Recovered Voices with James Conlon

PROGRAM

RECOVERED VOICES An evening of chamber music with Maestro James Conlon, Pacific Trio, and Friends THU / OCT 4 7:30 PM CLASSICAL James Conlon, conductor Pacific Trio Edith Orloff, piano John Walz, cello Roger Wilkie, violin

Steve Becknell, horn Stuart Clark, clarinet Brian Dembow, viola Anna Landauer, violin Timothy Landauer, cello Shawn Mann, viola This performance is generously underwritten by Marilyn Ziering.

Š Chester Higgins

OCT 2012

and friends

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PROGRAM

Part One Run Time: approx. 40 minutes

Part Two Run Time: approx. 35 minutes

Der Wind (1909) after a poem by Grete Wiesenthal ......... Franz Schreker (1878-1934) (James Conlon, conductor) (Becknell, Clark, Orloff, Wilkie, Walz)

Mailblumen for Soprano and String Sextet ...................Alexander Zemlinsky (1871-1942) (James Conlon, conductor) (Dembow, A. Landauer, T. Landauer, Mann, Walz, Wilkie) Verklarte Nacht, Op. 4 .....................Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951) (Dembow, A. Landauer, T. Landauer, Mann, Walz, Wilkie) Please reserve your applause until the end of each musical composition.

Trio in D Minor, Op. 3 ...................Alexander Zemlinsky (1871-1942) Allegro ma non troppo Andante Allegro (Pacific Trio) There will be one 15 minute intermission.

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Duo for Violin and Cello ......................... Erwin Schulhoff (1894-1942) Moderato Zingaresca: Allegro giocoso Andantino Moderato (Walz, Wilkie)

OCT 2012

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James Conlon, conductor, one of today’s most versatile and respected conductors, has cultivated a vast symphonic, operatic, and choral repertoire. Since his 1974 debut with the New York Philharmonic, he has conducted virtually every major American and European symphony orchestra. Through worldwide touring, an extensive discography and videography, numerous essays and commentaries, frequent television appearances, and guest speaking engagements, Mr. Conlon is one of classical music’s most “A concert by the Pacific recognized inTrio was a special treat” terpreters. He is —Los Angeles Times currently Music Director of LA Opera, the Ravinia Festival (summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra), and the Cincinnati May Festival, America’s oldest choral festival. He has served as Principal Conductor of the Paris National Opera (1995-2004); General Music Director of the City of Cologne, Germany (1989-2002), where he was Music Director of both the Gürzenich Orchestra-Cologne Philharmonic and the Cologne Opera; and Music Director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic (1983-1991). Since his first appearance as a guest conductor at the Metropolitan Opera in 1976, Mr. Conlon has led more than 250 performances there and has often appeared at Teatro alla Scala in Milan, the Rome Opera, the Royal Opera at Covent Garden in London, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence. In an effort to raise awareness of the significance of the lesser-known works of composers silenced by the Nazi regime, Mr. Conlon has devoted himself to extensive programming of this music throughout Europe and North America. In 1999, he received the Zemlinsky Prize for his efforts in bringing that composer’s music to international attention. In 2007, he received the Crystal Globe Award from the Anti-Defamation League for championing these works, includ-

ing his initiation of LA Opera’s groundbreaking Recovered Voices project. His work on behalf of suppressed composers led to the creation of The OREL Foundation (www.orelfoundation.org), an invaluable resource on the topic for music lovers, students, musicians, and scholars. Mr. Conlon is currently engaged in a three-year homage to Benjamin Britten, set to culminate in 2013 during the 100th anniversary of the composer’s birth. A long-time devotee of Britten’s music, he is conducting six productions of Britten operas in the U.S. and Europe.

Mr. Conlon’s extensive discography and videography can be found on the EMI, Erato, Capriccio, Decca, and Sony Classical labels. He has won two Grammy Awards. He was named Commandeur de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture, and in 2002, he received France’s highest distinction from then President of the French Republic Jacques Chirac; the Légion d’Honneur.

Pacific Trio “Top string quartets pop up everywhere, but first-rate piano trios are rare. A concert by the Pacific Trio was a special treat, as the trio demonstrated in convincing manner, why it should be considered one of the best.” So began the Los Angeles Times review of Pacific Trio’s debut. Each member has enjoyed a celebrated career on the international music scene, rich in recital, ensemble, and concerto performances. Founded in 1979 in Los Angeles by John Walz and Edith Orloff, this acclaimed ensemble has played more than 1,000 concerts in the United States, Canada, and Europe. In addition to touring, they serve as trio-in-residence at the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program in Southern California. In 1986, the trio made its New York debut at Lincoln Center, in a concert benefiting the New York chapter of the Alzheimer’s Foundation. “Pacific Trio’s debut concert at Alice Tully Hall could easily have stood on its 6

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own merits, but the players had the generos- Stuart Clark, clarinet, received his music eduity to turn the program into a benefit, donat- cation at the Royal College of Music in London, ing all the proceeds to the Alzheimer’s Disease graduating with honors. In his postgraduate and Related Disorders Association. The mem- year he was awarded an exchange fellowship to bers of the trio played with warmth, exper- study at UCLA and furthered his studies at USC. tise, and unanimity… elegantly tapered, yet Mr. Clark is currently the Principal Clarinetist of directly emotive playing” (The New York Times). the LA Opera. He has performed with the Los In 2001, the trio was joined by renowned vio- Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Pasadena Symlinist Roger Wilkie. Their repertoire includes phony, Spokane Symphony, Pacific Symphony, virtually all the standard fare and champions and New West Symphony. As an active chamber new works, especially by American compos- musician, Mr. Clark has performed with numerers. In addition, their celebrated performances ous ensembles including Jacaranda, Capitol of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with many of Ensemble, and the New Hollywood String Quarthe finest European and American orchestras tet. In addition to live orchestral and chamber have cemented their place as one of the pre- music concerts, he records regularly for film mier chamber ensembles on the scene today. and television.

Pacific Trio began recording in 1989 with a CD of Brahms and Shostakovich, followed by trios Brian Dembow, viola, is well known in the field of Dvorak and Smetana. Since then, they have of chamber music. Born in New York City, he completed many extensive European tours and was admitted to the Juilliard School at age elevhave recorded the Beethoven Triple Concerto en as a scholarship student of the renowned with the Czech National Orchespedagogue Dorothy DeLay. As a “…the Philharmonic tra in Prague. Their latest CD, young violinist, Mr. Dembow beunder Conlon made American Composers, featuring gan capturing first place finishes every note sound music of Gershwin, Bernstein, in competitions as well as winning absolutely gorgeous” Copland, and Muczynski, was rethe Edward Dethier Award and on —New York Magazine leased in fall of 2009 in conjunctwo occasions the Michael Rabin tion with concerts in Germany, Poland, and Award. At age eighteen he made his first apFrance. Reviews in the German press referred pearances abroad with orchestra in a series of to their performances as… “chamber music of concerts throughout Germany and Scandinavia. the highest order.”

A move to Southern California in 1978 helped establish his reputation there as a teacher at Steve Becknell, horn, has performed with LA the University of California, and as an orchesOpera for over 20 years. He was a member of tral musician serving as concertmaster of both the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra for eight the Long Beach and San Diego Symphonies. Mr. years, and has performed with the LA Philhar- Dembow has been a member of the New York monic, San Diego Symphony, Pasadena and and Sequoia String Quartets. As a member of Pacific Symphonies, and Los Angeles Master the Angeles String Quartet, Mr. Dembow won a Chorale. He has played on hundreds of film Grammy for Best Chamber Music Performance soundtracks, television shows, and recordings (2001) for the landmark recording of the 68 with artists such as Barbra Streisand, Andrea String Quartets of Joseph Haydn for the Philips Bocelli, and Josh Groban. He holds degrees Classics label. In addition, he has recorded for from the University of Wisconsin and USC. the Delos, Sine Qua Non, CRI, and Koch inter-

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national labels. Mr. Dembow has also served for several years as Artist-in-Residence at the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado.

include his highly acclaimed recitals at Carnegie Recital Hall, the Ambassador Auditorium in Los Angeles, the Orford Arts Centre in Montreal, the City Hall Theatre in Hong Kong, and Anna Landauer, violin, is the winner of several in Hannover, Germany. He has performed as a national violin competitions in her native Ar- soloist with orchestras across three continents menia. She began her violin including the Russian Philharmonic “…The members of studies at age six with her Orchestra, the Gulbenkian Orchestra the trio played father, and later continued in Lisbon, the Hong Kong Philharmonwith warmth, expertise, at the Tchaikovsky Academy ic, the Taiwan National Symphony, the and unanimity.” of Music. She made her deBeijing Symphony, and the Shanghai —The New York Times but with the State PhilharSymphony Orchestra. In the United monic Orchestra of Armenia at the age of 14, States, Mr. Landauer has also appeared with and has performed since then in major halls the Maryland Symphony, the Grand Teton Festhroughout Armenia. In the United States, she tival Orchestra, and the Pacific Symphony Orholds Artist Diplomas from Duquesne Univer- chestra. Mr. Landauer was the recipient of the sity and the University of Southern California Outstanding Individual Artist Award 2004 preThornton School of Music. Winner of the 1995 sented by Arts Orange County.

Elizabeth Harper Vaughn International Competition in Tennessee, she has appeared at the Shawn Mann, viola, is a native of Texas and a Tanglewood Music Festival, the Shady Side Mu- long-standing member of the LA Opera Orsic Festival, the Music Academy of the West in chestra. He can be seen around town playing Santa Barbara, and served as Concertmaster with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, the Pasaand Guest Soloist for the National Repertory dena Symphony and Pops, and was recently a Orchestra in Colorado. An active chamber mu- featured soloist with Pasadena-based chamsician in the greater Los Angeles area, she has ber orchestra MUSE/IQUE. He is also an active performed with the Los Angeles Chamber Or- studio musician, having played on hundreds of chestra, and Pacific Symphony Orchestra and motion picture soundtrack scores for composis currently a tenured member of the LA Opera ers such as John Williams, James Horner, and Orchestra.

Danny Elfman, and recordings with artists such as Barbra Streisand, Andrea Bocelli, and Josh Timothy Landauer, cello, was hailed “a cellist Groban. Mr. Mann has traveled the length and of extraordinary gifts” by The New York Times breadth of Japan as Principal Viola of the Percy when he won the coveted Concert Artists Guild Faith Orchestra, and performed with the PacifInternational Award in 1983. Mr. Landauer is ic Symphony on their critically-acclaimed tour the winner of numerous prestigious prizes of Germany and Austria. He has performed at and awards, among them the Young Musicians Festival Mozaic, the Aspen Music Festival, the Foundation’s National Gregor Piatigorsky Me- Taos School of Music, Colorado Music Festival, morial Cello Award, the Samuel Applebaum and the Music Academy of the West. Mr. Mann Grand Prize of the National Solo Competition of holds degrees from the Interlochen Arts Acadthe American String Teacher’s Association, and emy, the Eastman School of Music, and the the 1984 Hammer-Rostropovich Scholarship University of Southern California. His teachers Award. Mr. Landauer’s extensive engagements have included Yizhak Schotten, David Holland, 8

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John Graham, and Donald McInnes. When not playing the viola, Mr. Mann can often be found restoring his 1970 Triumph TR6 or deciding which house project to tackle next.

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based Pacific Trio. The ensemble, with violinist Roger Wilkie and cellist John Walz, makes annual tours of the U.S. and Europe. For many years the group has served as ensemble-inresidence of the Idyllwild Arts summer festival, John Walz, cello, is a celebrated soloist and where Ms. Orloff has taught piano and chamchamber music artist, known for his dazzling ber music since 1976. In February of 2009, the virtuosity and elegant musicianship. A student Pacific Trio traveled to Europe to perform and of the legendary French cellist Pierre Fournier, record trios by American composers. The CD he has appeared as soloist with more than 150 American Composers featuring works of Gersymphony orchestras on four continents. His shwin, Bernstein, Copland, and Muczynski for performances of 25 different concertos in- the Marsyas label, was released in September clude both standard showcases and rarities like of 2009 in conjunction with a European tour.

Martinu’s Concerto #1 and William Schuman’s Ms. Orloff has appeared as guest artist with Song of Orfeus Orfeus.. In 1979, Mr. Walz, along with many notable ensembles, including the Houspianist Edith Orloff, founded the Pacific Trio. ton Symphony Chamber Players, the Ensemble Now performing with violinist Roger Wilkie, this Con Brio of Bruchsal, Germany, and the Czech renowned ensemble has played more than 900 String Trio. In keeping with her interest in proconcerts throughout North America and Eu- moting new music, she has helped to launch rope. In addition to his solo and chamber mu- several series devoted to the works of contemsic duties, he is currently the principal cellist porary composers. She performs frequently with the LA Opera, a position he previously held on several prominent series in the Los Angefor 20 years with the Long Beach les area. Ms. Orloff also enjoys a “Conductor Conlon is Symphony. His ever expanding long-standing musical collaborathe real thing: a master discography includes recordtion with her husband, Houston of the orchestra with ings of the concertos by Dvorak, Symphony principal clarinetist genuine theatricality” Haydn, Shostakovich, Bloch, MarDavid Peck; their CD of modern —Los Angeles Times tinu, Vivaldi, and trios by Brahms, works for clarinet and piano was Dvorak, Smetana, and the newly released Pacif- released in 2004. She has also recorded for ic Trio CD featuring Beethoven’s Triple Concer- the Brio Classics, Resort Classics, and Yarlung to and Archduke Trio. He is on the faculty of the labels. Summer concert appearances have inIdyllwild Arts Summer Program and Academy. cluded La Jolla SummerFest, Grand Tetons Festival, Ventura Chamber Music Festival, and Edith Orloff, piano, is known for her versatil- ongoing performances at Idyllwild Arts and ity as a performer and has earned acclaim in Festival Mozaic (formerly San Luis Obispo Mothe United States and Europe. She has concert- zart Festival). A master’s degree graduate of ized with equal success as recitalist, chamber the California Institute of the Arts, where she musician, and soloist with orchestra. Her solo studied piano with Earle Voorhies and chamGerman debut in 1998 was received as “elegant, ber music with Cesare Pascarella, she has also a pleasure to hear,” and her music-making has worked with Jerome Lowenthal, Reginald Stewwon praise at home and abroad for its inter- art, Rosina Lhevinne, Daniel Pollack, and Ropretive vitality and perceptive musicianship. berto Eyzaguirre. Ms. Orloff teaches privately She is a founding member of the Los Angeles- and in master classes. In addition to her musi-

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OCT 2012

cal activities, she enjoys literature, travel, and study of languages. She resides in Houston and San Diego.

list John Walz. Mr. Wilkie is in great demand as a chamber musician. He was a founding member of the Angeles String Quartet, performing and touring from 1988-1993. He was solo vioRoger Wilkie, violin, is a Southern California linist with the Santa Barbara based Camerata native, and has enjoyed a rich and varied mu- Pacifica, on whose series he played hundreds sical life. Born to a musical family, Mr. Wilkie’s of concerts as recitalist and chamber musician professional career began in over a ten year period. He has ap“The trio demonstrated 1983, with a six-year tenure in peared at many chamber music the Los Angeles Chamber Or- in convincing manner why festivals including La Jolla Sumit should be considered chestra, eventually serving as merfest, Santa Fe Chamber Music one of the best.” principal second violinist. He Festival, and Martha’s Vineyard —Los Angeles Times has since returned to the enChamber Music Festival. Presently, semble appearing as guest concertmaster. This Mr. Wilkie is a member of the Pacific Trio with experience led to other opportunities as guest cellist John Walz and pianist Edith Orloff. This concertmaster with such groups as the LA Op- renowned ensemble has concertized in Europe era, including productions of Strauss operas in 2002, and again in 2004. Highlights of these Die Frau Ohne Schatten and Der Rosenkavalier, tours included a performance and recording of the Round Top Festival Orchestra of Texas, the Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with the Czech NaMusic Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, tional Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Wilkie’s career and the Real Filharmonia de Galicia, Spain, also extends to the Hollywood Studios, where under music director Helmut Rilling. Pres- he has participated in the soundtracks for hunently, Mr. Wilkie’s orchestral life is centered dreds of films. In 2005, he received the honor around the Long Beach Symphony, where he of serving as concertmaster for John Williams’ has served as concertmaster since 1990. He scores for Munich and Memoirs of a Geisha. has had many opportunities to solo with the orchestra, performing the violin concertos of Brahms, Mendelssohn, Sibelius, Bruch, Prokofiev, and the Brahms Double Concerto with cel-

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