For Immediate Release
Contact: Susan Bardack
518.867.7940
Grammy Award Winning Albany Symphony Announces 20152016 Season; Highlights Include Pianist Emanuel Ax,
Percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie and
A Beethoven Piano Festival
Patrons who Purchase A Subscription Receive the Emanuel Ax
Concert Absolutely Free
(Albany, NY - February, 18 2015) – Grammy Award-winning Music Director
David Alan Miller and the Albany Symphony are excited to announce the
orchestra’s 2015-2016 season; presenting a thrilling mix of cutting-edge classical
and traditional live symphonic performances. The 86th season will feature
celebrated artists including pianist Emanuel Ax and percussionist Dame Evelyn
Glennie, who was awarded a Grammy with the Albany Symphony last year.
Patrons are encouraged to purchase season subscriptions, which are currently
on sale. For those purchasing the eight concert subscription series, the Albany
Symphony will provide the ninth, a special Emanuel Ax concert at no extra cost.
“Our new season is brimming with passion and excitement. Our guest artists are
among the greatest talents in the field. Some, like Emanuel Ax, Evelyn Glennie,
Joyce Yang and Joann Falletta are already well-known to Capital Region
audiences; others, like Benjamin Beilman and the dazzling pianists on the
Beethoven Festival are not yet well-known here, but are the superstars of
tomorrow. There's nothing more life-affirming than enjoying great live music
together as a community," said Miller, "especially when performed by a group of
musicians as brilliant and passionate as our extraordinary Albany Symphony
members. I encourage you to consider purchasing a full season subscription.
Even if you cannot attend one of the concerts, you can always share this
amazing experience with your friends and family by offering them your tickets.”
2015-2016 Season Highlights include: a Gala Evening featuring piano legend
Emanuel Ax; Dame Evelyn Glennie performing a gorgeous new concerto by
Michael Daugherty; a Beethoven Festival with all five Piano Concertos performed
by Ax's amazing piano students past and present; Mahler's monumental
"Resurrection" Symphony with Albany Pro Musica; and the Albany Symphony’s
renowned American Music Festival in the spring. Said Miller, "This is a huge year
for lovers of the piano. It takes a star turn on multiple concerts throughout the
season."
The Albany Symphony is also inviting rising professional leaders to be part of the
action. Board Chair Marisa Eisemann said, “Our audience is expanding to
include more young professionals. We have created Albany Symphony NextGen,
a group for emerging leaders to network, come together for spirited social events,
and enjoy new musical experiences centered around our magnificent orchestra.”
One draw for a young, vibrant crowd is the “Dogs of Desire” Ensemble. Miller
said, “Dogs of Desire celebrates the cultural richness of our time, with new works
inspired by American Pop culture. With the Dogs, high-energy high-art meets all
that is hip and fresh in today's culture.”
The 2015-2016 season runs from October through June. Concerts will be held at
the Palace Theatre, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and EMPAC. Patrons can
purchase a season subscription online, by phone or visiting the box office (see
info below).
2015-2016 Season:
GALA - "An Evening with Emanuel Ax" - Oct 10, 2015 - Palace Theatre
7:00pm
Emanuel Ax, piano
Verdi, Ballet Music from "Aida"
Weber, “Der Freischütz” Overture
Jessica Montgomery, “Source Code”
Franck, Symphonic Variations for Piano and Orchestra
Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 14 in E flat major
Classics 1 – “Tchaikovsky’s Winter Dreams”- Nov 7, 2015 - Palace Theatre
7:30pm
Benjamin Beilman, violin
Steven Stucky, Radical Light
Sibelius, Violin Concerto
Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 1, "Winter Dreams"
Classics 2 – “William Tell and Schubert's Masterpiece” - Dec 19-20, 2015
TSBMH,
7:30pm/3:00pm
Joyce Yang, piano
Rossini, "William Tell" Overture
Michael Torke, Piano Concerto (world premiere-recording)
Schubert, Symphony No. 9, "The Great"
Classics 3 – “Falletta conducts Bernstein and Brahms” - Jan 9, 2016
Palace Theatre
7:30pm
JoAnn Falletta, conductor
Roman Mekinulov, Cello
Miguel del Aguila, "Concierto en Tango" for Cello and Orchestra
Leonard Bernstein, On the Town: Three Dance Episodes
Brahms, Symphony No. 2
Classics 4 – “Beethoven Festival” - Feb 20-21, 2016 –- TSBMH
7:30pm and 3:00pm
Featuring piano students past and present of Emanuel Ax
"The Complete Piano Concertos"
Pianists include: Orion Weiss (4), Louis Schwizgebel (5), Dong Hyek Lim (3),
Niko Namoradze (2), George Li (1)
Saturday: Concertos 1, 2, 3
Sunday: Concertos 4, 5
Classics 5 – “To Walk With Giants” - March 19, 2016 - Palace Theatre
7:30
A collaboration with the six composers of Sleeping Giant, includes:
Barber, Adagio for Strings
Vivaldi, Violin Concerto in a minor
Jill Levy, violin
Mozart: three movements from the Piano Concertos, re-imagined by Timo
Andres, Christopher Cerrone and Jacob Cooper
Recent works by: Robert Honstein, Ted Hearne, Andrew Norman and Ingram
Marshall
Classics 6 – “Dream Machine” - April 16-17, 2016 ” - TSBMH
7:30pm/3:00pm
Evelyn Glennie, Percussion
Ravel, Le Tombeau de Couperin
Michael Daugherty, "Dream Machine"
Derek Bermel, "Mar de Setembro"
Haydn, Symphony No. 103 "Drumroll"
Classics 7 – “Mahler’s Second Symphony” - May 14, 2016 - Palace Theatre
7:30pm
Albany Pro Musica
Mahler, Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection”
June 10, 2016 – “Dogs of Desire” - EMPAC
7:30pm
Concert 8 (EMPAC) - “Festival Concert” - June 11, 2016 - EMPAC
7:30pm
Steven Stucky, "Silent Spring"
Aaron Jay Kernis, "Simple Songs"
Talise Trevigne, Soprano
Jessica Montgomery, New Work
Loren Loiacono, New Work
Family Concert Series
Sunday Symphony 1: Nov. 22, 2015 - Palace Theatre
Sunday Symphony 2: Jan. 24, 2016 - Palace Theatre
Sunday Symphony 3: March 20, 2016 - Palace Theatre
Magic of Christmas: Dec. 6, 2015 - 3:00pm - Palace Theatre
To Purchase a Season Subscription:
Tickets for all Albany Symphony performances can be purchased by calling
518.694.3300, online at www.albanysymphony.com, or by visiting the Albany
Symphony Box Office at 19 Clinton Ave., Albany, NY 12207. Special rates are
available to groups of ten or more. Contact: 518.465.4755 ext. 35.
About The Albany Symphony:
The Albany Symphony, one of the Capital Region’s most revered music and
cultural institutions, is known for its brilliant live performances, adventurous
programming (for which it has been awarded more ASCAP awards for new music
than any other American orchestra), recording projects, innovative educational
initiatives, and engaging cultural events. David Alan Miller, regarded as one of
the leading champions and interpreters of new American music, has led the
orchestra as Music Director since 1992. The Albany Symphony’s season, which
spans the months of September through June, includes symphonic standards,
new music, pops, holiday and family programming. The trailblazing American
Music Festival caps each season with a full week of dynamic new works by living
composers presented through readings, recitals and a full orchestra
performance. As the only professional orchestra based in the Capital Region, the
Albany Symphony enriches a broad and diverse community and engages more
than 150,000 people each year throughout the area. For more information, visit
albanysymphony.com.
About Music Director David Alan Miller:
Grammy Award-winning conductor David Alan Miller has established a reputation
as one of the leading American conductors of his generation. Music Director of
the Albany Symphony since 1992, Mr. Miller has proven himself a creative and
compelling orchestra builder. Through exploration of unusual repertoire,
educational programming, community outreach and recording initiatives, he has
reaffirmed the Albany Symphony’s reputation as the nation’s leading champion of
American symphonic music and one of its most innovative orchestras. He and
the orchestra have twice appeared at "Spring For Music," an annual festival of
America's most creative orchestras at New York City's Carnegie Hall. Other
accolades include Columbia University’s 2003 Ditson Conductor’s Award, the
oldest award honoring conductors for their commitment to American music, the
2013 and 2014 ASCAP John S. Edwards Awards for Strongest Commitment to
New American Music, 2001 ASCAP Morton Gould Award for Innovative
Programming, and two ASCAP Leonard Bernstein Awards for Outstanding
Educational Programming, including the first-ever award in 1999.
Frequently in demand as a guest conductor, Mr. Miller has worked with most of
America’s major orchestras, including the orchestras of Baltimore, Chicago,
Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia,
Pittsburgh and San Francisco, as well as the New World Symphony, the Boston
Pops and the New York City Ballet. In addition, he has appeared frequently
throughout Europe, Australia and the Far East as guest conductor. He made his
first guest appearance with the BBC Scottish Symphony in March, 2014. In the
2014-15 season, he makes appearances with the orchestras of Buffalo, Chicago,
Tucson, the National Symphony of Vietnam, and the Estoril Festival in Portugal.
Mr. Miller received his Grammy Award in January, 2014 for his Naxos recording
of John Corigliano's "Conjurer" with the Albany Symphony and Dame Evelyn
Glennie. His extensive discography also includes recordings of the works of Todd
Levin with the London Symphony Orchestra for Deutsche Grammophon, as well
as music by Michael Daugherty, Kamran Ince, and Michael Torke for
London/Decca, and of Luis Tinoco for Naxos. His recordings with the Albany
Symphony include discs devoted to the music of John Harbison, Roy Harris,
Morton Gould, Don Gillis, Peter Mennin, and Vincent Persichetti on the Albany
Records label.
A native of Los Angeles, David Alan Miller holds a bachelor’s degree from the
University of California, Berkeley and a master’s degree in orchestral conducting
from The Juilliard School.
Prior to his appointment in Albany, Mr. Miller was Associate Conductor of the Los
Angeles Philharmonic. From 1982 to 1988, he was Music Director of the New
York Youth Symphony, earning considerable acclaim for his work with that
ensemble. Mr. Miller lives with his wife and three children in Slingerlands, New
York.
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