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53rd Season Opens to Sold-Out Crowd, Accolades, and a Champagne Reception
La Jolla, Calif. (November 7, 2007) — The La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (LJS&C) and new Music Director Steven Schick kicked off the season with a sold-out opening-night performance on Saturday, November 3, featuring the American premiere of Philip Glass's Cello Concerto with cellist Wendy Sutter, John Luther Adams' The Light that Fills the World, and Beethoven's Fourth Symphony.
Philip Glass attended the premiere, hearing for the first time a live performance of his concerto. After the concert, 125 guests gathered at the UCSD Faculty Club for a private reception celebrating Steven Schick's debut as music director and orchestra conductor, and in honor of special guests Philip Glass and Wendy Sutter. In attendance were Supervisor Pam Slater-Price and her husband Hershell Price, Del Mar Deputy Mayor David Druker and his wife Kristen, Gary Margolis of the City of San Diego's Commission for Arts and Culture, and Felicia Shaw from San Diego Foundation. Composer and UCSD music faculty member Roger Reynolds was on hand as was Rand Steiger, music department chair.
The season also celebrates LJS&C's 40th year on the UCSD campus as an affiliated organization – an occasion marked by the attendance of the organizations' three music directors from that 40-year period: Tom Nee (1967-1998), now music director emeritus, Harvey Sollberger (1998-2005) and Steven Schick. Choral Director David Chase joined the festivities, celebrating the beginning of his 34th season with the ensemble. The reception was underwritten by Ida Houby and Bill Miller.
Reception Photos
 Supervisor Pam Slater-Price with husband Hershell Price |
 (l. to r) LJS&C Board Vice President Liza Perkins-Cohen, Gary Margolis, and Felicia Shaw |
 (l. to r.) Choral Director David Chase, Music Director Emeritus Tom Nee, former Music Director Harvey Sollberger, and new Music Director Steven Schick. |
 (l. to r.) Steven Schick, Philip Glass, Wendy Sutter |
Reviews
San Diego Union Tribune
"Symphony scores with U.S. debut of Glass' work" — San Diego Union-Tribune (Nov. 5, 2007)
"[Schick] has plenty of potential and has clearly developed a rapport with the orchestra." — Valerie Scher, classical music critic (Nov. 5, 2007)
"They were at their best in Glass' concerto... Saturday's 36-minute-long performance with [Wendy] Sutter was an admirable showcase for the work." — Valerie Scher, classical music critic (Nov. 5, 2007)
Los Angeles Times
"[The orchestra's] influence seems likely to grow under Schick, given his commitment to new work." — Mark Swed (Nov. 6, 2007)
"[Cellist Wendy Sutter] is not wimpy. Neither was the gripping sound Schick's orchestra made... The finale is hard-driving [Philip] Glass, and so it propulsively was here." — Mark Swed (Nov. 6, 2007)
SanDiego.com
"Schick's conducting was full of generous and clear detail, a consistent urging to clean and energetic rhythms that gave each movement compelling shape." — Kenneth Herman (Nov. 5, 2007)
"...the overall sound of this orchestra is winning...and the conviction of the players is palpable." — Kenneth Herman (Nov. 5, 2007)
"Steven Schick, contemporary percussion guru and organizer of international new music festivals, began his new assignment as Music Director of the La Jolla Symphony with a sizzling inaugural concert this weekend." — Kenneth Herman (Nov. 5, 2007)
"...Schick has been around the new music block enough times to know what is merely novel or formulaic and what grabs an audience's attention and keeps it like an attacking pit bull." – Kenneth Herman (Nov. 5, 2007)
La Jolla Village News
"What the audience heard Saturday night at Mandeville was immensely pleasing to [Philip] Glass, who gave the American premiere to cellist Wendy Sutter, who in turn chose to play it with La Jolla Symphony under the baton of Steven Schick." – Charlene Baldridge (Nov. 8, 2007)
"...Schick and the orchestra...worked diligently and well." – Charlene Baldridge (Nov. 8, 2007)
"Expect much from this sensitive and charismatic conductor and his fine, recently acquired community orchestra..., now in its 53rd season." – Charlene Baldridge (Nov. 8, 2007)
