Symphony announces 2007-08 plans, Classics move to Fox and Headliner SuperPops

Apr 5, 2007

For Immediate Release

Contact: Annie Matlow 326-3136

Spokane— Spokane Symphony Music Director Eckart Preu today announced one of the most exciting seasons in the organization's 62-year history. At the top of the list is the Symphony's Classics series move to the fabulously transformed Fox Theater in December 2007 with Saturday night and Sunday afternoon concerts.

Other major changes this year include a shift in the SuperPops series to allow the addition of more expensive Headliner acts and at the same time to allow subscribers the opportunity to choose only one of the Headliner concerts to reduce the cost of the series. The Casual Classics concerts will move from Saturday night and Sunday afternoons at the Bing Crosby Theater to Friday night at the Fox.

Because of the construction schedule at the Fox, the first two Classics concerts will be in the INB Performing Arts Center. Famed Canadian pianist Louis Lortie will open the season with two Ravel piano concerts (Sept. 14). The Spokane Symphony Chorale will join the orchestra to present Verdi's Requiem on Oct. 19.

Following a grand opening celebration in November (details to be released later), pianist Cecile Licad will join the Symphony to present the first series concert in the Fox (Dec. 1-2) featuring pianist Cecile Licad playing the Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 along with Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. Percussionist Maria Flurry will play Tan Dun's Water Concerto which will be coupled with Brahms' Symphony No. 4(Jan. 12-13). Former Music Director Fabio Mechetti will fulfill his dream of conducting the orchestra in the Fox with Mozart's Symphony No. 36 and the Shostakovich Symphony. No.5 (Jan. 26-27). Popular cellist Alban Gerhardt will return to play the Elgar Cello Concerto as part of a program of English composers (Feb. 9-10). Christina Jennings will play the Rouse Flute Concerto with the Dvorak Symphony No. 7, both under the direction of Associate Conductor Morihiko Nakahara (March 1-2). Pianist Alexandre Moutouzkine and the Spokane Symphony Chorale will present Scriabin's Piano Concerto and Ravel's Daphnis and Chloe (March 15-16). Acclaimed violinist Anne Akiko Meyers will play the Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 1 with Sibelius Concerto No. 5 (April 5-6). An all-orchestral concert featuring music about features works by Wagner, Tchaikovsky and Schumann wraps up the season on May 3 and 4. Music Director Eckart Preu will conduct all the Classics concerts except the two by Mechetti and Nakahara.

A poll of SuperPops subscribers showed that they wanted bigger name entertainment and that they wanted some flexibility. As a result the Symphony created a 2007-08 line-up of exciting concerts—a series headlined by Tony-award-winning actress, singer and comedienne Bernadette Peters. Another concert is headlined by the stars of a fantastic PBS special and sold-out shows across the country—Three Mo' Tenors perform with a rhythmic blend of jazz, soul and classical music. This dynamite series also includes Pancho Sanchez, leader of the most popular Latin jazz group in the world today, electrifying Celtic fiddler Eileen Ivers, Broadway masterpieces by Leonard Bernstein and an extraordinary Holiday Pops celebration in the Fox Theater starring Five by Design. Subscribers can choose all six concert experiences including both headliners. Or they may choose just one of the headliners to create a series package with a ticket price less than the 2006-07 season tickets. Music Director Eckart Preu will conduct the Bernadette Peters concert and Associate Conductor Morihiko Nakahara will conduct all the others. SuperPops concerts will be in the INB Performing Arts Center, except three performances of the Holiday Pops that will be held in the Fox Theater.

Casual Classics, where the musicians leave their tuxes at home and the conductor informally tells the stories that make the music come alive, will move to Friday night at the Fox. This schedule gives a Friday night option for concertgoers. Joshua Romans, the exciting young principal cellist for the Seattle Symphony will be the featured soloist in the first Casual Classics concert in the Fox on Dec. 14. He will play Kabalevsky's Concerto No. 1 coupled with Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 under the direction of Eckart Preu. Morihiko Nakahara and new Concertmaster Mateusz Wolski will join forces to present the Wieniawski Concerto for Violin No. 2 and Haydn's Symphony No, 82 (Feb. 15). Eckart Preu will return to Casual Classics with the Symphony Chorale to present motets by Schuetz, along with selections by C.P.E. Bach and Mozart (April 25).

Chamber Soirees in the Marie Antoinette Room have sold out for the last four years. The tradition of exciting chamber music in an up close and personal atmosphere continues with contemporary music interwoven with music of the Masters. Tables for four with wine, fruit and cheese make this a very special musical experience. The Tuesday and Wednesday evening concerts are scheduled for Oct. 23-24; Jan 15-16, and March 25-26.

Symphony on the Edge a cutting edge concert in a unique location proved to be a huge success since it was introduced in 2004. The rock-music atmosphere at the Big Easy Concert Hall, a popular night club, combined with lighting, video close-ups of the conductor and the orchestra created a new and exciting venue for the Symphony. This year there are two concerts, Oct. 5 and April 18, and are being offered as a series. Purchase of the two concert package ensures a ticket at this wildly popular concert.

The Nutcracker dates are Dec. 7, 8, and 9. The Spokane Symphony and the Alberta Ballet combine artistic forces to bring the holiday spectacular. Buy early and receive up to 20% off on all adult tickets purchased before Aug. 1.

The Spokane Symphony has been playing great music in the Inland Northwest for 62 years. As a key regional arts and cultural attraction, the Symphony provides fine entertainment in 60 different concerts to more than 150,000 listeners annually -- in venues as diverse as neighborhood parks, the Davenport Hotel, places of worship, area colleges, and the Spokane Opera House. This year will be the first season in the newly transformed art deco Fox Theater. A season ticket to one of the Spokane Symphony's outstanding series provides the best entertainment value in the region. Season tickets are available for each series.

For a Season Brochure or more information call 624-1200, or visit www.spokanesymphony.org.