FREE RPO Around the Town concerts just added Oct. 28 & 29
Plus: RPYO opens 2021-22 season on Nov. 14 @ Hochstein
Rochester, NY, October 19, 2021 – The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) will kick off November with New World Symphony on Thursday, November 4 at 7:30 PM and Saturday, November 6 at 8 PM in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. A pre-concert talk will start one hour prior to the show.
Making his RPO debut with this compelling concert is American conductor Joseph Young, who is increasingly recognized as “one of the most gifted conductors of his generation.” Young is Music Director of the Berkeley Symphony, Artistic Director of Ensembles for the Peabody Conservatory, and Resident Conductor of the National Youth Orchestra–USA at Carnegie Hall.
“From the sounds of American composers Samuel Barber and Brian Nabors to the influentially inspired Czech composer Dvořák, this program celebrates the many treasures of the American spirit,” says Young. “I’m delighted to share this program with the Rochester community.”
The program opens with Brian Nabors’ 2019 composition, Onward. The 30-year-old American composer’s music draws from an eclectic combination of Jazz, Funk, R&B, Gospel, and contemporary classical music. It continues with Samuel Barber’s neo-romantic Violin Concerto – whose short, virtuosic last movement was written within a soap opera-worthy setting – featuring guest violinist William Hagen, who also makes his RPO debut. The Salt Lake City native has performed as a soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician across the U.S, Europe, and Asia.
The concert closes with Antonin Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, known as “The New World Symphony.” Inspired by the Czech composer’s exposure to and fascination with Black and Indigenous influences in American music during his three years as Director of the National Conservatory of Music in New York, its glorious melodies, heartfelt emotions, and rich orchestration are primary reasons for its enormous popularity.
Next up in Kodak Hall is Pops concert Back to Broadway on Friday and Saturday, November 12 & 13 at 8 PM. Broadway and symphonic conductor William Waldrop is the perfect choice for leading this program of beloved songs from some of the most outstanding productions on the Great White Way. Selections include Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Music of the Night” (The Phantom of the Opera), Stephen Schwartz’s “For Good” (Wicked), Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story Overture, Frederick Loewe’s “On the Street Where You Live” (My Fair Lady), and many more. All three guest vocalists – Carmen Ruby Floyd (mezzo-soprano, Hello, Dolly!), Eryn LeCroy (soprano, Phantom of the Opera), and Bronson Norris Murphy (tenor, Phantom of the Opera) – have extensive Broadway credits.
The Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (RPYO) returns to the stage with its first in-person concert in 10 months with Returning to Music on Sunday, November 14 at 7:30 PM at Hochstein Performance Hall. RPYO Music Director Dr. James Mick leads the premier youth orchestra in a program that includes Mussorgsky’s A Night on Bald Mountain, Schubert’s Symphony No. 8 “Unfinished,” and more.
This just in: the RPO has just added two, free Around the Town: Hidden Gems concerts on Thursday, October 28 at 7:30 PM at Churchville-Chili High School (5786 Buffalo Rd., Churchville 14428) and Friday, October 29 at 7:30 PM at Fairport High School (1 Dave Paddock Way [off Ayrault Rd.], Fairport 14450). Both concerts will be conducted by Kalena Bovell, and will feature a diverse program that includes John Williams’ “The Chamber of Secrets” from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets IV, “Voices Shouting Out” by Nkeiru Okoye, and an excerpt from Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 in F minor. Please note: Patrons aged 12 and up are required to show proof of vaccination plus photo ID, and all patrons are required to wear masks during the entire performance.
All tickets are available online anytime at rpo.org, by phone at 585-454-2100 (Monday-Friday, 10 am –5 pm, please note that the Patron Services Center is currently closed to in-person purchases), and in person 90 minutes prior to curtain at the Eastman Theatre Box Office (433 East Main St.) for Kodak Hall concerts.
Please note: Patrons aged 12 and up are required to show proof of vaccination plus photo ID, and all patrons are required to wear masks during the entire performance. Venue capacity is currently at 50%, and socially distanced areas are available for those with unvaccinated children or those who feel more comfortable with social distancing. The RPO continues to monitor CDC, state, and local guidelines, so protocols are subject to change.
Since the 2020-2021 Season, M & T Bank has sponsored the Philharmonic and Pops Series and continues its commitment as a Co-Sponsor for the 2021-22 Season. They are joined by Co-Sponsor Rochester Regional Health, now in its fourth year as a season sponsor. All concerts, artists, and schedules are subject to change.
ABOUT THE RPO: The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) has been committed to enriching and inspiring our community through the art of music since its origins in 1922. The RPO presents approximately 150 concerts and broadcasts a year, serving up to 170,000 people through ticketed events, education and community engagement activities, and concerts in schools and community centers throughout the region. Music Director Andreas Delfs joins the ranks of former notable RPO music directors, including Erich Leinsdorf, David Zinman, Mark Elder, and Conductor Laureate Christopher Seaman. Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik, now in his 28th season, has earned a national reputation for excellence in pops programming during his tenure with the RPO. The RPO reaches more than 15,000 youth through its specific education programs.
Media please note: Many high-resolution images and other press assets are available for use at https://tinyurl.com/yuj7ktfz. Interviews and photo/footage opportunities are also available.
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