Classical Music News of the Week, October 23, 2011

Hilary Hahn Tours "In 27 Pieces: The Hilary Hahn Encores"



New York, NY--After two sold-out CD launch concerts at The Stone in New York City's lower east side on Monday night, and the release of Charles Ives: Four Sonatas, Hilary Hahn embarked on her U.S. recital tour in October. At the events--which served to both celebrate Charles Ives: Four Sonatas  and to raise money for The Stone--Hahn played Ives's Sonatas 1 and 4, hosted a conversation with composer John Zorn and Ives biographer Jan Swafford, accompanied the crowd in hymn-singing, and led the audience in singing Happy Birthday to Charles Ives, who would have turned 137 on October 20. Charles Ives: Four Sonatas is available on iTunes and Amazon.



For more information on Ms. Hahn, her recordings, and the tour, visit http://hilaryhahn.com/.



--Amanda Ameer, First Chair Promotion



Music Institute of Chicago Presents Blair Thomas & Company

Theatre, Puppetry, and Music Combine for Family Concert December 10

The Music Institute of Chicago presents the puppet theatre company Blair Thomas & Company in A Kite's Tale, Saturday, December 10 at 10 a.m. at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston. The 40-minute interactive performance, appropriate for ages four through twelve, combines theatre and puppetry and is set to Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, which will be performed by Music Institute faculty pianist Sung Hoon Mo.



In A Kite's Tale, a little girl sets out to fly her kite and takes a magical journey through her own imagination. Every time her kite goes up, it crashes down, and her fear and anger transform her. When she calms down and returns to herself, she is able to see magic in the clouds overhead. But when playing with a balloon that suddenly pops, her anger returns. Trapped in an oversized world, she encounters two tricksters. Though they play with her, she's not sure if they are being mean or nice. Her fear blinds her, and she doesn't know what to do. When she feels most alone, a magical rabbit appears and offers simple tricks to help her overcome her fear and anger. With these gifts she is able to rescue herself from the storm clouds.



The Music Institute welcomes families to Nichols Hall an hour before the performance at 9 a.m. for an instrument petting zoo, refreshments, early childhood demonstrations, student performances, and more.



--Jill Chukerman, JAC Communications



Robert Spano, Conductor, Pianist, Educator, in Four New York Performances

New York, NY - Robert Spano is known worldwide for the depth and intensity of his artistry, as well as his unique communicative abilities.  This season he gives four New York performances; highlighting his distinguished abilities as a conductor, educator and pianist.



This fall, he conducts the U.S. premiere of Esa-Pekka Salonen's Nyx in both Atlanta (Oct 27, 29) and at New York's Carnegie Hall (Nov 5).  The November 5 performance marks Spano's sixth Carnegie Hall appearance with the Orchestra.  He joins Orchestra of St. Luke's at Carnegie Hall (Dec 15) for a program of Messiaen and Bach, which includes Messiaen's Six Petites Liturgies de la Presence Divine and Bach's Magnificat featuring Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's Chamber Chorus.  Respected as a collaborative pianist and composer, Spano joins bass-baritone Eric Owens in recital at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall (Feb 21). As an educator who finds inspiration through his work with young musicians, Maestro Spano will lead the Juilliard Symphony Orchestra at Alice Tully Hall (May 3) with a program of Vivier, Bartók and Sibelius.



In ten seasons as music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra he has enriched and expanded its repertoire and elevated the ensemble to international prominence and acclaim. Mr. Spano conducts three world premieres in Atlanta during the 2011-2012 season; an ASO commission by Atlanta School of Composers member Adam Schoenberg and works by Alvin Singleton and Marcus Roberts.  He also oversees two Theater of a Concert performances: Bach's St. Matthew Passion and John Adams' A Flowering Tree.



In February 2011, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra partnered with Naxos to create the ASO Media label. The unanimously praised premiere recording introduced new works by Atlanta School of Composers members Jennifer Higdon and Michael Gandolfi conducted by Robert Spano.  June 2011's release featured Mr. Spano leading the Orchestra in Atlanta School of Composers member Christopher Theofanidis's Symphony No. 1 and the late Peter Lieberson's Neruda Songs with mezzo-soprano Kelley O'Connor.  This fall, the Orchestra and Spano released its third recording for ASO Media featuring Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances and Piano Concerto No. 3 with Garrick Ohlsson.



Spring 2011 marks the third, and final, year of Spano's three-year residency at Emory University, a testament to Spano's communicative abilities and passion for education. In its 165-year history, Emory University has honored only seven other individuals with such expansive residencies, including the Dalai Lama, President Jimmy Carter and author Salman Rushdie. In September 2011, Robert Spano became Music Director of the Aspen Music Festival and School and was named a Fellow of the prestigious Aspen Institute as part of the Harman-Eisner Artist in Residence Program.



--Kirshbaum, Demler & Associates

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