BRAVO Colorado Springs Philharmonic Newsletter | Winter 2020 “To have Perlman return a second time sends a strong signal. He is coming back, because he remembers his last experience and enjoyed performing here in 2012. Our musicians know that this is proof we are doing good work together.”
– Josep Caballé-Domenech Music Director
NEW! Thanks to our generous partners at Nor’Wood Development Group you can now park in the convenient South Tower of the Plaza of the Rockies for just $4. This option offers safety and convenience, only one block from the Pikes Peak Center. For detailed instructions visit csphilharmonic.org/parking.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream By William Shakespeare
In an allegorical account of one man’s spiritual quest, the pilgrim Christian undertakes the dangerous journey to the Celestial City, experiencing physical and spiritual obstacles. Inspired: an opera by Ralph Vaugh Williams.
Tristan and Isolde By Gottfried Von Strassburg Tristan and Isolde is one of the most famous love stories of all time. The story of the brave and crafty knight Tristan and his pursuit to win the beautiful Isolde has been told in numerous different versions over the centuries. Inspired: an opera by Richard Wagner.
The Essential Goethe By Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The Essential Goethe is the most comprehensive and representative one-volume collection of Goethe’s writing ever published in English. Inspired: music by many composers, including Mozart, Schubert, Schumann, and Mahler.
The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights ed. By M. C. Lyons et al.
Presents stories from Shahrazad, the vizier’s daughter, of tales of adventure, thieves, love, riches, and wonder in mystical lands. Inspired: Carl Nielsen and Rimsky-Korsakov composed famous pieces based on these stories.
Pikes Peak Center
5 Vermijo Ave
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Costilla St
3 Nevada Ave
The Pilgrim’s Progress: From This World to That Which is to Come By John Bunyan
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3 Sahwatch St
Shakespear’s comedy in which young lovers enter a world of sprites and faires, and an amateur play production entertains all. Inspired: music by Henry Purcell, Felix Mendelssohn, Carl Orff, Vaughn Williams, and others.
Colorado Ave
Tejon St
The Pikes Peak Library District, in partnership with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, has created a reading list in conjunction with the spring performances.
Where to Park? You Have Options.
Cascade Ave
Stories and Literature that Inspiried Great Classical Music
1. Plaza of the Rockies (Preferred) Underground Parking ($) 4 minute walk; 0.2 mile 2. El Paso County Juror Lot (Free) 2 minute walk; 0.1 mile 3. City Parking Garage ($) 4 minute walk; 0.2 mile 4. Sun Plaza Lots ($$) 1 minute walk; 150 ft. 5. El Paso County Parking ($) 1 minute walk; 100 feet
Entrance
Security: Bags Welcome!
The Pikes Peak Center has adjusted their bag screening procedure. When you arrive, please allow yourself some extra time to enter and take your seats before the performance. Bags that are 12” x 5” x 12” or smaller will now be accepted. Please see images below for examples.
Household Tales by the Brothers Grimm By Jacob Grimm
The primal beating heart at the center of much of the Western literary canon can be found in the folk stories, myths, and fairy tales collected by Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm. Inspired: an opera by Engelbert Humperdinck.
Fairy Tales of Charles Perrault By Charles Perrault
An iconic collection of fairy tales from the master of storytelling Charles Perrault including some of his best work. Inspired: music by many composers including Rossini, Prokofiev, and Tchaikovsky.
*Neither venue controlled by the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. Subject to change.
Collaboration is a Cornerstone of an Artistically Meaningful Life Musician Spotlight
Sarah Ford french horn Growing up in small-town Connecticut with two musicians for parents, a very young Sarah Ford had her heart set on being a flautist. But when she was nine, her father gently guided her to French horn, sensing that she had potential to be exceptional. He was right. Sarah excelled at the instrument right away and the notion of being a musician began to take hold with the aspiring student. Ford quickly found that her dedication to musical excellence was matched by a passion for the culture and camaraderie of music-making. She participated steadily in her schools’ orchestras, as well as numerous local performance groups, making friends along the way. “I loved talking to my peers about music,” recalls Ford. “ We’d sit around and eat Chinese food and dream about which Berlin Philharmonic player we’d be. I got the nickname Steffy because Stefan Dohr was their principal horn at the time!” The talented horn player was in demand by numerous colleges, but a generous scholarship package ultimately lured her to Rutgers. There, she fell in step with older peers in the graduate program. “Their focus was more aligned with my singular intention to become a professional musician,” explains Ford. Through these upperclassmen, she was drawn into a New York City youth orchestra where she performed alongside some of the country’s most gifted students. By the time she was 21, she had played Carnegie Hall seven times with them. She was also traveling the US and overseas for prestigious music events, orchestras, and ensembles, building her credentials, skill, and knowledge along the way. Upon receiving her summa cum laude B.M. from Rutgers, Ford was accepted into the Yale School of Music. The prestigious, highly competitive graduate program attracts scores of top students from across the US. However, horn students are advised early on that they are chosen for the brilliance of their auditions and for their amenable personalities. “Because of that, being a team player is an important part of how I live an artistically meaningful life,” says Ford. As she was completing her masters, Ford ventured west of Ohio for the first time to audition for the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, wisely arriving a week early to accli-
mate to the thin air. She was selected to join the horn section in 2016. Now, almost four years later, she appreciates all the opportunities this has revealed, such as working with international trombone soloist Christian Lindberg in 2019. She was inspired by his humility and pure musical intention. “I also enjoy conversations with locals,” says Ford. “People really are grateful for what musicians and music add to our quality of life. That is so rewarding to hear.”
ENCORE!
PERLMAN RETURNS TO PHILHARMONIC STAGE As often happens in the rarified world of prominent classical performers, personal pathways can intertwine and evolve over decades and continents. Nine years ago, when a peripatetic young Josep Caballé-Domenech chose to work in Colorado Springs and assume the musical helm of the Philharmonic, he inherited an already-booked season that featured gala star, Itzhak Perlman. The celebrated violinist was to wow local audiences in a March 2012 series of performances – the conductor’s first American superstar in his new role. Maestro Caballé-Domench recalls,“Growing up, I had seen Perlman perform in Barcelona, London, and Vienna, and I had fond memories of these performances.” Recalling the inspirational experiences from his youth made it especially meaningful for Caballé-Domenech to welcome the iconic string master to the stage of his new orchestra. “This was the first big name that I performed with in Colorado Springs. It was an amazing musical and human experience.” As much as he is known for his stratospheric musicianship, Perlman is also cherished for his wit, jovial nature, and humanity. That authenticity was not lost on the new Philharmonic conductor. “The time that I spent with him at the 2012 concert here was extraordinarily memorable for me,” Caballé-Domenech reflects. It is unsurprising, then, that Perlman has remained on the list of potential guest artists that the Philharmonic reaches out to as part of its ongoing mission to bring internationally acclaimed musicians to the Pikes Peak region. Virtuosos such as Yo-Yo Ma, Jan Vogler, Sharon Isbin, and Conrad Tao
have traveled here to partner with the orchestra in both bigstage and small-stage venues. Perlman’s return engagement with the orchestra is held with great anticipation by many in the community, including the orchestra members. In fact, the performance is sold out.
the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the nation’s highest civilian honor – in 2015 from President Obama. Leading educational institutions have also embraced him. He has been awarded honorary degrees from Harvard, Yale, Brandeis, Roosevelt, Yeshiva, and Hebrew universities.
“To have Perlman return a second time sends a strong signal,” Caballé-Domenech observes. “He is coming back, because he remembers his last experience and enjoyed performing here in 2012. Our musicians know that this is proof we are doing good work together.”
But despite his enormous prowess, he is known to have a zest for life that spills over into more light-hearted and varied appearances. He has been a notable guest and audience favorite on diverse television sound stages that have included David Letterman, Steven Colbert, Sesame Street, and The Frugal Gourmet.
Perlman’s fascinating personal history began in 1945 in Tel Aviv, where he was born to Polish emigres. As a toddler, his immense talent was already emerging and, despite contracting polio, he fervently pursued his study and education in the violin. By age 13, his family had immigrated to the US, where he began studies at the Juilliard School. In America, he quickly skyrocketed to fame, appearing twice on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1958 and debuting at Carnegie Hall in 1963. Since then, Perlman has appeared on stage with every major orchestra in the world, gaining international acclaim and the kind of fandom that transcends mere critical appreciation and grows into something like reverence for this remarkable artist. He has performed for world leaders, including President Bush, President Obama, and Queen Elizabeth. The list of artistic recognitions and accomplishments that he has amassed over his career would fill many pages, but in the United States these include dozens of Grammys and Emmys. More recently, he has expanded his influence by taking to the conductor’s podium with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Symphony, National Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, as well as the symphony orchestras of San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Montreal, and Toronto. Live performance, however, is not his only medium. Perlman also has a significant portfolio of recordings. His discography includes leading labels such as EMI, Decca, His Master’s Voice, RCA, and Angel. His best-selling Vivaldi: The Four Seasons is widely considered to be one of his great recorded masterpieces. When not performing or recording, Perlman pursues yet another of his passions: teaching. He instructs string players “of rare and special talent” at The Perlman Music Program, a supportive but intensive musical community held each summer on Shelter Island. Additionally, he holds the Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation Chair in Violin Studies at the Juilliard School. Outside of the musical realm, Perlman’s vast contributions to the arts, education, and support of persons with disabilities have been noted by three presidents. He received the National Medal of Liberty in 1986 from President Reagan; the National Medal of Arts in 2000 from President Clinton; and
Though no additional significance needs to be attached to Perlman’s February 27 appearance in Colorado Springs, it happens that 2020 is the 250th anniversary of Ludwig von Beethoven’s birth. That makes it especially meaningful that Perlman will deliver a masterful rendering of Beethoven’s Violin Concerto as part of this program. The Philharmonic will also perform For Spacious Skies by Anthony DiLorenzo and Inspiring Beethoven by Kevin Puts. Perlman once noted, “Beethoven concertos ... with a lot of these wonderful masterpieces there’s always something wonderful to find ... there’s always something new to find.” And the Colorado Springs audience will have the pleasure of watching one of the greats find that something … wonderful and new… in concert with the Philharmonic.
The Legendary Challenge Visionary. Essential. Permanent.
A world-class Philharmonic elevates Colorado Springs and compels hearts and minds to bolder action. A symphony orchestra is an essential investment in the quality of our community; a symbol of greatness and a welcoming hand.
Thanks to some generous friends, from now until Itzhak Perlman’s appearance on February 27, 2020, all Annual Fund contributions will be matched, up to $150,000.
“The impact of the Legendary Challenge will prove monumental...ensuring a bright and vibrant tomorrow.” – Josep Caballé-Domenech Music Director
Act today and double the impact of your investment in the Legendary Colorado Springs Philharmonic at csphilharmonic.org/legendary
McDuffie Performs Internationally Adored “Seasons” Program In 1973, a 14-year-old Georgia violin student was taken, perhaps a little reluctantly, to hear Itzhak Perlman. “Up to that point, I didn’t like practicing,” recalls Robert McDuffie. “But seeing Itzhak Perlman changed me. The violin became my passion and priority.” Though McDuffie went back-stage to meet Perlman on that revelatory evening, the teen was too abashed to approach the renowned string master. Today, Perlman and McDuffie have been communing in the same poker club for 30 years and, at this point, are longtime friends. The story of how a shy, southern, high-school basketball player joined the kinship of classical music superstars follows a somewhat traditional path, decidedly marked by unique byways carved out by the artist himself. A Macon native, McDuffie was introduced to the violin at age six by his mother, a pianist. He was not initially an enthusiastic musical student, but found, “though I didn’t love practicing, I Ioved applause,” he chuckles. Once inspired by a great performer, though, the teenager’s virtuosity bloomed and he moved to New York after being accepted as a student at the Juilliard School. Following his graduation, McDuffie’s career rapidly gathered momentum. He has been appearing since the 1980s as soloist with most of the leading orchestras on five continents. In addition to a dizzying calendar of globe-spanning live performances, the Grammy-nominated artist has made time to create acclaimed Telarc and EMI concerto recordings. Recognized worldwide as one of the most gifted interpreters of Vivaldi, McDuffie’s talent and musical gusto have overflowed into entrepreneurial endeavors. In 2003, he co-founded the Rome Chamber Music Festival, one of the Eternal City’s premier, sell-
out cultural events, for which he is also artistic director. In 2007, McDuffie founded the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University in his hometown of Macon. The elite conservatory offers a distinctive program that prepares exceptional string students to excel as performers and as competent business managers of their personal brands. McDuffie continues to embrace his southern roots. “I’m from the hometown of Otis Redding and Little Richard,” he notes proudly. “I sang in the church choir with (R.E.M. cofounder and bassist) Mike Mills and our families were close.” That enduring connection led Mills to compose Concerto for Violin, Rock Band, and String Orchestra for McDuffie. The two premiered the work in 2016 with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, followed by a successful, 14city, genre-blurring US tour. It was at the Boulder Colorado Music Festival a couple of years later that McDuffie crossed paths with Philharmonic artistic advisor, Alberto Gutierrez. This sparked a longer conversation about McDuffie coming to Colorado Springs to perform. In February, McDuffie will perform a program entitled Eight Seasons that combines the enduring and exalted Four Seasons by Vivaldi, paired with the American Four Seasons. The latter composition was written for McDuffie in 1992 by his friend, collaborator, and famed American composer, Philip Glass. This led to a 30-city US tour that established Eight Seasons as an ongoing, in-demand program world-wide. McDuffie promises, “The audience is going to have a really sweet experience. I’m in love with every note of both these pieces. It will take them to a different place.” And we can hardly wait for you to transport us, Mr. McDuffie.
Philharmonic Staff Welcomes Dianne Reitan Dianne joined the Colorado Springs Philharmonic as their Major Gifts Officer in December and is excited to cultivate gifts from individuals and businesses that share the passion for our local symphony. Dianne earned her Accredited Asset Management Specialist designation from the College for Financial Planning. Dianne worked in the financial planning and insurance industry for more than ten years specializing in planned giving. In 2012 she was invited to join Bishop Sheridan’s planned giving department serving more than 40 Catholic churches in 10 counties in central Colorado. Several years later in 2015, Dianne was promoted to manage the fundraising program at Partners in Housing, which was started by Catholic Charities. A native of Colorado Springs, Dianne has served on numerous non-profit boards including the Western Museum of Mining and Industry, Executive Women International and the Hearing Loss Association of America Colorado Springs Chapter. Dianne married David in 2011 and they enjoy doting on and hiking with their two miniature schnauzers.
6 Financial Resolutions
Review and revamp your financial plan all year long Provided by Janis Cross, Raymond James
Instead of hauling out those familiar New Year’s resolutions about eating less and exercising more, how about focusing on something that’s also very good for you in the long run – or any time, for that matter – is a great time to review your plan and make whatever revisions might be indicated. With that in mind, here are six suggested resoultions that, if followed, could help you get a long way toward attaining your finacial goals.
1. Review the titling of your accounts
Account titling often occurs haphazardly – an individual opens a bank or brokerage account, meets Mr. or Miss Right, they live together or get married and … down the line there’s a problem. If one partner dies and that bank or brokerage account is still titled only in the original holder’s name, those assets can’t be accessed readily by the survivor. The solution may be as straightforward as changing to joint accounts, but it’s not always that simple. In fact, titling has implications across a wide range of estate planning issues, as well as other situations such as Medicaid eligibility, special needs qualifications and borrowing power, to mention just a few. Account titling is more than just using the right form – it can also be a tool for estate planning. Review your account titling and determine if that’s still the arrangement you want.
2. Designate and update your beneficiaries
If you don’t correctly document and update your beneficiary designations, who gets what may be determined not according to your wishes, but by federal or state law, or by the default plan document used in your retirement accounts. When did you last update your beneficiary designations? Has something changed in your life (divorce, remarriage, births, deaths) that necessitates changing your beneficiaries? You should update your beneficiaries on anything that affects your heirs (wills, life insurance, annuities, IRAs, 401(k)s or qualified plans … the list goes on). If you’ve designated a trust as a beneficiary, has anything changed in the tax laws regarding trusts that could affect your heirs? Have you provided for the possibility that your primary beneficiary may die before you? Have you provided for the simultaneous death of you and your spouse? You need a good estate planner to walk you through the various scenarios.
4. Review the tax efficiency of your charitable giving
Think strategically about your contributions – donate low-costbasis stocks rather than cash, for example. Consider establishing a donor-advised fund, which enables you to take an upfront deduction next year for contributions made over the next several years – and provides other benefits. Give, but do so with an eye toward reducing your tax liability.
5. Check to see if your retirement plan is on track
Losses incurred during the past recession may have derailed and/or delayed the retirement plans of many investors. The important thing is to respond and determine – promptly and realistically – what changes might be needed. In evaluating the current state of your plan, don’t fixate solely on a number – “We’ll be fine when our retirement portfolio is worth $X?” – that just isn’t the way retirement works anymore, if it ever did. You need to drill down into what types of assets you have, what your cash flow situation is and what it will be, what your contingency plans are, what rate of return you’re assuming, what inflation rate you’re assuming, how long you’re planning for, and all the other important details that go into achieving a successful retirement. The truth is retirement has a lot of moving parts that must be monitored and managed on an ongoing basis.
3. Revisit your portfolio’s asset allocation
6. Make the indicated changes
The ups and downs of the markets affect your asset allocation. Appreciation among large caps may tilt your portfolio into more conservative territory than you’d like, or market volatility may create imbalance in another sector. The question is, are you comfortable with the current level of risk in your portfolio? Risk tolerance isn’t static – it changes based on your net worth, age, income needs, financial goals and various other considerations. Past recessions have made many investors more risk averse. That’s certainly understandable, but it may be that you need to – very carefully – take on slightly more risk to keep pace with your goals. You want to make informed decisions here. Review your holdings and your overall asset allocation with your financial advisor and make whatever adjustments are indicated.
By now you should have a good idea of where you stand overall, what your cash flow situation is (including whether you’re saving enough), what your retirement income picture looks like, and where the shortfalls or other challenges are. Do you need to adjust your contributions to your IRA or other retirement plans? Do you need to adjust your tax withholding? If you’re due for a raise, how about channeling the extra money into a retirement account? Are you taking full advantage of your employer’s retirement plan options, particularly any contribution match program? Regardless of whether your years away from retirement or fairly close, the effects of compounding can be very significant – if you take advantage of them. Go after any problem areas – or opportunities – systematically and promptly.
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CONCERTS AT A GLANCE Feb. 8 - 9, 2020
Feb. 22 - 23, 2020
Robert McDuffie: Eight Seasons
Mozart and Tchaikovsky
Robert McDuffie conductor, violin Vivaldi The Four Seasons Philip Glass Violin Concerto No. 2 American Four Seasons
Christian Reif conductor
Cecilia Damström Tundo! Mozart Symphony No. 41 Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4
Robert McDuffie Celebrity Recital
Monday, February 10, 2020 at 7:30 p.m.
ITZHAK PERLMAN PLAYS BEETHOVEN
February 27, 2020 at 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 14 - 15, 2020
Mar. 13 - 14, 2020
The Spirit of Prohibition
Celtic Spirit
Thomas Wilson conductor
Toast the golden age of jazz and swing! Speakeasy sounds are in the spotlight, with music of Irving Berlin, Louis Armstrong, and other legends in an intoxicating night that will leave you roaring.
Thomas Wilson conductor Eileen Ivers violin Luck is on your side! The Philharmonic celebrates great music from the Emerald Isle with Irish superstar Eileen Ivers, who the New York Times called “the Jimi Hendrix of the violin.”
A prolific virtuoso of the violin, Itzhak Perlman needs no introduction. An international sensation for decades, Perlman, who has played for everyone from queens to presidents, graces the Colorado Springs stage for one distinctive evening of music you’ll never forget.
SOLD OUT