I’d like to invite you to the Ithaca College Chamber Orchestra’s final concert of the 2014-15 season. It is a first of its kind collaboration between the Ithaca College Chamber Orchestra, several schools at Ithaca College, a brilliant collection of renowned guest artists, faculty soloists and notable alumni. It should prove to be a very unique and enjoyable evening. There will be two opportunities to see the concert in Ford Hall.
Open Dress Rehearsal
Monday, April 20th, 2015 9:00 PM
Concert
Tuesday, April 21st, 2015 8:15 PM
The running time of the entire event is about an hour.
From the program notes:
During tonight’s program the members of Ithaca College Chamber Orchestra will perform a choreographed concert featuring 20th century composers—without pause—intertwined with theatrical images and virtual environments projected on the walls and ceiling of the hall, as well as on the performers themselves who will be wearing white to aid in the visual effect.
“The concept of this concert explores new territory through the unique combination of musical, visual and theatrical elements,” said Jeffery Meyer, Ithaca College Director of Orchestras. “The first Bach cello suite, performed by Elizabeth Simkin, will weave together diverse musical selections by American composers from the 20th century, including Charles Ives, John Adams, and George Antheil.” The concert will also feature pianist Jennifer Hayghe and behind the scenes, Aaron Porter, a New York City based lighting designer and assistant lighting designer. He is a 2012 graduate of Ithaca College.
Spearheading the program and leading the ensemble into new performance territory are the internationally acclaimed German conductor and composer Andreas Delfs and the renowned visual stage designer Jerome Sirlin. Delfs, Conductor Laureate of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, is known for his imaginative programming and has held chief artistic posts with several orchestras both in North America and Europe. Speaking about the innovative elements of the evening, Delfs stated, "I would like to stress the experimental character of the evening, emphasizing our belief that there is not enough creative energy invested in challenging the standard patterns of classical music presentation.” Similarly, Sirlin has collaborated on productions with Philip Glass, Allen Ginsberg and Lou Reed, among many others. Known for “bridging the gap between theatre and film," he specializes in visual design for musical theater, opera and multimedia installations.
Sirlin and Delfs have been dreaming of this type of production for some time. The ideal avenue for this creative energy was found several years ago, when Delfs, Sirlin, and Meyer began to envision bringing this theatrical experience to the orchestral musicians at Ithaca College. Several Schools within Ithaca College quickly joined forces with the School of Music to enable the complex and extensive production process that makes this evening possible.
The evening begins and ends with Bach, arguably the foundation of much of what we today call classical music. And just as soon as the Prelude is finished, the existential question posed by Ives is heard, seamlessly emerging from the Bach. The audience is taken on a journey, returning again and again to the profundity of Bach’s masterpiece after experiencing some of the wide spectrum of American works from the last century. Ives’ question returns and is answered (?) by the final movement of the Bach Suite.
Classical music and the education of young musicians is changing by the minute. Ithaca College strives to be on the forefront of this innovative time in history. The School of Music presents this exciting evening in collaboration with many Ithaca College partners, including the Department of Theatre Arts, the Roy H. Park School of Communications and the School of Humanities and Sciences. Special thanks to Karl Paulnack, Dean, School of Music, Diane Gayeski, Dean, Roy H. Park School of Communications, and Steve TenEyck, Associate Professor and Associate Chair, Department of Theatre Arts for their strong support of this project. Thank you also to Christy Agnese, School Operations & External Relations Officer, Erik Kibelsbeck, Manager of Concerts, Facilities and Educational Outreach Programs, Cass Barbour-March, Broadcast & Classroom Technology Specialist, and Jenny Stockdale, Marketing Communications Manager for going above and beyond in making this event come to life.
The program is as follows:
Bach: Cello Suite No. 1 Prelude
Charles Ives: The Unanswered Question
Bach: Cello Suite Allemande
John Adams: Son of Chamber Symphony (2nd movement)
Bach: Cello Suite Courante
George Antheil: A Jazz Symphony
Bach: Cello Suite Sarabande
Aaron Kernis: Musica Celestis
Bach: Cello Suite Menuet I&II
Charles Ives: The Unanswered Question (reprise)
Bach: Cello Suite Gigue
