{"id":1223,"date":"2010-01-03T21:37:34","date_gmt":"2010-01-03T20:37:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kennethwoods.net\/blog1\/?p=1223"},"modified":"2010-01-03T21:44:47","modified_gmt":"2010-01-03T20:44:47","slug":"2009-repertoire-report-christopher-zimmerman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennethwoods.net\/blog1\/2010\/01\/03\/2009-repertoire-report-christopher-zimmerman\/","title":{"rendered":"2009 Repertoire Report- Christopher Zimmerman"},"content":{"rendered":"

My friend and colleague Christopher Zimmerman,<\/a> newly appointed music director of the Fairfax Symphony <\/a>and my colleague for the last five years on the faculty of the Rose City Conductor\u2019s Workshop<\/a> has weighed in with some interesting repertoire lists and thoughts about programming. First things first- a Repertoire Report in standard format, listing Chris\u2019s 2009 repertoire by composer in alphabetical order-<\/p>\n

1-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Beethoven\u2014Symphony no.2<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

2-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Beethoven-\u00a0Piano Concerto no. 4<\/p>\n

3-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Beethoven\u2014Symphony no.4<\/p>\n

4-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Berg\u2014Violin Concerto<\/p>\n

5-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Bernstein\u2014Symphonic Dances from West Side Story<\/p>\n

6-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Bodorova\u2014Concerto \u201cdei fiori\u201d for violin and orchestra (Chee-Yun, soloist)<\/p>\n

7-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 William Bolcom\u2014Symphony no.6<\/p>\n

8-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Carl\u2014Symphony no.4 (WORLD PREMIERE)<\/p>\n

9-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Debussy (arr. Schoenberg)\u00a0Prelude a l’apres midi d’un faune<\/p>\n

10-\u00a0\u00a0 Dvorak-Cello Concerto (Yanghee Lee, soloist)<\/p>\n

11-\u00a0\u00a0 Elgar\u2014Intro. and Allegro for Strings<\/p>\n

12-\u00a0\u00a0 Falla\u20143 Cornered Hat, Suites 1 and 2<\/p>\n

13-\u00a0\u00a0 Gershwin–Cuban Overture<\/p>\n

14-\u00a0\u00a0 Gershwin\u2014Rhapsody in Blue (Chu-Fang Huang)<\/p>\n

15-\u00a0\u00a0 Ginastera\u2014Estancia<\/p>\n

16-\u00a0\u00a0 Grondahl\u2014Trombone Concerto<\/p>\n

17-\u00a0\u00a0 Gryc\u2014Trombone Concerto \u201cPassaggi\u201d (Joel Alessi, soloist)<\/p>\n

18-\u00a0\u00a0 Haydn–Symphony no.39<\/p>\n

19-\u00a0\u00a0 Haydn-\u00a0Symphony no. 99<\/p>\n

20-\u00a0\u00a0 Korngold-Violin Concerto (Sam Martin, soloist)<\/p>\n

21-\u00a0\u00a0 Mozart-\u00a0Gran Partita<\/p>\n

22-\u00a0\u00a0 Mozart\u2014Symphony no.39<\/p>\n

23-\u00a0\u00a0 Part\u2014\u201cFratres\u201d<\/p>\n

24-\u00a0\u00a0 Purcell\u2014Chacony<\/p>\n

25-\u00a0\u00a0 Ravel\u2014Alborado del Grazioso<\/p>\n

26-\u00a0\u00a0 Ravel\u2014Piano Concerto in G (Chu Fang Huang)<\/p>\n

27-\u00a0\u00a0 Shostakovich–Symphony no.10<\/p>\n

28-\u00a0\u00a0 J.Strauss\u2014Overture to \u201cdie Fledermaus\u201d<\/p>\n

29-\u00a0\u00a0 Stravinsky\u2014\u201cDumbarton Oaks\u201d<\/p>\n

30-\u00a0\u00a0 Stravinsky\u2014Rite of Spring<\/p>\n

31-\u00a0\u00a0 Tchaikovsky\u2014Symphony no.5<\/p>\n

32-\u00a0\u00a0 Verdi-\u00a0excerpts from\u00a0Aida<\/p>\n

33-\u00a0\u00a0 Webern\u2014Passacaglia (Leonard Sigal, soloist)<\/p>\n

Thrity-three pieces and there is an imposing range of material here- Rite of Spring, \u00a0Shosty 10 and some interesting new pieces by Bolcome, Carl and Bodorova.<\/p>\n

Chris has been combining positions as MD at Fairfax (he\u2019s currently in the midst of his first season) and director of orchestras at Hartt. At Hartt, he needs to make sure the students are learning the repertoire they need to know for their careers to come, at Fairfax, there is a delicate balance between artistic and pragmatic issues to be struck. Chris writes-<\/p>\n

As\u00a0new music director\u00a0of the FSO (Va.) I am trying to walk that line of giving the audience and orchestra a newish, more diverse and balanced diet from what they have had in the last 3 decades–to intrigue, interest, try to pull new people in but not, of course, alienate. \u00a0Also to give any particular program a real cohesion (not always possible as you know when there are changes that HAVE to be made to the “beautifully crafted” program at the last minute…). \u00a0I have noticed that the season diets of most orchestras of similar size to the FSO are, to my mind, surprisingly repetitive and unimaginative (even those of big orchestras too); \u00a0sort of a handful of the same old pieces stuck together without any evident rhyme or reason–or at least a rhyme or reason which will stir barely more than a couple of braincells. \u00a0 In addition, and despite the fact that the current size of the FSO masterworks hardly lends itself to exploring the length and breadth of the repertoire, I have incorporated some sort of “spotlight” idea to be developed over a three year period–it could be a composer or a topic. \u00a0For the first three years we are looking at\u00a0Sibelius\u00a0in some depth (“depth” meaning a little more exposure than any other one composer);\u00a0the next three years, if I am around, will probably feature a topic or issue, rather than a specific composer.<\/p>\n

\n

I have had to change some of my plans too, in order to not commit suicide immediately. \u00a0 Next year one of the programs was going to be the following, which excites me on many levels (as you, who know my hidden secrets well, will hardly be surprised!):<\/p>\n

Bach–<\/em>Brandenburg<\/em> no.5<\/em><\/p>\n

Schnittke–Concerto grosso no.2 for solo violin and cello and orchestra<\/em><\/p>\n

Shostakovich–Symphony no.15<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Lots of stuff here to chew on emotionally, intellectually, viscerally!<\/p>\n

Anyway, I found out that the date of this program is our debut in a beautiful brand new hall (just built with splendid acoustics; a fairly intimate space not too deep with three balconies and lots of boxes \u00a0a la European\u00a0Opera House). \u00a0It will also be the launch of our first double next year and a bid for using this hall as our “second” hall for our doubles. \u00a0It is not far from our main stage in\u00a0Fairfax\u00a0but more in the sticks and basically home to a coupe of rich retirement communities.. which is of course potential for a new audience with some spondoolies. \u00a0But….aah, the program……..EXIT brilliant program and ENTER:<\/p>\n

Bernstein–Candide Overture<\/em><\/p>\n

Walton–Violin Concerto<\/em><\/p>\n

Dvorak–<\/em>New World<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Cop out perhaps? (except there is the US\/Anglo combo. which informed my opening concert with the FSO last September). \u00a0No, I hope not: \u00a0the Bach\/Schnitt\/Shost is merely shelved.<\/p>\n

I guess my point is that it is best to gain the current audience’s trust before leaping into the lions den–just get one’s toes nibbled and licked by a few kitty-kats first. \u00a0So I am not in the least miffed by the program change. \u00a0But of course one must make a dent and I have tried a bit for the next two years. \u00a0Below I attach this season’s Masterworks and next (subject to change). \u00a0For 2011-2012 I have in mind a return of the Bach\/Schnitt\/Shost and hopefully the following in some shape or form:<\/p>\n

Bartok–Miraculous Mandarin Suite<\/p>\n

Strauss–Metamorphosen<\/p>\n

Sibelius–Tapiola, Symphony no.7<\/p>\n

Puccini-Tosca (first concert opera of the FSO)<\/p>\n

Nielsen–Symphony no.5<\/p>\n

\n

Cheers,<\/p>\n

Chris<\/p>\n

\n

The 2009-10 FSO season looks like this-<\/p>\n

FSO SEASON PROGRAM 2009-2010<\/p>\n

Masterwork 1: Sept. 12, 2009<\/p>\n

Bernstein\u2014Symphonic Dances from West Side Story<\/p>\n

Elgar\u2014Intro. and Allegro for Strings<\/p>\n

Stravinsky\u2014Rite of Spring<\/p>\n

Masterwork 2: Oct. 3, 2009 (Quader conducting)<\/p>\n

Mendelssohn\u2014Overture to \u201cThe Fair Melusine\u201d<\/p>\n

Mozart\u2014Clarinet Concerto (Jon Manasse)<\/p>\n

Beethoven\u2014Symphony no.4<\/p>\n

Masterwork 3: Nov. 21, 2009<\/p>\n

Falla\u20143 Cornered Hat, Suites 1 and 2<\/p>\n

Gershwin\u2014Rhapsody in Blue (Chu-Fang Huang)<\/p>\n

Ravel\u2014Piano Concerto in G (Chu Fang Huang)<\/p>\n

Ginastera\u2014Estancia<\/p>\n

Masterwork 4: Jan. 23, 2010<\/p>\n

Haydn\u2014Symphony no. 92 \u201cOxford\u201d<\/p>\n

Barber\u2014Violin Concerto (Augustin Hadelich)<\/p>\n

Sibelius\u2014Symphony no.1<\/p>\n

Masterwork 5: March 13, 2010<\/p>\n

Borodin\u2014In the Steppes of Central Asia<\/p>\n

Avner Dorman\u2014Piano Concerto (Alon Goldstein)<\/p>\n

Sibelius\u2014The Lemminkainen Legends<\/p>\n

Masterwork 6:\u00a0 May 1, 2010 (Quader conducting)<\/p>\n

Jennifer Higdon\u2014Blue Cathedral<\/p>\n

Elgar\u2014Cello Concerto (Julie Albers, cello)<\/p>\n

Mozart\u2014Symphony no. 38 \u201cPrague\u201d<\/p>\n

Barber\u2014Medea\u2019s Meditation and Dance of Vengeance<\/p>\n

While the 2009-10 Hartt series looks like this-<\/p>\n

Hartt Symphony\u00a0 Calendar Season 2009-2010<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hartt Symphony Orchestra, Christopher Zimmerman, Music Director<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Friday, October 2, 2009<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n

Millard Auditorium, <\/strong>7.30 pm<\/strong>, <\/strong>West Hartford<\/strong>, <\/strong>CT.<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n

Ravel\u2014Alborado <\/em>del<\/em> Grazioso<\/em><\/p>\n

Gryc\u2014Trombone Concerto \u201cPassaggi\u201d (Joel Alessi, soloist)<\/em><\/p>\n

Tchaikovsky\u2014Symphony no.5 <\/em><\/p>\n

Friday, November 6, 2009<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n

Millard Auditorium, <\/strong>7.30 pm<\/strong>, <\/strong>West Hartford<\/strong>, <\/strong>CT.<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n

Purcell–Chacony<\/em><\/p>\n

Berg\u2014Violin Concerto<\/em><\/p>\n

Webern\u2014Passacaglia (Leonard Sigal, soloist)<\/em><\/p>\n

Mozart\u2014Symphony no.39<\/em><\/p>\n

Friday, December 11, 2009<\/p>\n

Lincoln Theater, <\/strong>7.30 pm<\/strong>, <\/strong>West Hartford<\/strong>, <\/strong>CT.<\/strong><\/p>\n

J.Strauss\u2014Overture to \u201cdie Fledermaus\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Beethoven\u2014Symphony no.2<\/em><\/p>\n

William Bolcom\u2014Symphony no.6 <\/em><\/p>\n

Friday, March 26, 2010<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n

Millard Auditorium, <\/strong>7.30 pm<\/strong>, <\/strong>West Hartford<\/strong>, <\/strong>CT.<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n

Stravinsky\u2014<\/em>Suites<\/em> 1<\/em> and 2 for Orchestra<\/em><\/p>\n

Haydn\u2014Symphony TBA<\/em><\/p>\n

Brahms\u2014Symphony no.1<\/em><\/p>\n

Sunday, May 2, 2010<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n

St.Joseph\u2019s Cathedral, Hartford, CT.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Britten\u2014War Requiem<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n