you can think of, this is your opportunity to find out.
We are inviting several hundred guests to our May 1 concert, so if you need tickets it would be advisable to secure them as soon as possible.
There are still a few spots available for our Spring Benefit on April 10. Please call 884-4221 if you wish to attend. This might be your one and only chance to hear Maestro Portnoy play the violin, and after our practice sessions, believe me, it’s going to be a memorable event.
Season ticket letters are going out April 15 to our previous subscribers. Those of you wishing to buy season tickets who have not previously had them, will have an opportunity to do so at the May 1 concert. Bring your checkbook or credit card.
This is my last letter to you as President since, beginning July 1, Jinks Ramsey will be assuming that office. Please give her the wonderful support you have given to me and to our board. My deepest thanks to all, Maestro Portnoy, the musicians, the board, the volunteers, and you, our patrons.
Thank you for everything you do to make Brevard Philharmonic Brevard’s Orchestra!!!
Pre-Concert Events
Our free pre-concert activity will be a return engagement of piano students from the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities. Those who heard the students perform last May were enthralled and amazed at their professionalism and poise, and you won’t want to miss hearing them this year. The hands-down favorite last year, Lonnie Russell, will again be performing, prior to heading off to college in the fall. The event starts in Scott Concert Hall at 1:45pm on May 1.
