F R O M T H E S Y M P H O N YNOTES

volume 2 | issue 7 January 2018

Inside WVIK/QCSO Signature Series III: Contrasts | Membership Has Its Privileges! | Postcards from Venice Offers Merriment & Romances | 2018 QCSYEs Concerto Competition Winners

NOTESF R O M T H E S Y M P H O N Y

We kick off the second half of our 2017-18 season this weekend with Signature Series III: Contrasts. This invigorating afternoon of chamber music features QCSO principal clarinetist Daniel Won, QCSO Concertmaster Naha Greenholtz, and Grammy-nominated pianist Marta Aznavoorian. This captivating program of 20th- and 21st-century works is made even more intimate by sitting right on the stage of Centennial Hall with the performers just feet away! Next weekend we continue our Masterworks series of Musical Postcards with the beloved city of Venice. This delightful collection of shorter works will transport you right into the energetic and celebratory Venetian Carnival, while showing off the vast talents of five of the QCSO’s own musicians. There’s still time to enjoy this concert and the rest of the Masterworks season for less by subscribing as Trio. Enjoy all three remaining Masterworks performances for as low as $35, which is a 15% savings over single ticket prices. With Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day approaching quickly, a subscription or single tickets would make a wonderful gift. There are still fantastic seats available for our gala event, An Evening with Joshua Bell. We will be announcing additional information about our special Afterglow reception soon! Share in the gift of music and the experience of hearing a world-class violinist right here in the Quad Cities.

Caitlin BishopDirector of Marketing

Caitlin BishopDirector of Marketing

WELCOME

Photo Credits: Nicolas Propes (p. 1, 3, 8-13)

CONTENTSvolume 2 | issue 7

January 2018

04WVIK/QCSO Signature Series III: ContrastsJoin us on January 28th for an afternoon of chamber music featuring clarinet, violin, and piano.

05Membership Has Its PrivilegesSubscribe as a Trio and enjoy the rest of the season for less!

06Postcards from VeniceMasterworks IV offers merriment & Romance with a collection of works inspired by the floating city.

102018 QCSYEs Concerto Competition WinnersOn January 7th, thirteen talented Youth Symphony Orchestra members auditioned for two Concerto Competition prizes.

NOTES 03

U P C O M I N G P E R F O R M A N C E S

WVIK/QCSO SIGNATURE SERIES

CONTRASTSBy Daniel Won

It was an honor when Notes from the Symphony asked me to share my reflections on Quad City Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming Signature Series concert entitled, Contrasts. As the title suggests, the program consists of five very contrasting pieces by some of the most prominent composers of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. It includes three strikingly different works for piano-violin-clarinet trio, as well as two pieces for piano-clarinet duo that are distinct in style. Our concertmaster, Naha Greenholtz, and I will be joined by pianist, Marta Aznavoorian, of the Grammy-nominated ensemble, the Lincoln Trio.

When Naha and I began discussing the repertoire for this concert, we knew immediately that we wanted to include in the program Béla Bartók’s Contrasts, which many consider the most well-known piece written for piano, violin, and clarinet. I am particularly excited to play this piece, as it was commissioned by the “King of Swing,” jazz clarinetist Benny Goodman, and virtuoso violinist Joseph Szigeti. This piece was completed very late in Bartók’s life—just seven years before his death—and it is one of his finest works and a staple of the piano-violin-clarinet trio genre.

Darius Milhaud’s Suite and Pierre Jalbert’s Trio were written seventy-five years apart, and listeners will immediately notice the stylistic dissimilarity between the two. The Suite consists of four movements and, although written in 1936, boasts classical and baroque characteristics throughout the piece, with hints of jazz in surprising places. In contrast, Jalbert’s Trio is a three-movement work by a living composer that showcases the ensemble’s virtuosity and stamina through extreme tempi, extended dynamic range, and unconventional techniques. It was written in 2011 in honor of clarinetist David Shifrin and was co-commissioned by Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and Wigmore Hall.

The two duo pieces we chose for this concert were written by a French composer, Camille Saint-Saëns, and 04 NOTES

an American composer, George Gershwin. Saint-Saëns finished the clarinet sonata in the final year of his life, along with oboe and bassoon sonatas. In a letter to his friend during that year, Saint-Saëns wrote, “At the moment I am putting my last ounce of energy into giving seldom considered instruments an opportunity to be heard.” Sadly, he did not live to attend the premieres of the three sonatas. Clarinetists of all ages and levels are deeply indebted to him for writing such a beautiful, beloved piece at the very end of his illustrious career. Although Gershwin’s Three Preludes were originally written for solo piano, due to its success, transcriptions for other instruments have become equally popular. As in his greatest hit, Rhapsody in Blue, Gershwin masterfully blends classical music with elements of jazz and blues in all three movements, creating the trademark “Gershwin sound.”

This is one of the most challenging programs I have put together, both mentally and physically, and I am beyond thrilled to present it to the audience in the Quad Cities area, with world-class artists, Naha Greenholtz and Marta Aznavoorian. I look forward to sharing this concert with you.

MEMBERSHIP HAS ITS PRIVILEGES!

As the QCSO enters the second half of its 2017-18 season, we would like to remind you that great seats are still available for all performances. These fantastic seats can be even better when purchased at a reduced price!

There are three remaining Masterworks concerts in the 2017-18 season and you can experience them all with a Trio subscription package at a 15% savings over buying seats individually. This means you can attend all three fantastic performances for as low as $35!

Subscription packages also include other useful benefits including:Priority Seating Choose the best seats in the house before they go on sale to single-ticket purchasers.Priority Ticket Access Get early access to season upgrades, such as tickets to special guest artists.

This was a huge benefit for subscribers who wanted to see Yo-Yo Ma and Joshua Bell!Free Ticket Exchange You can exchange tickets between Masterworks concerts on the same weekend. This gives you added flexibility in your schedule should a conflict arise. Please make your request online, or stop in the QCSO office, by Thursday of concert week and there is no charge (a $4 order fee is charged after Thursday).Free Ticket Replacement If your original tickets become lost, we will replace them free of charge.

So you see, there are real advantages to becoming a QCSO subscriber.

Valentine’s Day is coming up! What is your plan to show that special someone how much you care? With a visit to www.qcso.org or a call to 563-322-7276, you can go from zero to hero in a matter of minutes!

By Randy Nunez

2 0 1 7 - 1 8 S U B S C R I P T I O N S

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POSTCARDS FROM VENICE OFFERS

MERRIMENT & ROMANCE

U P C O M I N G P E R F O R M A N C E S

By Mark McLaughlin

06 NOTES

For centuries, the city of Venice, Italy, has been held in high esteem for its art and architecture. It has also been a source of inspiration for composers, filmmakers, authors, and poets around the world. This highly desirable travel destination receives up to 30 million tourists a year. On February 3 and 4, Postcards from Venice, the fourth entry in the Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO) Masterworks concert series, will allow Quad-Cities area music enthusiasts to sample the musical essence of this celebrated cultural hub.

Masterworks IV: Postcards from Venice will be held

8 p.m., February 3, at the Adler Theatre, and 2 p.m., February 4, at Centennial Hall.The program will feature seven musical selections, starting with Gioachino Rossini’s Overture to La scala di seta, an opera that combines comedy and romance. Next, Jean-Baptiste Arban’s festive Carnival of Venice features a delightful solo by the QCSO’s Principal Trumpet Matthew Onstad. The Black Gondola, an orchestration by John Coolidge Adams of Franz Liszt’s somber La lugubre gondola II, explores the melancholy side of Venice. Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto for Four

Music is Contagious! The Carnival of Venice theme has spread throughout the Quad Cities. Several QC Celebrities have already succumbed to its infectious melody. Will you be the next victim, or are you immune to the charm of this catchy composition?

NOTES 07

Violins allows four skilled violinists – Emily Nash, Autumn Chodorowski, Tomer Marcus, and Janis Sakai – to explore the full range of their talents. Giuseppe Verdi’s Prelude to La Traviata presents a haunting tale of tragic love. Pulcinella Suite by Igor Stravinsky presents the jolly antics of a celebrated clown. Overture to L’Italiana in Algeri, concludes the program as it began, with romantic merriment from Gioachino Rossini.

“Venice is a one-of-a-kind place that has such an incredible history on so many levels – artistic, religious, military,” said Mark Russell Smith, QCSO Music Director and Conductor. “There is no other place like it. Its sights, sounds and smells are unforgettable to anyone who has travelled there.”

“Venice, also known as the Floating City, is a timeless place of mystery and romance,” said Michael Harring, Interim Executive Director of the QCSO. “This will be a concert that will inspire the imagination of our audience.”

Overtures to La scala di seta and L’Italiana in AlgeriGioachino Rossini (1792-1868) was an Italian composer noted for both comic and dramatic operas, including Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville), La Cenerentola (Cinderella), Semiramide, and Guillaume Tell (William Tell). La scala di seta (The Silken Ladder) was first performed in Venice in 1812. L’Italiana in Algeri (The Italian Girl in Algiers) premiered the next year.

“Rossini’s music was the pop music of its day – he was a rockstar,” said Smith. “People sang his tunes in the streets. A number of his operas received their premieres in Venice, many at the world famous Teatro Fenice. I have selected two of these energetic overtures to open and close our Venetian Carnival. There are some special instruments that Rossini asks for that add some exotic flair. Pay close attention to the percussion section!”

Carnival of VeniceJean-Baptiste Arban (1825-1889) was a French cornetist, conductor, composer, and teacher. Influenced by Niccolò Paganini’s technique with the violin, he in turn developed virtuoso skills on the cornet. He studied trumpet at the Paris Conservatoire from 1841 to 1845, and in

1869, became professor of cornet at the Paris Conservatoire. His variations on the folk tune, The Carnival of Venice, are still considered a prime solo piece for cornetists.

Matt Onstad, 27, will perform the cornet solo for Carnival of Venice. A resident of Madison, Wisconsin, he has been the Principal Trumpet for the QCSO since 2016. He also works with other orchestras in the Midwest. Over the years he has belonged to many different ensembles, including a jazz ensemble, and has performed with big bands, too. He is also a member of the Army National Guard, and plays in their band.

“Carnival of Venice is a sparkling, virtuosic, fun piece of music,” he said. “The theme is so catchy it stays in your head.”

Onstad noted that he has “upward of 12 or 13 trumpets. My basement is a trumpet candy store.” He added that there is a difference between cornets and trumpets. “A cornet has a warmer tone,” he said. “It is a conical instrument, in that the tubing gradually gets larger.” A trumpet, on the other hand, is a cylindrical instrument. “The tubing stays the same width until near the end, when it grows much wider.”

The Black GondolaFranz Liszt (1811-1886) was a Hungarian composer, pianist, conductor, music teacher, arranger, organist, and author. He gained fame as a travelling piano virtuoso, and acted as a promoter and benefactor to other composers.

Liszt composed La lugubre gondola II, a piano composition, after a dream in which he saw a black gondola bearing a coffin through the canals of Venice. American composer John Coolidge Adams (born 1947) created The Black Gondola, an orchestration of Liszt’s composition, because he felt the music called out for such a treatment.

“This is a deeply personal piece, originally for the piano, written by Liszt, another of music history’s rockstars, to honor the memory of Richard Wagner, who died in Venice, and who was also Liszt’s son-in-law – long story!” said Smith. “In Venice, the sight of a Black Gondola, the Venetian version of a hearse, is not at all uncommon. All activity stops as the Black Gondola glides by, and all pay their respects. Liszt’s profound, intense piece captures the huge

the arts. “It was great to know other kids who were so dedicated to their craft,” she said. “It really inspired me.” She also had the opportunity to play in an orchestra with the legendary violinist, Itzhak Perlman.

Also at age 12, she began working as a teaching assistant in music. “I never had to do any babysitting for money!” she said.In addition to her work with the QCSO, Nash also works with the Northwest Indiana Orchestra, among others, and her husband performs with the Hawaii Symphony as well as the QCSO.

Violinist Tomer Marcus, 30, comes from Israel, where he used to be part of a folk band. His parents encouraged his musical skills from an early age, and in fact, he has been playing the violin since he was seven years old. He played the electric organ for a year before that.

Tomer came to America when he was 27 years old. He came to this country to play for the City Orchestra of Chicago, and since then, he has also played for an orchestra in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

“This is my first year with the QCSO,” he said. “I enjoy working with the Symphony – it’s a fun, collaborative group. I also enjoy playing the Vivaldi Concerto. This will be the third time that I’ll be playing it.”

Prelude to La TraviataGiuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) was an Italian opera composer. He was born to a family of moderate

range of emotions associated with Wagner’s death. The famous contemporary composer John Adams orchestrated this piece, originally for the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, back in the 20th Century.”

Concerto for Four ViolinsAntonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) was an Italian composer, violinist, teacher, and cleric. He composed instrumental concertos and choral works, as well as more than forty operas. Many of his works were written for the all-female music ensemble of a home for abandoned children. “Again, there is so much history in Venice,” Smith said. “Vivaldi was a priest who founded a school for orphaned girls in Venice. Music training played a significant role in the orphans’ lives, and many of Vivaldi’s pieces were written for these talented young students.”

“This concerto truly demonstrates the high quality of our musicians,” Harring said. “The violinists chosen for this work will delight the audience. The players in our current lineup combine to perform as the best orchestra we’ve ever had.”Emily Nash, 30, is one of the four key violinists who will be performing in this piece. She started playing the violin at age 7. “I would have started at age 6, but I had to beg my parents to buy me lessons for a year,” she said. She first decided to play violin when she heard two young friends playing a duet. “I thought the violin was amazing. I loved the sound of it.”

At age 12, she attended the Interlochen Arts Camp, a boarding school and summer camp for

Emily Nash Autumn Chodorowski Tomer Marcus

10 NOTES

Tickets cover only about a third of our expenses to deliver superb symphonic performances. It’s due to those who support us through the Annual Fund that we have been able to survive and thrive in the Quad Cities for over a century. We count on your support for our success.

Donate online at QCSO.org, by mail, or call Steve Mohr at 563-424-7735.

SUPPORT THE QCSO

means, but thanks to a local patron, was able to receive a musical education. In time he rose to fame in the world of Italian opera.

La traviata (The Fallen Woman) is an opera in three acts, based on La Dame aux Camélias (1852), a play adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas. Camille, a movie of tragic romance, was also based on this novel. “La traviata is an eternal, unforgettable tale of romantic love,” Harring said.Smith observed that La traviata is one of the quintessential Romantic operas. “Verdi was the most famous and beloved musician of his day, whose music and politics inspired the entire nascent Italian nation,” he said. “This work was also premiered in Venice, at the Teatro Fenice.”

Pulcinella SuiteIgor Stravinsky (1882-1971) was a Russian-born composer, pianist, and conductor. He first achieved international fame with three ballets first performed in Paris: The Firebird, Petrushka, and the Rite of Spring. In time, he turned to Neo-Classical music drawing on earlier styles, including styles from the 18th century.

Pulcinella is a one-act Neo-Classical ballet, based on the play Quartre Polichinelles semblables (Four identical Pulcinellas). Pulcinella is a clownlike masked character from Commedia dell’arte, a form of Italian theatre. The ballet premiered at the Paris Opera in 1920, with costumes and sets designed by Pablo Picasso.

“Commedia dell’arte is often associated with

Venice, especially at Carnival time,” Smith said. “Stravinsky, the master of ballet music, used the music of 18th Century Italian composer Pergolesi to fashion a ballet that is very Baroque-sounding. This music comes from his Neo-Classical period, where he hearkens back to the aesthetics of the Baroque and Classical periods. It gives the virtuoso musicians of the QCSO many prominent and beautiful solo turns. It is a colorful and lively piece that audiences love.”

A Venetian AdventureThis Masterworks concert will create a Venetian adventure for audience members. “I have had the good fortune to travel to Venice a number of times,” Smith said. “As any fellow traveler knows, it is very easy to get lost, even with a map – not to mention GPS. But getting lost and exploring the alleyways and ‘back roads’ of Venice is an important part of the Venice experience. I have not visited during Carnival season, so we can all collectively imagine that party through our musical journey together. This is a fun and eclectic program that samples a tremendous variety of styles, with one great surprise after another – just like the city itself.”

“Happily, you won’t have to leave the Quad-Cities area to enjoy the charm and folkways of Venice,” Harring said. “Our concert will be a musical transport to the narrow streets and watery canals of this unique city.”

Quad City Symphony Orchestra tickets are available at the QCSO box office at 327 Brady St., Davenport. You can also call the QCSO at (563) 322-7276 or visit www.qcso.org.

Tomer Marcus Janis Sakai

NOTES 09

E D U C A T I O N

2018 QCSYEs CONCERTO COMPETITION WINNERS

On January 7th, the Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO) held its annual Quad City Symphony Youth Ensembles (QCSYEs) Concerto Competition. Thirteen Youth Symphony Orchestra (YSO) members auditioned to win one of two Concerto Competition Prizes. The Grand Prize winner will perform their concerto with the QCSO at the QCSO/QCSYEs Side-by-Side concert in April, and the YSO Prize will perform a concerto movement accompanied by YSO on the QCSYEs Winter Festival Concert February.

The soloists auditioned before a committee consisting of members of the artistic staff from the Quad City Symphony Orchestra. The winner of the Grand Prize is trumpet player Ethan Good. Ethan is a senior at Pleasant Valley High School and plays trumpet in marching band, concert band, jazz band, orchestra, and pit orchestra. He has been playing the trumpet for 6 years and studies with Dr. Edgar Crockett. Music has been a part of his life since he was 4 years old. In addition to trumpet, Ethan plays piano in numerous gigging bands around the Quad Cities and at his church.

In second place and winning the YSO Prize is Keshav Wagle, oboe. Keshav is a senior at Pleasant Valley High School and is thrilled to be performing with the Youth Symphony Orchestra! He has been playing oboe for 6 years, studying with teachers such as Jack King, Dr. Andrew Parker, and Dr. Courtney Miller. Outside of oboe, he also regularly plays piano and cello. Additionally, Keshav is secretary of Thespian Troupe #856, is drum major of the Spartan Marching Band, is a member of the varsity improvisation team, “The Select Button”, and is Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Spartan Shield Online. Next year, he will be attending Rice University, majoring in Cognitive Science.

Keshav will be taking the stage on February 25 during the QCSYEs Winter Festival Concert at Centennial Hall with movement 1 of Vaughan Williams’ Concerto for Oboe and Strings. Ethan will perform the Arutunian Trumpet Concerto on April 29 in the Adler Theatre, with the QCSO.

Tickets for either concert can be purchased online at www.qcso.org, by phone at 563-322-7276, or at the QCSO Box Office: 327 Brady Street, Davenport, IA 52801.

By Montana Farrell

UPCOMING QCSOCONCERTS & EVENTSSignature Series III: ContrastsJanuary 28, 2018 2:00 p.m. Centennial Hall, Rock Island, IL

Masterworks IV: Postcards from VeniceFebruary 3, 2018 8:00 p.m. Adler Theatre, Davenport, IAFebruary 4, 2018 2:00 p.m. Centennial Hall, Rock Island, IL

QCSYEs Winter Festival Concert

February 25, 2018 3:00 p.m. Centennial Hall, Rock Island, IL

Masterworks V: Postcards from Germany & AustriaMarch 3, 2018 8:00 p.m. Adler Theatre, Davenport, IAMarch 4, 2018 2:00 p.m. Centennial Hall, Rock Island, IL

Signature Series IV: Naha Greenholtz in ConcertJanuary 28, 2018 2:00 p.m. Centennial Hall, Rock Island, IL

Masterworks V: Postcards from RussiaApril 7, 2018 8:00 p.m. Adler Theatre, Davenport, IAApril 8, 2018 2:00 p.m. Centennial Hall, Rock Island, IL

Family Concert: QCSO: A Space OdysseyApril 28, 2018 2:30 p.m. Adler Theatre, Davenport, IA

Quad City Symphony Orchestra tickets are available at the QCSO box office at 327 Brady St., Davenport. You can also call the QCSO at (563) 322-7276 or visit www.qcso.org.

NOTES 11

327 Brady Street | Davenport, IA 52801www.QCSO.org 563.322.0931