2015/16 season...sofia gubaidulina is famous for unusually orchestrated compositions encompassing...

1 5 / 1 6 S E A S O N | 1

2015/16

SEASONJOANA CARNEIRO MUSIC DIRECTOR

1 5 / 1 6 S E A S O N | 32 | B E R K E L E Y S Y M P H O N Y

DEAR FRIENDS,

Welcome to our 15/16 season!

One of the things I am most excited about sharing with you next season is the incredible talent of our four young soloists. Though you may not recognize their names now, you will be hearing about these artists for many years to come! Simone Porter, who will perform the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with us on the final concert, just won a coveted Avery Fisher Career Grant in March and she’s only 18 years old! At 21, Conrad Tao is not only a fantastic pianist, but an equally noted violinist and composer. He joins us in February for Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto. And we open our new season with the Canadian soprano Simone Osborne singing Berlioz’ lovely Les nuits d’été. She was one of the youngest-ever winners of the Metropolitan Opera Auditions when she won in 2008 at age 21! Our fourth soloist, Geir Draugsvoll is a stand-out star of his unusual instrument—the bayan, or classical accordion—and it was for him that the great Sofia Gubaidulina wrote the concerto that we are so lucky to be able to perform for you. With Gubaidulina, Kaija Saariaho and Mark Grey, we continue our relationship with great living composers of different generations. We are delighted to be able to co-commission Mark’s Frankenstein Symphony with the wonderful Atlanta Symphony.

Finally, we celebrate once again, the talented musicians of Berkeley Symphony, who will infuse a new exuberance into pieces like Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, Lutosławski's Concerto for Orchestra, Beethoven’s Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus and Ravel's La Valse. Each concert will be an event, I am certain, filled with imagination, talent and great music. I am so thankful for your support and can't wait to share all of these beautiful scores with you!

Warmest regards,

JOANA CARNEIRO MUSIC DIRECTOR

Berkeley Symphony is grateful to its generous supporters and partners in the community

2 0 1 5 / 1 6 S E A S O N S P O N S O R S

Kathleen G. Henschel & John W. Dewes

Brian James & Shariq Yosufzai

Ed Osborn & Marcia Muggli

Tricia Swift

We would like to thank the following organizations for their generous support:

Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation

A.V. Thomas Produce

Berkeley Public Schools Fund

Berkeley Unified School District

Bernard E. and Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation

The Bernard Osher Foundation

California Arts Council

Chevron

City of Berkeley

East Bay Community Foundation

National Endowment for the Arts

U.S. Bank

Wallis Foundation

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

O F F I C I A L W I N E S P O N S O R

M E D I A P A R T N E R S

O F F I C I A L F L O R I S T S P O N S O R


Relive summer nights filled with love, passion and longing by way of Berlioz.

Celebrate the magic of cinema in Saariaho’s tribute to the moving image.

Be swept away by Ravel's climactic frenzy.

Celebrate at the post-concert Opening Night Dinner and make this an

evening to remember! Call 510.841.2800 for details.B E I N V O LV E D !

A B O U T T H E S O L O I S T A B O U T T H E C O M P O S E RSoprano Simone Osborne was one of the youngest-ever

winners of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions

when she won in 2008 at age 21. Born in British Columbia, she

sings with the Canadian Opera Company and has also appeared

with ensembles from around the world, including the New York

City Opera, the Vancouver Symphony, and the Los Angeles

Philharmonic. Marilyn Horne, who Osborne cites as a mentor,

said Osborne is "half athlete and half artist...She understands

that voices need to be brilliant, dark and bright, all at once."

“ …a lyric soprano with outstanding ability and impressive charm.” —OPERA NEWS

Kaija Saariaho is a prominent member of a group of Finnish

composers and performers who are now, in mid-career,

making a worldwide impact. She studied composition in

Helsinki, Freiburg and Paris, where she has lived since 1982.

Her characteristically luxuriant and mysterious textures are often

created by combining live music and electronics. She was

named Musician of the Year 2008 by Musical America for being

"among the few contemporary composers to achieve public

acclaim as well as universal critical respect.”

“ ...quite simply, one of the most original compositional voices of our time.” —THE DENVER POST

PROGRAM I

M A G I C A LJOANA CARNEIRO MUSIC DIRECTOR

W E D N E S DAY • O C TO B E R 1 4 , 2 0 1 5 • 7 P M *

7pm Performance | 9pm Opening Night Dinner

Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley* Please note early start time due to Opening Night Dinner.

B E R L I O ZLES NUITS D’ÉTÉ

Simone Osborne, soprano

S A A R I A H OLATERNA MAGICA

(West Coast Premiere)

R AV E LBOLERO


Sofia Gubaidulina is famous for unusually orchestrated

compositions encompassing themes of mystical spiritualism,

electronic music and heavy percussion. She was born in

Chistopol in the Tatar Republic of the Soviet Union in 1931.

After instruction in piano and composition at the Kazan

Conservatory, she studied composition with Nikolai Peiko at

the Moscow Conservatory, pursuing graduate studies there

under Vissarion Shebalin. Until 1992, she lived in Moscow.

Since then, she has made her primary residence in Germany,

outside Hamburg.

A B O U T T H E S O L O I S TGeir Draugsvoll is considered to be one of the most important

musicians on his instrument, the bayan, or classical accordion.

The last decade, he has caused headlines like “Breaking

Borders”, “Breathtaking”, “Masterful” and “Musical Sensation”.

With a repertoire ranging from Bach, Mozart, Grieg and

Stravinsky to contemporary classics like Gubaidulina, Hosokawa,

Berio, Nørgaard and Piazzolla, he has performed all over

Europe, and also toured China and Japan. Born in 1967,

Mr. Draugsvoll is Norwegian, but now lives in Copenhagen

where he is a professor at the Royal Academy of Music.

“ …it was really the soloist Geir Draugsvoll with his extraordinary instrument who stole the show!” —WWW.SEENAND HEARD-INTERNATIONAL.COM

A recipient of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement in Musicat the Biennale di Venezia

BE INFORMED! Enhance your listening experience by learning about the music you are about

to hear during free Pre-Concert Talks, 7 pm in Zellerbach.

G A B R I E L ICanzon septimi et

octavi toni

Sonata pian e forte

G U BA I D U L I N AFachwerk

Geir Draugsvoll, bayan (U.S. Premiere)

M U S S O R G S K YPictures at an

Exhibition

A B O U T T H E C O M P O S E R

Travel back to the 16th century with Gabrieli’s magnificent works for brass.

Experience Gubaidulina’s staggering array of sounds and textures.

Imagine the paintings transformed through Mussorgsky's sumptuous score.

PROGRAM I I

M Y S T I C A LJOANA CARNEIRO MUSIC DIRECTOR

T H U R S DAY • D E C E M B E R 3 , 2 0 1 5 • 8 P M


Observe the creative process as emerging composers share their work at the

Under Construction/EarShot residency on February 6-7, 2016 at Osher Studio. B E A M A Z E D !

A B O U T T H E S O L O I S T A B O U T T H E C O M P O S E RConrad Tao has appeared worldwide as a pianist and composer,

and has been dubbed a musician of “probing intellect and

open-hearted vision” by The New York Times. In 2011, the White

House Commission on Presidential Scholars and the Department

of Education named him a Presidential Scholar in the Arts, and

the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts awarded

him a YoungArts gold medal in music. That same year, Conrad

was named a Gilmore Young Artist and in 2012, he was awarded

the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant.

“ Ferociously talented...” —THE NEW YORK TIMES Under a pseudonym, he wrote pop tunes that were hits in Poland in the late 1950s and early 1960s!

Witold Lutosławski, who died in 1994 at age 81, was one of

the major European composers of the 20th century, and one of

the preeminent Polish musicians during his last three decades.

His early works were influenced by Polish folk music and his

style demonstrates a wide range of rich atmospheric textures.

He often incorporated his own methods of building harmonies

from small groups of musical intervals and used aleatoric

processes, in which the rhythmic coordination of parts is

subject to an element of chance.

LUTOSŁAWSKIConcerto for Orchestra

BEETHOVENPiano Concerto No. 5

in E-flat major, “Emperor”

Conrad Tao, piano

PROGRAM I I I

M A J E S T I CJOANA CARNEIRO MUSIC DIRECTOR

T H U R S DAY • F E B R UA RY 4 , 2 0 1 6 • 8 P M

Witness the crowning achievement of Lutosławski’s folkloristic period.

Marvel at the imperial scope of Beethoven’s masterful “Emperor” Concerto.


A B O U T T H E S O L O I S TViolinist Simone Porter has been recognized as an emerging

artist of impassioned energy, musical integrity, and vibrant

sound. Her performances have been described as "bold"

(Seattle Times), and "virtuosic" (London Times). Only 18 years

old, she has already appeared with the New York Philharmonic,

the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic,

and with many renowned conductors, including Yannick

Nezet-Seguin, Nicolas McGegan, Ludovic Morlot, and Donald

Runnicles. In March 2015, Simone Porter was named a recipient

of an Avery Fisher Career grant.

“ …blazing technical skills…profound interpretations, matched with tremendous poise and stage presence.” —TIMEOUT-ASPEN

“ …what he is up to has far-reaching implications for the direction that classical music will take this century.” —LOS ANGELES TIMES

Subscribe to all four of these extraordinary programs and save up to 35% off

the cost of single tickets. First-time renewals save 25%.B E C O M M I T T E D !

Revel in this ode to Greek mythology with Beethoven’s nod to Prometheus.

Be the first to experience Mark Grey’s symphony inspired by Mary Shelley’s novel.

Prepare to be dazzled by Tchaikovsky’s “monster” of all violin concertos.

B E E T H OV E NOverture to

The Creatures of Prometheus

M A R K G R E YFrankenstein Symphony

(West Coast premiere)Co-commission with the

Atlanta Symphony

T C H A I KOV S K YViolin Concerto

in D major, Op. 35

Simone Porter, violin

A B O U T T H E C O M P O S E RA sound engineer, originally from San Francisco, Mark Grey

made his Carnegie Hall debut as a composer with the Kronos

Quartet in 2003. His solo, ensemble and orchestral music has

been performed in many venues such as the Sydney Opera

House Concert Hall, Théâtre de la Ville in Paris, Barbican Centre

in London, Het Muziektheater in Amsterdam, Philharmonie Hall

in Warsaw, and UNESCO Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City,

as well as at the Ravinia, Cabrillo, OtherMinds, Perth International,

and Spoleto festivals.

PROGRAM IV

M O N S T R O U SJOANA CARNEIRO MUSIC DIRECTOR

T H U R S DAY • M AY 5 , 2 0 1 6 • 8 P M


B E R K E L E Y S Y M P H O N Y & F R I E N D S CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES

U N D E R C O N S T R U C T I O N NEW MUSIC PROGRAM

in partnership with

Berkeley Symphony’s 2016 Under Construction New Music Program will present new

symphonic works by emerging composers from across the country. Selected for the program

following a highly competitive national search, the composers each create a symphonic work

to be developed, polished and recorded during a two-day residency at Osher Studio in Berkeley,

while receiving on-going guidance from Music Director Joana Carneiro, mentor composers,

and members of the Orchestra. The public is invited to view the creative process during two

informal readings on February 6 and 7 at 3pm.

2016 marks the third year of a new partnership between Berkeley Symphony and EarShot:

the National Orchestral Composition Discovery Network, and its partner organizations—

the American Composers Forum, League of American Orchestras, New Music USA and the

American Composers Orchestra. The collaboration enables Berkeley Symphony to expand its role

as a West Coast artistic incubator for emerging orchestra composers and to broaden its reach.

Established in 1993, the Under Construction New Music Program seeks to engage audiences in

contemporary music and its creation. An open dialogue between the composers, the conductor,

the musicians and audience members is encouraged. That interchange of ideas affords the

audience a greater understanding of the creative process, the composers and their work.

Tickets: $10

Funding for EarShot is made possible with the support of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Aaron

Copland Fund for Music and with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional funding

provided by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

Inaugurated in 2013 and curated by Executive Director and violinist René Mandel, Berkeley

Symphony & Friends is a series of chamber music concerts performed at the Piedmont Center

for the Arts. Each program features musicians from Berkeley Symphony joined by special guest

artists. The intimate space allows audiences to experience the music up close and personal,

the way that chamber music is meant to be heard.

Four concerts will be presented this season on four Sundays at 5pm.

Sunday, September 20, 2015 Sunday, February 21, 2016

Sunday, November 15, 2015 Sunday, April 10, 2016

Artists to perform during the 2015/16 season include:

Gianna Abondolo, cello

Peter Asimov, piano

Stuart Canin, violin

Eric Gaenslen, cello

Miles Graber, piano

Markus Pawlik, piano

Janet Guggenheim, piano

Jiwon Evelyn Kwark, violin

René Mandel, violin

Ilana Matfis, viola

Emanuela Nikiforova, violin

Karsten Windt, violin

Peter Wyrick, cello

Tickets: $25

Berkeley Symphony & Friends is a co-production of Berkeley Symphony and the

Piedmont Center for the Arts.All dates and artists subject to change.


M U S I C I N T H E S C H O O L SMING LUKE, EDUCATION DIRECTOR & CONDUCTOR

More than 4,600 schoolchildren benefit each

year from Berkeley Symphony’s Music in the

Schools program:

• Over 200 In-class Sessions led by Berkeley

Symphony musicians are provided free of

charge and include curriculum booklets with

age-appropriate lessons addressing state

standards for music education.

• Over 100 Ensemble Coaching Sessions

in area middle schools.

• Eleven Meet the Symphony concerts are

performed free of charge in elementary

schools each fall.

• Six I’m a Performer concerts, also free of

charge, provide young musicians with an

opportunity to rehearse and perform with

Berkeley Symphony.

• Four free Family Concerts provide an

opportunity for the whole family to

experience a Berkeley Symphony

concert together.

• All Music in the Schools programming is

provided 100% free of charge for children

and their families.

FAMILY CONCERTS

Saturday, November 14, 10am & 11:30am

Saturday, April 23, 10am & 11:30am

“Meet the Symphony” on November 14,

introduces children of all ages to the various

families of instruments in an orchestra.

Presented in an entertaining and interactive

manner, these concerts engage even the

youngest audience members.

“I’m a Performer” on April 23, invites audience

members young and old to bring their own

instruments and join the Orchestra on stage.

Seated beside and among the Berkeley

Symphony musicians, children have the

opportunity to be part of an orchestra.

Ticket sales cover only a portion of concert expenses. And our Music in the Schools program—

offered free of charge to thousands of children each year—is entirely Membership driven!

Your Membership makes Berkeley Symphony thrive, and provides many opportunities to make the

most of your concert-going experience. Consider adding a Membership to your subscription—

or increase your level of Membership in support of the 2015/16 season.

FRIENDS CIRCLE OF MEMBERS

Supporting Members: $100+

• Advance e-newsletter notice of discounts

and special events.

• Listing in season concert programs.

Associate Members: $300+

(All of the above plus…)

• Invitation for two to an exclusive reception

and open rehearsal of the orchestra.

Principal Members: $750+


• Invitation to select special events including post-concert receptions with Music Director

Joana Carneiro, musicians, soloists, and/or

visiting composers.

SYMPHONY CIRCLE OF MEMBERS

Concertmaster: $1,500+


• Invitations to two exclusive Symphony Circle

Salon Receptions hosted by Music Director

Joana Carneiro.

• Two free concert guest passes.

Conductor: $2,500+


• Invitations to all exclusive Symphony Circle

Salon Receptions hosted by Joana Carneiro.

• Invitation to an exclusive Musicians’ Dinner

and “closed” rehearsal for you and guests.

SPONSORSHIP CIRCLE OF MEMBERS

Founding Sponsors: $5,000 +


• VIP access to Berkeley Symphony intermission

Sponsors’ Lounge at Zellerbach Hall.

• A total of four or more concert guest passes.

• Recognition as Sponsor of a season concert,

guest soloist, or commissioned composer;

orchestra section chair; or the Under

Construction or Music in the Schools programs.

• Special “Sponsorship Dinner” opportunities

with Music Director Joana Carneiro.

B E C O M E A “ M E M B E R ” O F B E R K E L E Y S Y M P H O N Y


Please use this form to order a new subscription, renew your current subscription, or to order

‘add-on’ tickets. Subscribers are entitled to ‘add-on’ tickets at 10% off the single ticket price. Be sure

to indicate the quantity (Qty) of subscriptions and tickets that you are purchasing. Thank you.

PATRON INFORMATIONNA ME

ADDRESS

CIT Y S TATE ZIP

PHONE EM AIL

SUBSCRIPTIONS

I am a first-time subscriber purchasing an Introductory Subscription at 30% off.

I am renewing my subscription for the first time at 20% off.

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4-CONCERT SUBSCRIPTIONSSUBSCRIPTION

PRICESA QTY B QTY C QTY D QTY E QTY TOTAL

FIRST-TIME SUBSCRIPTION $207 $190 $134 $78 $42

FIRST-TIME RENEWAL $237 $218 $154 $90 $48

REGULAR RENEWAL $266 $245 $173 $101 $54

SUBSCRIBER ‘ADD-ON’ TICKETS

PROGRAM I $67 $61 $43 $25 $14

PROGRAM II $67 $61 $43 $25 $14

PROGRAM III $67 $61 $43 $25 $14

PROGRAM IV $67 $61 $43 $25 $14

ADDITIONAL PACKAGES QTY TOTAL

Buy all 4 Berkeley Symphony & Friends concerts ($100 per person)

Buy tickets for both Under Construction readings ($20 per person)

ORDER FEES AND DONATIONS

Add a MEMBERSHIP! (See page 15. All donations are tax-deductible)

Handling fee $10

TOTAL DUE

AS A FIRST-TIME SUBSCRIBER, YOU CAN SAVE 30%!

Did you know that by subscribing to all

four concerts, you can save 30% off the

price of your tickets? Plus, as a subscriber,

you receive:

• A 10% discount off additional ‘add-on’ tickets

to performances of your choice

• Quarterly e-newsletters

• Free and flexible ticket exchanges

• Free lost ticket replacements

• The opportunity to enroll in our flexible

payment plan

Not sure you can make all four dates? Concert

tickets make wonderful gifts for friends and

colleagues or you can always donate your

unused tickets for someone else to enjoy.

FIRST TIME RENEWALS SAVE 20%

ALL OTHER SUBSCRIBERS SAVE 10% WHEN YOU RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTION.

Current subscribers have until July 1 to renew

and ensure that you will have the same seat(s)

as last season or request a seating upgrade.

Single tickets go on sale July 1, 2015.

ENJOY THE SYMPHONY WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Why not plan an evening out with friends?

Groups of 6 or more receive a 20% discount

off the single ticket price.

STUDENT RUSH TICKETS FOR ONLY $7!

Full-time students with a valid student ID can

purchase $7 Rush tickets at the Zellerbach Box

Office the night of the performance. One ticket

per student.

2015/16 PRICING Save 30% Save 20% Save 10% Full Price

LOCATION FIRST-TIME SUBSCRIPTION

FIRST-TIME RENEWAL

REGULAR RENEWAL

SINGLE TICKET

PREMIUM (A) $207 $237 $266 $74

B $190 $218 $245 $68

C $134 $154 $173 $48

D $78 $90 $101 $28

E $42 $48 $54 $15

S U B S C R I B E N O W A N D S A V E !

ORCHESTRA

STAGE

BALCONY

MEZZANINE

WHEELCHAIR SEAT

Take advantage of this early opportunity to buy tickets to Berkeley

Symphony & Friends chamber concerts and Under Construction!NEW THIS SEASON!

2 0 1 5 / 1 6 S U B S C R I P T I O N O R D E R F O R M


PHOTO CREDITS: Joana Carneiro (front cover & page 3)/Rodrigo de Souza; (page 11 & back cover)/Dave Weiland; Musicians’ photos, Under

Construction, Berkeley Symphony & Friends, Music in the Schools/Dave Weiland; Become a Member/Rico Mandel; Simone Osborne/Bo Huang;

Kaija Saariaho/Priska Ketterer; Sofia Gubaidulina/F. Hoffman-La Roche Ltd.; Conrad Tao/Brantly Gutierrez; Simone Porter/Jeff Fasano.

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T H E 2 0 1 5 / 1 6 C A L E N D A RP A Y M E N T O P T I O N S

All programs and dates subject to change.

SEATING PREFERENCE

Please indicate your preferred seating location

on the diagram.

COMPLETE YOUR ORDER

• B Y M A I L : Send your completed order form to: Berkeley Symphony, 1942 University Avenue,

Suite #207, Berkeley, CA 94704

• B Y FA X : Send both sides of this order form to: 510.841.5422

• I N P E R S O N : Bring this form to the Berkeley Symphony offices at 1942 University Avenue,

Suite #207 in Berkeley, Monday – Friday,

10am – 5pm

NOTE: Subscriptions and ticket orders can

also be placed

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If ADA seating is required, please specify what

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CHAMBER MUSIC 1Berkeley Symphony & FriendsPiedmont Center for the Arts

SEPT20

S U N DAY

PROGRAM I I : MYSTICALGabrieli | Gubaidulina | MussorgskyZellerbach Hall

FAMILY CONCERT 1“Meet the Symphony”Malcolm X Elementary School

NOV14

S AT U R DAY

PROGRAM I I I : MAJESTICLutosławski | BeethovenZellerbach Hall

FEB4

T H U R S DAY

PROGRAM I : MAGICALBerlioz | Saariaho | RavelZellerbach Hall

OCT14

W E D N E S DAY


NOV15

S U N DAY


FEB21

S U N DAY

FAMILY CONCERT 2“I’m a Performer”Malcolm X Elementary School

PROGRAM IV: MONSTROUSBeethoven | Mark Grey | TchaikovskyZellerbach Hall

APR23

S AT U R DAY

MAY5

T H U R S DAY


APR10

S U N DAY

UNDER CONSTRUCTIONEarShot Residency and ReadingsOsher Studio

FEB6-7

S AT- S U N

DEC3

T H U R S DAY

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STAGE

BALCONY

MEZZANINE

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2015/16 season...sofia gubaidulina is famous for unusually orchestrated compositions encompassing...

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