The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Presents 'The World of Prokofiev'

    KALAMAZOO, MI, December 23, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- For the second concert of the 2014-2015 The World Of series, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra presents The World Of Prokofiev. Born in 1891, Sergei Prokofiev is one of the most original voices of twentieth-century music. Known to spend up to fourteen hours per day composing, he left behind an incredible body of work when he died in 1953. The program features some of Prokofiev's finest musical gifts - beauty, lyricism and humor.

"I plan to have a great time presenting 'The World of Prokofiev' to our audiences on January 18th," states Music Director, Raymond Harvey. "His music is so rich and rhythmic. Our concert includes his nod to Baroque music in 'A Classical Symphony,' as well as the haunting atmosphere of the "Second Violin Concerto," featuring our concertmaster Susie Park. As usual, I'll present Prokofiev's life not only through music, but also with images and a bit of history. You'll get to experience the total man."

The World Of Prokofiev opens with the composer's American Overture, formerly known as Overture in B flat. Composed in 1926, Prokofiev was commissioned to create the work for the opening of a new concert hall in New York. The piece is largely playful, with a rather unusual scoring of instruments - two pianos, two harps, a celesta, five woodwinds, two trumpets, a trombone, three double basses, and several percussion instruments played by a single musician.

The next two works on the program were written during a time in the composer's career devoted to "new simplicity." In this period, Prokofiev committed himself to uncomplicated, direct expression through his music. The third movement of Prokofiev's first work for string quartet, String Quartet No. 1 in B minor, Op, 50, was commissioned by the Library of Congress and is mostly solemn in theme. The piece that follows, however, is chiefly playful throughout. Summer Day: Children's Suite for Small Orchestra, Op. 65 began as a collection of twelve simple piano pieces written to appeal to children. Seven of the pieces were compiled to create Summer Day.

Prokofiev composed his Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63 while on an extended concert tour throughout Europe and the Soviet Union, coming to life during visits to locations like Russia, Azerbaijan and Madrid. Allegro moderato, the first movement that will be heard in this program, features a simple and graceful violin theme written while on tour in Paris.

The World Of Prokofiev closes with a performance of the composer's first symphony. The four-movement, fifteen minute Classical Symphony, Op. 25 pays homage to the Classical period form while also incorporating Prokofiev's own unique style. Though labeled an enfant terrible in his early years, Prokofiev composed a symphony that was graciously received by initial audiences and remains his most popular work to this day.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Raymond Harvey
With an immediately noticeable style that has been described as "elegant, but suffused with energy," Raymond Harvey (conductor) has garnered critical acclaim on symphonic podiums throughout the United States. Maestro Raymond Harvey has served as Music Director of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, and recently renewed his commitment to the KSO for an additional four years. Mr. Harvey was previously Music Director of the Springfield Symphony in Massachusetts and the Fresno Philharmonic in California.

Equally at home in the world of opera, Mr. Harvey served as Artistic Director of the El Paso Opera in Texas. Among the many productions he has conducted are Carmen, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, La Boheme, Turandot, Aida, La Traviata, The Tales of Hoffman, The Marriage of Figaro, and Cosi Fan Tutte.

Recognized as an outstanding pianist, choral conductor and teacher, Raymond Harvey holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree from Oberlin Conservatory of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Yale School of Music. He has been a frequent guest teacher for the Conductors Institute at Bard College, and for the American Symphony Orchestra League's Conducting Workshops. He also serves as adjunct faculty conductor with the University of Houston's opera department.

Susie Park, Violin
Hailed as "prodigiously talented" (Washington Post) and praised for her "freedom, mastery and fantasy" (La Libre, Belgium), Australian Susie Park has gained worldwide recognition for her searing emotive range and dynamic stage presence. Concertizing around the world, she has appeared as soloist with the Vienna Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Memphis Symphony, Orchestra of St. Luke's, major Australian orchestras including those of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Tasmania, West Australia and Canberra, Korea's KBS orchestra, the Lille National Orchestra under the direction of Yehudi Menuhin in France and the Wellington Sinfonia, New Zealand.

Among her numerous awards and honors, Miss Park won top prizes at the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis and the Wieniawski Competition (Poland), and was winner of the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition (France), resulting in performances and re-engagements throughout the US and Europe. She won the Richard Goldner Concerto Competition and the Ernest Llewellyn String Award, took top prize in the National String Division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Young Performer's Award and her performance with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra was televised nationally, earning her the Victorian Premier's Award.

A passionate chamber musician, Miss Park was the violinist of the Eroica Trio from 2006 to 2012. Highlights include releasing the Trio's Grammy -nominated eighth CD for EMI featuring all-American music, "An American Journey", and embarking on international tours in countries including New Zealand, Brazil and Denmark, Germany with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the US with Vienna Symphony Orchestra in venues including New York's Avery Fisher Hall and Chicago's Millennium Park. Miss Park's interest in music of all genres has led to collaborations with various artists including jazz trumpeter Chris Botti, with whom she performed forty-one consecutive shows at the Blue Note Jazz club in New York.

Miss Park earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the Curtis Institute of Music and an Artist Diploma at the New England Conservatory. Miss Park served as Concertmaster of the Curtis Symphony and the New York String Orchestra in Carnegie Hall.

CALENDAR LISTING

Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra presents

The World Of Series
The World of Prokofiev

Raymond Harvey, conductor
Susie Park, violin

Born in 1891, Sergei Prokofiev is one of the most original voices of twentieth-century music. Known to spend up to fourteen hours per day composing, he left behind an incredible body of work when he died in 1953. The program features some of Prokofiev's finest musical gifts - beauty, lyricism and humor.

Sunday, January 18, 2015
Dalton Recital Hall, WMU

Tickets: $30

For tickets, visit www.kalamazoosymphony.com or call the Miller Auditorium Ticket Office at (269) 387-2300.

Visit www.kalamazoosymphony.com for up-to-date information, details and schedules. Prices, artists, dates, time and program are subject to change without notice.

The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra receives major support from the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra also receives generous support from other local, state and national foundations, as well as private and corporate support. For more information, visit www.kalamazoosymphony.com.

About the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1921, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra is Southwest Michigan's premier musical organization, providing musical enrichment to over 80,000 adults and youth per year. The third-largest professional orchestra in the state, the KSO has won numerous awards and grants, including the Met Life Award for Arts Access in Underserved Communities, the National Endowment for the Arts for its extensive education programs, and a major Ford Foundation grant to found its innovative Artist-in-Residence program.

# # #