Russian National Orchestra
Russian National Orchestra
Sunday, March 7th 2010
Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre
Map & Directions | Seating Chart
Program
Beethoven Coriolan Overture
Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 5
Dvorak, Symphony no. 8
The Russian National Orchestra has been in demand throughout the music world ever since its 1990 Moscow premiere. Of the orchestra’s 1996 debut at the BBC Proms in London, the Evening Standard wrote, “They played with such captivating beauty that the audience gave an involuntary sigh of pleasure.” More recently, they were described as “a living symbol of the best in Russian art” (Miami Herald) and “as close to perfect as one could hope for” (Trinity Mirror).
The first Russian orchestra to perform at the Vatican and in Israel, the RNO maintains an active international tour schedule, appearing in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Guest artists performing with the RNO on tour include conductors Vladimir Jurowski, Nicola Luisotti, Antonio Pappano, Alan Gilbert, Carlo Ponti and Patrick Summers; soloists include Martha Argerich, Yefim Bronfman, Lang Lang, Pinchas Zukerman, Sir James Galway, Joshua Bell, Itzhak Perlman, Steven Isserlis, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Simone Kermes and Renée Fleming, among many others. Popular with radio audiences worldwide, RNO concerts are regularly aired by National Public Radio in the United States and by the European Broadcasting Union.
Conductor Patrick Summers
Patrick Summers is Music Director of the Houston Grand Opera (HGO) and also appears in major opera houses worldwide. Mr. Summers is best known for his formidable grasp of extensive and diverse repertoire, ranging from period performances of the Baroque, through bel canto and grand opera of the late Romantic period to contemporary American works.
In this 2008/2009 season, Mr. Summers begins his second decade as HGO Music Director, in which he will conduct productions of Britten’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, Verdi’s Rigoletto, and a new opera concept entitled Chorus!, encompassing scenes from great choral operas staged and conceived by opera director David Pountney. In April 2009, the world premiere of Andre Previn’s second opera, Brief Encounter takes place.
Elsewhere this season, Mr. Summers returned to the Metropolitan Opera for Puccini’s Madama Butterfly with Patricia Racette, and as a frequent guest to the MET, participated in the MET’s 125th Anniversary Gala (opening night) conducting the final scene from Capriccio featuring Renée Fleming. Following the Gala, he was asked at late notice to conduct his first Salome (featuring Karita Mattila), which he did to great acclaim.
He returns for the third time in February 2009 to conduct the Finals Concert of the MET National Council Competition. In addition, Mr. Summer returns to the San Francisco Opera, with which he has had a two decade association, to lead the SF Opera production of Three Decembers by Jake Heggie (formerly entitled Last Acts) which premiered at the HGO in the 07/08 season, and conducts the Gala concert of the “Adler Fellows”, SF Opera studio program. Rounding out the 08/09 season, he will lead the world premiere of The Letter, by Paul Moravec, starring Patricia Racette, in July/August 2009 at the Santa Fe Opera.
Piano Soloist Yuja Wang
“But the real excitement was the presence of Wang, the 22-year-old Chinese-born virtuoso whose every performance adds to the aura of greatness that surrounds her…Wang combines a practically superhuman keyboard technique with artistic eloquence that is
second to none.” San Francisco Chronicle
Joining Russian National Orchestra is twenty-two year old prodigious pianist Yuja Wang who is widely recognized for playing that combines the spontaneity and fearless imagination of youth with the discipline and precision of a mature artist. Regularly lauded for her controlled, prodigious technique, Yuja’s command of the piano has been described as “astounding” and “superhuman,” and she has been praised for her authority over the most complex technical demands of the repertoire, the depth of her musical insight, as well as her fresh interpretations and graceful, charismatic stage presence. Following her San Francisco recital debut The San Francisco Chronicle wrote “The arrival of Chinese-born pianist Yuja Wang on the musical scene is an exhilarating and unnerving development. To listen to her in action is to re-examine whatever assumptions you may have had about how well the piano can actually be played,” and The Washington Post called Yuja’s Kennedy Center recital debut “jaw-dropping.”
