Tunes for Toons!

IPinidelGianicolo(ThePinesoftheJaniculum)

IPinidellaViaAppia(ThePinesoftheAppianWay)

PROGRAMNOTES

Overtureto“TheBarberofSeville” GioacchinoRossini

Unmatchedintheirmusical“sizzle,” Rossini’soverturesexcelinsparkle,wit, andvivacity.Fromtheirconceptionfor Italianoperaaudiencesintheearly 1800stotheirfamiliaruseintoday’s filmandtelevision,theyaresimply timeless.Rossiniwasthemost celebratedItalianoperacomposerof theXIXcenturybeforeVerdiand Puccini.HisinnovationsinItalian opera,especiallyinoperabuffaor comicopera,arehislasting contributionstothegenre.Audiences aremostfamiliarwithThe ItalianGirlin Algiers (1813)and TheBarberofSeville (1816),howeverthereareother masterpiecesaswell,bythetimethat hewas31yearsofagehehadalready composed34operas. TheBarberof Seville isperhapsthegreatestcomic operaeverwritten,andtheovertureis aperfectreflectionofallthatmadeita masterpieceofflamboyance,sparkle, andwit.Tobesure,hisearlyoperas graduallydevelopedinquality,buthe wasamasterofthecompositionof theiroverturesfromthebeginning.The overtureto TheBarberofSeville was notoriginallycomposedfortheopera withwhichitisassociated,itwasused insteadintwootherearlieroperas, henceitcontainsnothemesfromthe actualtitleopera.Afteraslow introduction,themainfastsectionsoon follows.Thereisnodevelopmentin thistruncatedsonataform,withthe workendingwitharecapitulation.The famous“Rossinicrescendo”keeps repeatingamainmotive,gradually gettinglouderandlouderasa stunningdramaticeffect.Thenonstop clowninghumorof RabbitofSeville is pacedmusicallyaroundRossini’s BarberofSevilleOverture. This theatricalcartoonshortisaWarner Bros.LooneyTunesproductionfrom 1950,featuringElmerFuddchasing aroundBugsBunnybackstageatan amphitheater. RabbitofSeville is rankednumber12inthelistof"The50

GreatestCartoons"releasedinNorth Americaduringthe20thcentury.

Overtureto“DieFledermaus” JohannStraussII

Knownasthe“waltzking,”Johann StraussII,continuedthetraditionhis fatherhadalreadyestablishedof transformingthemodestAustrianwaltz ofhumble,ruraloriginsintothe celebratedVienneseWaltz.Most favoriteViennesewaltzestodayare thosecomposedbyStraussII,theyare thepinnacleofmelodicinvention, harmonicgrace,andrhythmicspirit.In additiontowaltzes,Straussalsowrote numerouspolkas,marches,gallops, quadrilles,andotherworks,including operettassuchas TheGypsyBaron, A NightinVenice,and,ofcourse, Die Fledermaus.Bythemid1800sthe Viennascenewasdominatedby Frenchoperettas,eventhoughStrauss IIhadalreadywrittenseveral,noneof themachievedthesuccessof Die Fledermaus(TheBat). Premieredin 1874,theinfectiousmelodies,zany stageshenanigans,anditslightheartedstylehavefirmlyestablished theoperettaasanaudiencefavorite everywhere.Theoperetta’stitlestems fromaludicrousincidentbeforethe comedyevenbegins:adrunkennotary, dressedinarisiblebatcostume, awakensthemorningafterarevelry lyinginapublicpark,ridiculedbythe localchildren.Aplotofrevenge,a sparklingmaskedballrepletewith mistakenidentities,andother humorousincidentstakeitfromthere. Theoverturefeaturestheimmortal centralwaltzfromtheshow,woven togetherwithzestfulpolkasandother familiartunesfromthedrama.The immenseappealofStrauss’sinimitable melodiesisenhancedwiththe essentialnuancesofflirtatious Viennesemusicalstylingfilledwith boundlessgrace,refinement,and pleasure.Releasedin1950,HannaBarberacreatedatheatricalcartoon shortusingStrauss’ DieFledermaus

Overture featuringTomandJerry;Tom isconductinganorchestraatthe HollywoodBowlwhenJerrycomesout to"help,"insteadtheyendupfighting overwhogetstobetheconductor. Jerrythendecidestosabotagethe performancebydisposingofthe orchestramembers,onebyone,until onlyTomislefttoplayallofthe instrumentswhileJerryconductsand theconcertends.

RideoftheValkyriesfrom “DieWalküre”

RichardWagner

WagnerestablishedaGerman romanticoperatradition,moreorless fromscratch.Hespentquitesometime inParisasayoungmanwherehe experiencedtheFrenchgrandoperas, playinganimportantpartinhis development,despitehislaterdenial ofthatobviousfact.Wagnerspent muchtimeinlayingoutanentirelynew conceptualbasisforGermanromantic operabaseduponlibrettosthat stemmedfromNordicmythasan allegoryforuniversalhumanbehavior. Hebalancedallthedramaticarts: poetry,lighting,scenery,acting,as equalelementstocreatewhathe called“musicdramas.”Thesupportfor allofitrequiredalargeorchestra.In manywaystheorchestraitselfbecame amajorcharacter,notonlysupporting andaccompanying,butalso participatinginthedramaticactionby musicalcomment,interpretation,and prediction.Hisgreattetralogyoffour “musicdramas,” TheRingofthe Nibelung,comprisedof Das Rheingold, DieWalküre,Siegfried,and Götterdämmerung ishiscrowning achievement.Thestorythreads continuouslyandsuccessivelythrough allfouroperaswhilethemusicmakes foratriumphantpartnertothe thoughtfuldramaticconsiderations. Theroleoftheorchestraisso memorableandevocativethatithas longbeenthepopularpracticeto performimportantorchestralexcerpts ontheconcertstage.Oneofthem,the RideoftheValkyries fromthe Die Walküre (1870),itdepictsthemighty warriormaidens,daughtersofWotan

andsistertoBrünnhilde,swooping downfromthesky,mountedonflying horses,pickingupthesoulsoffallen heroes. What'sOpera,Doc? isan ambitiousparodythatsquishes Wagner’sfamousoperasdowntosix minutes,particularly DerRingdes Nibelungen, DerFliegendeHolländer and Tannhäuser.Thistheatricalcartoon shortwasreleasedin1957byWarner Bros.aspartofthe MerrieMelodies animatedseries,starringBugsBunny andElmerFudd.Theplotfollows “Siegfried”Fuddasheattemptstokill innocentBugsBunnywithhisspear andmagichelmet.Alongtheway, FuddfallsinlovewithBrünnhilde,who isactuallyBugsindisguise;whenhe discovershe'sbeenhad,heunleashes thefullforceofthehelmet'sawesome might.

PinesofRome,P.141 OttorinoRespighi

Afterthebigsuccessofhissymphonic poem, FountainsofRome in1916, Respighi,afewyearslater,decidedto follow-upwithtwoothercompositions alsoevokinghishome: PinesofRome (1924)and RomanFestivals (1926). Collectively,thesethreeworksare oftenreferredtoashis“Roman trilogy.”Theyallareshowpiecesof spectacularorchestration,vividmusical imagination,andexuberant instrumentalcolor.Infourmovements, PinesofRome usestheideaofpine treeslocatedinvariousreminiscent Romanlocationstobringeverything together.Respighiscoredtheworkfor alargeorchestra:theusualandfamiliar fullcomplement,withadditionsof piano,organ,celesta,buccinas,and (forthefirsttimeinmusicalhistory),a soundrecordingofbirdcalls.Thefirst movement, ThePinesoftheVilla Borghese,isasparkling,evocationof childrenatplayatVillaBorghese,one ofthelargestandmostspectacular publicgardensinRome.Afterand abruptend,weentertheominous, darkatmosphereoftheburialcaverns. PinesNearaCatacomb issetinthe malarialregionoftheRoman campagna, abandonedinancient

4-UTRGVSymphonyOrchestra2022-2023ConcertSeason

times,butwithextraordinarystark beauty.Alonelyelegybythetrumpet isheardinthedistance;thegloomy moodreturnsfollowedbyagrandiose climax,perhapsalludingtotriumph overdeath.Allsoonfadesaway,asthe brassreturnstoatenebrouschant. PinesoftheJaniculum isaplacidnight visittotheprominenthillwestof Rome,namedaftertheRomangod Janus,whichoffersspectacularviewsof Rome.Thismovementisanocturne, severalsolosareintroducedbythe piano,quietlyevokingthemoonlight gleamingoverthepines.Anightingale isperchedinoneofthetreesandas themusicgraduallyfadesaway,his songisfaintlyheard.Next,themystical moodisthendisruptedbythedistant treadoftheRomanLegionsonthe AppianWay,faroffatfirstandgrowing unavoidablycloser.AdauntingEnglish

hornsoloaddsabitofmystery. Fanfaresareheardportrayingthe ancientRoman buccina,alargecircular militaryhorn.Everyoneintheorchestra graduallyjoinsinastheLegionsmarch closer,themusicgrowsinevitablyinto anoutburstofsound,oneofthemost impressiveorchestralendingsever written.WhentheDisneyanimators heard PinesofRome,insteadoftreelinedstreetsandromanticruins,they thoughtofsomethingcompletely different,theypicturedanArctic landscapewithseagullsandhumpback whalesthatjumpandsplashinandout ofthewaters,risingoutandflying acrossaforestlandscapetothetopof theclouds,followingthelightofa brightstarthattwinkleslikeanighttime sunrise. PinesofRome isthesecond segmentinDisney’sanimatedfilm Fantasia2000.

JOSEHERNANDEZ,PIANO

ALEXANDROLUCERO-QUINTANA GuestConductor

AlexandroLucero-Quintanawasborn inMexicoCity.Hehasplayedviolafor twentyyearsandgraduatedfromthe NationalAutonomousUniversityof MexicowithadegreeinMusic Performance.In2017,hebeganhis conductingstudiesinworkshopswith DavidRochaandSergioCardenasin Mexico.Alexandrohasconductedthe QueretaroSymphoniettaandthe ConsortiumSonorusChamber OrchestrainMexico.Since2017,he hasbeenconductingtheColegioSan JuanSigloXXIYouthSymphony OrchestrainMatamoros.Alexandro Lucero-Quintanaiscurrentlyworking onhismaster´sdegreeinorchestral conductingattheUniversityofTexas RioGrandeValleyundertheguidance ofDr.NormanGamboa.

MANUELMONGE-MATA GuestConductor

Manuelbeganhismusicstudiesatthe ageof4,learningfirsttheviolin,then guitarandlaterFrenchhorn.Inhewas

acceptedbothinconductingand compositionattheUniversityofCosta Rica,studyingwithcomposersCarlos CastroandCarlosEscalante.Healso tookcompositionlessonsonelectronic musicwithOttoCastro.In2017he obtainedaMasterofMusicdegreein windconductingatMiddleTennessee StateUniversitywithDr.ReedThomas. Manuelhastaughtatseveralmusic schoolsinCostaRica.Hiscompositions havebeenperformedwidelyinCosta RicaaswellasintheUnitedStates.In 2021hepublishedtwoworkswithRising TideMusicPressandalsoparticipatedas conductorandproducerofthenewly releasedCDDavidMaslanka:First Recordings;thethirdalbumhehas producedandthefirstactingas conductor.AttheUniversityofTexasat RioGrandeValleyheisastudentofDr. NormanGamboa.LastNovember2022, ManuelparticipatedintheLakeComo ConductingCompetitionatBellano, Italy.

ANDREWSTAHLMAN GuestConductor

eight.Hehasplayedtrombonefor fourteenyearsandgraduatedfrom SouthernIllinoisUniversityat EdwardsvillewithadegreeinMusic Performance.Neartheendofhis undergraduatecareer,Andrewbegan topursueaninterestinorchestral conducting.Andrewhasworkedwith manystudentsviaprivatelessons, sectionals,andfullensembles.He studiedwithDr.DarwinAquinoduring thepandemicandservedasassistant conductorwiththeGatewayFestival Orchestraduringthesummerof2021. AndrewStahlmaniscurrentlyworking onhismaster’sdegreeinorchestral conductingattheUniversityofTexas RioGrandeValleyundertheguidance ofDr.NormanGamboa.

Colorado,Nebraska,Kansas,Missouri, Texas,Louisiana,Oklahoma,Minnesota, Wyoming,California,Idaho,Nevadaand Pennsylvania.Worldwideengagements includeorchestrasintheCzechRepublic, Romania,Colombia,Brazil,Guatemala, Venezuela,CostaRica,Panama, Nicaragua,HondurasandEcuador.Dr. Gamboahasledseveralballetandopera productionswithBalletMidwest,Aurora DanceArts,SantaRosaDanceTheater, FiestaColoradoDanceCompany,Rio GrandeValleyBalletCompany,Topeka OperaSociety,andOperaonTap Colorado.Hehasalsoparticipatedin variousinternationalmusicfestivals throughoutEurope,CentralandSouth America,theCaribbean,theU.S.and Canada.Previously,heservedasMusic DirectorofthePowderRiverSymphony, DirectorofOrchestralStudiesat WashburnUniversity,CoverConductor oftheTopekaSymphony,Associate ConductoroftheLasVegasMusic Festival,AssistantConductorofthe WacoSymphonyandMusicDirectorof theWacoSymphonyYouthOrchestra.

7-UTRGVSymphonyOrchestra2022-2023ConcertSeason

Dr.NORMANGAMBOA Conductor

NormanGamboaistheDirectorof OrchestralActivitiesatTheUniversityof TexasRioGrandeValley,MusicDirector oftheSonomaCountyPhilharmonicin California,andconductorandfounderof theRioGrandeYouthSymphony.Oneof themostprominentCentralAmerican conductors,hehasappearedthroughout

AndrewStahlmanwasborninVirginia Beach,VA,andmovedtoIllinoisatage

HarlingenHighSchool Orchestra

VirginiaReneyandOrlandoPedraza,Directors

HARLINGENHIGHSCHOOLORCHESTRA

MatthewTitusArchibald

JohnNicholasBriseno

AddisonNicoleCasarez

DonovanKentDaughrity

MyrandaDavila

JoseAlfredoDegollado

KaylieSkyEspinoza

KendraMichelleEsquivel

CollinKaiFernandez

AlexiaGarcia-Marroquin

JavierAlejandroGonzalez

AizzaAnykaGuerrero

AllisonRoseMares

ZoeLynnMarquez

ZairaG.Martinez

NathanThomasMowers

EvelynAnnQuezada

EberMoisesRamirez

IsabellaReneeRamirez

NicholasAntonioRamos

CatalinaIsabelRoman

JenaAnisaRuiz

JesusRodriguezSalinas

EmilySolanoMartinez

LornaSoto

RebeccaAnnTorres

NicolasCapetillo

ElizabethCalderas

JerranLentz

DaniellePaguinto

IsaacEzequielBaca

SeleneBocanegraTizapan

MarialinaBonilla

ThomasJudeBravo

AylinChavezTorres

SamuelValanteCorrea

AlexiaCruz

AlexisCruz

KaseyDeLeon

JavierEdward

Dominguez

IsaacHiramElissetche

BrianaNicoleFlores

DamianUlyssesGalindo

BrandonIsaacGalvan

AlejandroJRGarcia

PhillipGarcia

JenniferGarzaAguilar

NataliaGonzales-Valdez

AlexanderJamesGreen

BryanAdrianHernandez

AylaLoer

RoyAnthonyMaldonado

JuanDavidMares

MoisesOlvera

SusanaRheaPonce

CarlosJavierJRReyes

RubyReyes

IzaiahRayRivera

AbigailRodriguez

AnnetteSamanthaVasquez

DanielEvanZavala

VIOLIN

EldaaHernandez, Concertmaster

AngelaLlanes, Assistantconcertmaster

MariferGuerrero, Principal

DanielSantiago, AssistantPrincipal OcielBarrera

PriscillaEspinoza

RubenGarcia,Jr.

AngelaGonzalez

JazminGutierrez

AlexandraHernandez

AstridHerrera

LeahLoera

JoelSanchez

JameelZuniga

VIOLA

GamalielSanchez, Principal

DeniseAlanis

MelanieCantu

KatiaLuna

JacobMartinez

HarleyMassey

JoseSalinas

CELLO

JudithRecio, Principal

JairoGarza

SebastianGuerrero

IsaacIslas

ClarissaMartinez

RobertZuniga

DOUBLEBASS

SofiaLealdeLeon, Principal

MichaelFarrick

AlyssaGonzalez

MarisolMejia

DavidMolina

FLUTE

CarlosHernandez

StephanieHernandez, Piccolo

JoshuaPosler+

OBOE

LorenaCoronado+ CarlosCantu*

MelanyIbarra, Englishhorn

CLARINET

DanielHernandez-Duhon+ FabianGutierrez, Bassclarinet

HugoLopez

BASSOON

AracelyGarcia+ NormaBarrientos*

JosephOrendain

HORN

DanielGarza+

NathanLaurel

RobertoSalas

TRUMPET

HenryBryant

RyanMowers+

AaronPerez*

VictorFortuna

TROMBONE

AlejandroSalinas+

JhonEscobar

AntonioNefiOlivares

EUPHONIUM

AlejandroGarza

TUBA

AzdruballMontemayor+

TIMPANI

KathleenCamero+

OscarLozano

RenePeynado

PERCUSSION

KathleenCamero+

OscarLozano

RenePeynado

ReneZamora

PIANO/KEYBOARD

PaolaGarcia+

JoseHernandez

AnnaTreviño

HARP

VincentPierce*

ASSISTANT CONDUCTORS

AlexandroLucero-Quintana

ManuelMonge-Mata

AndrewStahlman

VAUGHANWILLIAMS

TubaConcerto

AzdruballMontemayor,soloist

PONCHIELLI

DanceoftheHoursfromLaGioconda

OFFENBACH

OrpheusintheUnderworldOverture