River Oaks Chamber Orchestra (ROCO) continues its 2011-2012 season, “a fusion of cultures and generations,” by welcoming Kazem Abdullah, who will conduct Schubert Symphony No. 4, Haydn Cello Concerto, performed by soloist, Richard Belcher, the world premiere of Paul English’s Lumière Lunaire, plus a surprise or two.
Maestro Kazem Abdullah has become one of the most watched young American conductors on the scene today and in August of 2012 will become Generalmusikdirector of the city of Aachen, Germany. His predecessors in this tradition-rich post include Fritz Busch, Herbert von Karajan and Wolfgang Sawallisch. This season Maestro Abdullah appeared with Michigan Opera Theater, Sinfonieorchester Aachen and the Rochester Philharmonic. He will also appear with the Nuremburg Philharmonic and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
Richard Belcher is ROCO’s principal cello. A New Zealand native, Richard has performed as a chamber musician and in solo settings across the USA and internationally. He has been a regular performer for Music in Context, often collaborating with series founder Sergiu Luca, and is cellist and a founding member of the Grammy-nominated Enso String Quartet.
ROCO commissioned outstanding jazz pianist and composer, Paul English, to create a new piece especially for this concert. Inspired by a poem written by conductor Jo Ann Falletta, Paul created Lumière Lunaire, a 23-minute symphony that celebrates the 100-year anniversary of the famous Arnold Schoenberg melodrama, Pierrot Lunaire, which means “Moonstruck Clown.” In both the Schoenberg and Paul English compositions, narrator voices deliver the poem in the Sprechstimme style, which is spoken text with instrumental accompaniment. In this special piece, the narrator voices are the musicians! The result is a lively contemporary piece that will fascinate as it entertains. As a complement to this piece, Space Center Houston will present an exhibition of Lunar art and artifacts at a reception following the Saturday performance.
Performance Dates/Times:
- Saturday, Feb 18, 2012, 5pm, at The Church of St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Blvd.
With ROCOrooters music education/childcare (reservations required)
Tickets are $25, $10 for students with valid student ID - Sunday, Feb 19, 2012, 5 pm, Concert with Dinner at The Houstonian Hotel, 111 North Post Oak Lane
Tickets are $95 and include the concert and a 4-course gourmet dinner. Cocktails and wine will be available for purchase before the concert and at the dinner.
Program
Paul English Lumière Lunaire World Premiere
Joseph Haydn Cello Concerto
Franz Schubert Symphony No. 4 in C Minor “Tragic”
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