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LJS&C Press Releases
Music Director Debuts with American Premiere of Philip Glass "Cello Concerto"
La Jolla, Calif. (October 1, 2007) — The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (LJS&C) and new Music Director Steven Schick kick off an outstanding season that showcases living composers and includes some of the best symphonic repertoire throughout history. The season opens on November 3–4 with the American premiere of Philip Glass's Cello Concerto, featuring cellist Wendy Sutter. The Academy Award-nominated composer will attend the premiere as part of his 70th birthday year of celebration. The program begins with the luminous music of Alaskan composer John Luther Adams in The Light that Fills the World. Beethoven's Fourth Symphony, which completes the Beethoven cycle for the LJS&C, concludes the concert.
Philip Glass's Concerto for Cello and orchestra is regarded as a classical masterpiece fully displaying the expertise of both composer and performer.
"Philip Glass's music is both colorful and cutting-edge without ceasing to be melodious and romantic. You can really hear his roots in opera. Every instrument sings!" says Schick.
The concerto was commissioned by William and Rebecca Krueger for cellist Julian Lloyd Webber's 50th birthday and premiered in Beijing in 2001 with the China Philharmonic Orchestra. Glass selected American cellist Wendy Sutter to perform the American premiere of the piece, and she, in turn, invited La Jolla Symphony to perform it with her. Sutter first performed with La Jolla Symphony under Maestro Schick's baton in 2006 with Tan Dun's Concerto for Crouching Tiger. One of New York's most active and versatile cellists, she performs regularly across a wide spectrum of music and arts, from Mostly Mozart to Lincoln Center to Bang on a Can. Equally versed in the classics and the music of our time, she has worked closely with such composers as Don Byron, John Cage, Elliot Carter, Meredith Monk, and Tan Dun. John Luther Adams's works for the past two decades have been influenced by the vastness of Alaska, where he resides. His music explores natural phenomena from the songs of birds to the complex nature of chaos, fractal geometry, and elemental noise. Adams has released 11 recordings and has worked with many prominent performers. He has taught at the University of Alaska, Bennington College, and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and written works for percussion ensembles, Alaska Native voices, orchestral residencies, and sound and light installations.
The performances take place November 3–4, 2007 in Mandeville Auditorium at UCSD. Concert times are 8:00 p.m. on Saturday and 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. Individual tickets are $36 general, $32 senior, and $18 student. Group discounts are available. Parking is free. A pre-concert lecture is offered one hour prior to concert times by noted program annotator Eric Bromberger. To purchase tickets or a season subscription, or for more information, call the LJS&C office at (858) 534-4637 or visit www.lajollasymphony.com.
The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus, San Diego's oldest and largest community orchestra and chorus, is a non-profit musical performing group dedicated to inspiring San Diego with the joy of music. Its 110-person orchestra and 130-person chorus perform groundbreaking orchestral and choral music along with traditional favorites from the classical repertoire. During the 53rd season, maestro Steven Schick shares the podium with David Chase, LJS&C choral director, performing works by Dvorák, Berlioz, Stravinsky, Varése, Marshall, Adams, and more.
Photos (l. to r.): Philip Glass, Wendy Sutter, Steven Schick
