Discover a world of exciting music
20-21
Jim Collier Season Sponsor
M
usic takes you places. Take, for example, a flight of imagination from Paris to Buenos Aires—we will provide the first-class accommodations that you deserve. Why stop there? You can take a stroll to the countryside or a trip around the world. You can journey to the past or even take an immersive dive into your very own soul. The phenomenal Anne-Marie McDermott opens the season with not one, but two concerti! One of the works is by David Ludwig—the first Composer in Residence with the RVS. David is a man of deep musical insight that he serves with an irresistible charm. I am excited to have him come visit for several weeks throughout the season. Stay tuned for more information on his activities in the Rogue Valley!
PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER BRISCOE PHOTOGRAPHY
Next up, the Argentinian violinist Tomás Cotik takes us to his home country and then the RVS will take you on two trips to Europe—one to the city of love, the other to the city of intellect. In November,
the multitalented Michael Brown pays respect to Beethoven, both as an interpreter and as a composer—just like Beethoven himself would do! The onset of 2021 brings several firsts to our Symphony. We feature an incredible baritone who, like Anne-Marie, is a returning guest. Dashon Burton and I chose an ambitious project for you— the heart wrenching Kindertotenlieder by Gustav Mahler. This concert will conclude with a feast for your ears and your eyes as we present Dvořák’s Seventh Symphony with a sleek and gorgeous slideshow, played simultaneously on three screens. Do you have a friend who is new to the world of symphonic music? Do them a favor and buy them a ticket now! The young and charismatic Vijay Venkatesh will present one of his specialties, Clara Schumann’s Piano Concerto, on the February series. It will be part of our exploration of what is without a question the most popular love triangle in
classical music. Finally, in April, we are going to celebrate our beautiful planet Earth. She is being severely tested by our own kind. The harmonies on this concert will remind us what we are to lose, if we do not learn to live in harmony with our surroundings. Mark your calendars for our special concert called America’s Journey. Presented in collaboration with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, this is a bona fide patriotic extravaganza, celebrating the best this country has to offer. The music will fill you with pride, optimism, gratitude and a sense of hope. It is not a coincidence that, by sharing these programs with you, I feel that way already.
Martin Majkut, Music Director
Venues ASHLAND Southern Oregon University Music Recital Hall 450 S Mountain Avenue Ashland, OR 97520 MEDFORD Craterian Theater at the Collier Center 23 S Central Avenue Medford, OR 97501 GRANTS PASS Grants Pass High School Performing Arts Center 313 NE Olive Street Grants Pass, OR 97526 Dates, music, and soloists subject to change without notice.
Beyond the Concert Hall
Enhance Your Experience
There are many ways to engage with us to enhance your Symphony experience! You will have an insider’s perspective and gain exclusive access to Maestro Majkut, composers, soloists, musicians, and more.
Pre-concert Talks:
Post-concert Receptions:
Join Maestro Majkut before the concert as he speaks about the compositions, composers, history, soloist and other interesting tidbits about the concert. All symphony patrons are invited to these Pre-concert talks in the concert hall one hour before the performance.
Rogue Valley Symphony Donors who give $1,000 or above are invited to post-concert receptions with exclusive access to Maestro Majkut and the concert soloist. Hors d’oeuvres, wine and non-alcoholic beverages are served.
Questions? Call Tarah Dougherty, Development Associate, at 541-708-6403.
NEW
All subscribers are invited to these opportunities to take your experience beyond the concert hall.
Conversations with Martin: An up close and personal chance to hear an indepth introduction to the upcoming season, celebrate Beethoven’s 250th birthday, and meet Composer in Residence, David Ludwig, presented by Maestro Majkut. Learn more about the pieces, composers, soloists, and why the season was selected.
Sip with the Symphony: Join us before each concert weekend at a café in your community (TBA) to meet the conductor, composers, staff, musicians, soloists, and other special guests as they give you an inside perspective on their lives and why they are joining the Rogue Valley Symphony. This is your opportunity to ask questions and dive deeper into how the magic of making music happens.
Achieving Artistic Excellence
W
ies all.
David Ludwig Composer in Residence
e are thrilled to welcome David Ludwig back to the Rogue Valley as Composer in Residence for the 2020–2021 season. David was first here in 2017 for our performances of his violin concerto with his wife, Bella Hristova, as soloist. We already knew Bella, having featured her in 2014, but this visit with both of them together was something special, and it blossomed into a plan to get him back to work with RVS again. Thus was born the plan for our first ever Composer in Residence. David will be visiting for three weeks, spread apart throughout the season. The orchestra will be performing two of his works and David will be in town for rehearsals and performances of both those pieces. He will also be speaking
about his work and doing educational outreach in our schools. In addition, David will be working on a new commission to be premiered by the RVS in our 2021– 2022 season. We will be announcing more specifics regarding his activities during his residency as the season gets closer. Born in Bucks County, PA, Ludwig comes from several generations of eminent musicians including uncle Peter Serkin, grandfather Rudolf Serkin and greatgrandfather Adolf Busch. He holds degrees from Oberlin, The Manhattan School, the Curtis Institute, The Juilliard School, and a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania. Ludwig serves as the director of the composition faculty of Curtis and is the Gie and Lisa Liem Artistic Advisor and director of the Curtis 20/21 Contemporary Music Ensemble.
Masterworks 1
Earthly Journeys
PANGAEA MAP: GILLIS BJÖRK
box office: 541-708-6400
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Pianist Anne-Marie McDermott returns after saving the day in our 50th Anniversary Season to explore the wondrous world of Pangaea two hundred million years ago. This piece was composed for her by David Ludwig, who will join us this year as Composer in Residence. Debussy’s Nocturnes includes 16 female singers seated in the orchestra. Add to that Anne-Marie playing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and we begin this season with a bang!
ASHLAND:
September 18, 2020 · 7:30pm MEDFORD:
September 19, 2020 · 7:30pm GRANTS PASS:
September 20, 2020 · 3:00pm WEBER: Overture to Euryanthe
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 2 Anne-Marie McDermott, piano LUDWIG: Pangaea Anne-Marie McDermott, piano
“ . ..one of the great American pianists of her generation.”
DEBUSSY: Nocturnes with the Women of the Rogue Valley Symphony Chorus Anne-Marie McDermott, piano
David Patrick Stearns, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Masterworks 2
Cities of the World
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Visit three cities influential to the history of orchestral music through works of Mozart, Piazzolla, and Haydn. Join violinist and Argentina native, Tomás Cotik, who now makes his home in Portland, as we visit the Buenos Aires of Piazzolla. Mozart wrote his symphony in the City of Love and Haydn confirmed his international success in Oxford. This concert would be great for a date night or a first time at the symphony.
ASHLAND:
October 23, 2020 · 7:30pm MEDFORD:
October 24, 2020 · 7:30pm MEDFORD:
October 25, 2020 · 3:00pm MOZART: Symphony No. 31, “Paris”
PIAZZOLLA: Four Seasons of Buenos Aires Tomás Cotik, violin HAYDN: Symphony No. 92, “Oxford” “ Cotik never indulges in violinistic brilliance at the expense of music, but he sounds consistently brilliant nevertheless.” Fanfare Magazine
Tomás Cotik, violin
Masterworks 3
Beethoven’s 250-Year Journey
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Celebrate the genius of Beethoven’s compositions during the 250th anniversary of his birth by hearing one of his most popular symphonies and his first piano concerto. Beethoven’s 7th Symphony was Martin’s audition piece with the RVS and is a favorite of our audiences. Composer/pianist Michael Brown composed this new work to honor Beethoven during this special year. Our Composer in Residence, David Ludwig, returns to lecture on the mystery of Beethoven and to begin work on a piece to be premiered during the 2021–2022 RVS season.
ASHLAND:
November 20, 2020 · 7:30pm ASHLAND:
November 21, 2020 · 7:30pm GRANTS PASS:
November 22, 2020 · 3:00pm BROWN: Concerto for Piano and Strings Michael Brown, piano BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto no. 1 Michael Brown, piano BEETHOVEN: Symphony no. 7 “ one of the leading figures in the current renaissance of performer-composers” New York Times
Michael Brown, piano
Masterworks 4
Czech Journeys
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See Dvořák’s world come alive with stunning visuals from Westwater Arts while listening to his Symphony No. 7. We will continue to celebrate Beethoven with a new work from Praguebased Slovak composer Juraj Filas’s perspective. Enter bassbaritone, Dashon Burton, who has enjoyed an illustrious career since his first visit with the RVS. He will perform Mahler’s most soul-wrenching song cycle, Kindertotenlieder. Dashon’s immensely expressive voice will reach straight into your heart.
MEDFORD:
January 22, 2021 · 7:30pm
MEDFORD:
January 23, 2021 · 7:30pm GRANTS PASS:
January 24, 2021 · 3:00pm FILAS: Egmont – Immortal U.S. Premiere
“ Burton’s deep, voluminous bass was both commanding and subtle.” South Florida Classical Review
MAHLER: Kindertotenlieder Dashon Burton, bass-baritone DVOŘÁK: Symphony no. 7 with photochoreography by Westwater Arts Westwater Arts
Dashon Burton, bass-baritone
Masterworks 5
The Love Triangle
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Hear rapidly rising international star, pianist Vijay Venkatesh, on a concert featuring all three composers involved in Classical music’s most famous love triangle: Clara & Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms. Brahms composed this Overture as a thank you for his honorary doctorate and used student drinking songs as the basis for his melodic materials. A triangle indeed—3 wonderful pieces reflecting the lives of 3 pivotal musicians.
ASHLAND:
February 26, 2021 · 7:30pm MEDFORD:
February 27, 2021 · 7:30pm MEDFORD:
February 28, 2021 · 3:00pm BRAHMS: Academic
Festival Overture
Piano Concerto
CLARA SCHUMANN:
Vijay Venkatesh, piano
ROBERT SCHUMANN:
Symphony no. 2
“ . .. electrifying and unforgettable... he’s a spectacular pianist.” Jeffrey Kahane
Vijay Venkatesh, piano
Masterworks 6
Gaea’s Lost Gardens
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This concert honors nature’s beauty and preciousness. Composer in Residence David Ludwig will again join us for the springtime climax to our season. His work for duo violinists presents the Four Seasons through the lens of global climate change. This program is led by a composer close to Martin’s heart, Dvořák, and concludes with one of Martin’s favorite symphonies, Brahms’ Second.
ASHLAND:
April 23, 2021 · 7:30pm MEDFORD:
April 24, 2021 · 7:30pm GRANTS PASS:
April 25, 2021 · 3:00pm DVOŘÁK: In Nature’s Realm LUDWIG: Seasons Lost Danbi Um, violin Arnaud Sussmann, violin
Arnaud Sussmann, violin
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 2
Danbi Um, violin
Peter Boyer’s Grammy-nominated
Ellis Island: The Dream of America “ A work of rare authenticity and directness” Los Angeles Times
America’s Journey MEDFORD:
March 28, 2021 · 3:00pm
DWORKIN/COLERIDGE-TAYLOR:
The American Rhapsody BOYER: Ellis Island: The Dream of America
Boyer’s major work, Ellis Island: The Dream of America, for 7 actors and orchestra, has become one of the most-performed American orchestral works of the last 15 years, with over 200 performances by 100 orchestras since its 2002 premiere. The spoken texts for the work come from the Ellis Island Oral History Project, an historic collection of interviews with actual immigrants about their experiences emigrating to America. After extensive research in this archive, Boyer chose the stories of seven immigrants who came to America through Ellis Island from disparate nations between 1910–1940. We are proud to partner with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, showcasing 7 actors from the acting company and directed by one of OSF’s directors.
Photo credit: Stan Sholik for Pacific Symphony
In collaboration with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
The Oregon Premiere of
Aaron Dworkin’s American Rhapsody A consortium commissioned project Libretto by Aaron Paul Dworkin Music by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Symphonic Variations on an African Air In collaboration with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
val
Aaron Paul Dworkin
Set to the music of Afro-British composer Coleridge-Taylor, with words by the white Forefather of the American democracy, George Washington, this piece is delivered by an African American spoken word artist! The American Rhapsody excerpts a variety of speeches and writings by George Washington, with both prosaic and poetic interludes. A statesman, a general, and the commander-in-chief, Washington was an entrepreneur This concert is sure to and a patriot. He favored education and the arts. He was sell out! Join the RVS and eulogized as “first in war, first in peace, and first in the OSF as we collaborate to hearts of his countrymen.” celebrate America.
2020I2021 Subscription Prices Subscribe Now!
Subscriber Renewal Deadline: March 16 Subscriber Seat Changes March 30-April 13 New Subscribers Orders Begin on April 20 Single Ticket Orders Begin on May 18
Box Office 541-708-6400 www.rvsymphony.org
Ashland
SOU Music Recital Hall 450 S Mountain Ave Ashland Concerts at 7:30 pm
6 Concerts
STAGE
A+ A B C
$350 $285 $250 $220
Medford
Craterian Theater 23 S Central Ave Medford Concerts at 7:30 pm
OR PICK
6 Concerts A+ A B C E
MEDFORD CONCERTS
B Flex 4 $150 C Flex 4 $135
STAGE
MAIN FLOOR
BALCONY
$310 $260 $220 $190 $105
Grants Pass 6 Concerts Grants Pass Performing Arts Center 313 NE Olive St Grants Pass Concerts at 3:00 pm
STAGE
A+ A B C E
$270 $225 $185 $140 $105
2020-2021 Masterworks Single Ticket Prices ASHLAND MEDFORD A+
$65
$60
GRANTS PASS $50
A
$55
$50
$45
B
$45
$40
$35
C
$40
$35
$25
E
————
$20
$20
America’s Journey Concert Ticket Prices
NOT INCLUDED IN SUBSCRIPTION PRICE
March 28, 2021 at 3:00 pm Craterian Theater, Medford STAGE
Single Ticket Orders begin May 18 Flex packages only available in Medford.
Accessible seating is available in all 3 venues. Call for more info.
MAIN FLOOR
BALCONY
A+ $65 A $55 B $45 C $35 E $25
Symphony FAQ: What is your mission? The Rogue Valley Symphony’s
Mission is to inspire our audiences and enrich our communities through the live performance of orchestral music.
Why do you perform in three communities? The Rogue Valley Symphony has a 53 year history of providing orchestral music in Jackson and Josephine Counties. We are blessed to have wonderful venues and appreciative audiences in Ashland, Medford, and Grants Pass, so we are happy to travel to all three. Why aren’t concerts always available in all 3 venues?
There are so many great arts offerings in the Rogue Valley that we can’t always have access to all 3 halls in a weekend. From time to time we add a chorus or visuals to our performances and those embellishments don’t fit on the Recital Hall stage.
What is a subscription and why should I buy one? A subscription is a set of pre-selected concerts that you can purchase as a package. A subscriber is guaranteed the opportunity to exchange their tickets at no additional charge, is invited to our Conversations with Martin and other engagement opportunities, and is the first to know EVERYTHING that is going on with the RVS. Subscribers get discounted rates on tickets and the best seats available. As a subscriber you will also receive invites to exclusive events with soloists, composers, and musicians. What is a FLEX subscription and why should I buy it? If you are
traveling during the year this could be a great option for you. You can choose 4 out of 6 Masterworks concerts in Medford only. This is ideal if you want a smaller subscription. You still get to choose your seats before single tickets holders and renew early each year.
Do you have accessible seats? Yes, we have accessible seats in all venues. Call us for more detailed information.
ashland:
Tomás Cotik, violin October 23 at 7:30 pm medford: October 24 at 7:30 pm medford: October 25 at 3:00 pm
MASTERWORKS 2 Cities of the World
MASTERWORKS 1 Earthly Journeys Anne-Marie McDermott, piano ashland: September 18 at 7:30 pm medford: September 19 at 7:30 pm grants pass: September 20 at 3:00 pm
medford:
March 28 at 3:00 pm
Dates, music and soloists subject to change without notice.
MASTERWORKS 6 Gaea’s Lost Gardens Danbi Um and Arnaud Sussmann, violins ashland: April 23 at 7:30 pm medford: April 24 at 7:30 pm grants pass: April 25 at 3:00 pm
SPECIAL CONCERT America’s Journey
MASTERWORKS 5 The Love Triangle Vijay Venkatesh, piano ashland: February 26 at 7:30 pm medford: February 27 at 7:30 pm medford: February 28 at 3:00 pm
MASTERWORKS 4 Czech Journeys Dashon Burton, baritone medford: January 22 at 7:30 pm medford: January 23 at 7:30 pm grants pass: January 24 at 3:00 pm
MASTERWORKS 3 Beethoven’s 250-Year Journey Michael Brown, piano ashland: November 20 at 7:30 pm ashland: November 21 at 7:30 pm grants pass: November 22 at 3:00 pm
2020–21 Season at a Glance
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2020I2021
Box Office 541-708-6400 | www.rvsymphony.org