Yannick Nézet-Séguin has breathed fresh life into Philadelphia’s programming in a bold, yet balanced, season. Details below.
(Philadelphia, February 19, 2014)—Philadelphia Orchestra Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and President and CEO Allison Vulgamore today announce The Philadelphia Orchestra’s 2014-15 season, the third for Nézet-Séguin, whose leadership of the venerable and innovative ensemble has garnered acclaim from critics and audiences alike since he took the helm in 2012.
A hallmark of the 2014-15 season is the 40/40 Project, a broadening of the Orchestra’s repertoire by presenting 40 works not performed on a Philadelphia Orchestra subscription concert in the last 40 years, in honor of Yannick Nézet-Séguin’s 40th birthday and in recognition of requests from the Orchestra’s audiences. Other highlights include a month-long “Art of the Pipe Organ” celebration; the culmination of a multi-year requiem exploration with Bernstein’s epic MASS; Rachmaninoff’s complete symphonies; performances that push the boundaries of the concert experience, including a collaboration with the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre; guest appearances from the world’s most revered and critically acclaimed conductors and soloists; and educational Family Concerts and special events. The season’s repertoire spans over 300 years, from Buxtehude to a world premiere commission from Nico Muhly and the North American premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage’s Piano Concerto. The 2014-15 season also includes the Philadelphians’ annual subscription series at Carnegie Hall, an appearance at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), the presentation of China’s National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) Orchestra, and a 2015 Tour of Europe.
“My first two seasons as music director of The Philadelphia Orchestra were a time of learning, of getting to know the exceptional musicians of the Orchestra and the audience,” says Yannick Nézet-Séguin. “And both were eager to help this process of discovery and to share their expectations and desires for our collaboration. Now, in my third season, we are ready to embark on a journey of musical exploration into some new territory with a variety of repertoire. I am very proud of this third season of mine because it is the most diverse in terms of repertoire. As a whole it makes a journey through the great treasure of music that we want to bring you, week after week, an experience that is a special event.”
40/40 Project: Yannick Nézet-Séguin’s 40th birthday provides the context for the 40/40 Project, which will present 40 works not performed on a Philadelphia Orchestra subscription concert in the last 40 years. In response to audience feedback the 40/40 Project will introduce works new to the Orchestra’s repertoire, although often by composers familiar to Philadelphia subscription audiences, as well as works of composers of our time, including Jennifer Higdon and Michael Daugherty, among others. The Project also includes the world premiere of a work by Nico Muhly commissioned by The Philadelphia Orchestra and the North American premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage’s jazzy and rhythmic Piano Concerto.
Carlos Izcaray studied in El Sistema from the age of three, completing his music education in the US. For three years, he was conductor of the Mozarteum-Caracas Chamber Orchestra. Today, he is based in Berlin. Carlos has asked us to circulate his appeal below for an end to government-sponsored violence in his home country.
To my friends and colleagues from the music world, both from Venezuela
and all around the globe.
Through this medium I’d like to call on all of you to unite, with
instruments in hand, to repudiate and strongly manifest against the
rampant violence and human rights violations that are currently being
perpetrated by the Venezuelan government on its own citizenry. Lets
render our tribute of support to those who have exposed and given
their lives whilst defending our Liberty. This basic right of all free
people has now been unequivocally sequestered by a despotic and
tyrannical Government, one that wishes to lead through fear,
intimidation, and violence.
This special event, which we have titled CONCERT FOR THE LIBERTY OF
VENEZUELA, and that will take place in Berlin, Germany, will serve as
our protest and condemnation of the barbarities that our people are
being subjected to, specially those calling for the restoration of
Democracy and its basic rights. We will also articulate a strong
message to the whole world, not just with our art, but also with our
ideas and reigning civic spirit.
We find ourselves in a profound cycle of sadness and frustration,
terrorized by the images and stories that reach us from our homeland.
Therefore, as a Venezuelan, I feel it is my civil obligation to share
the numerous stories of atrocities and abuses that a nation claiming
for its freedom is being subjected to. Venezuela has been erased from
the democratic landscape by a wave of shortages, censure of the press,
violence, and a polarizing message by a dictatorship that must now be
openly exposed.
I have personally survived and witnessed the injustices, systematical
tortures, humiliations, and other attempts against humanity that this
regime continues to inflict on our youth. For this reason, and without
the ability to stomach any more of this cruel violence, I commit
myself fully to this event, while also shouting “Enough is
enough!”
It is important to clarify that our intention is to remain
pluralistic, peaceful, and open to all. No one is obligated to attend,
but I will certainly be there. For this cause, I’m even willing to
go it alone in the company of my cello and a full set of empty stands
and chairs. Naturally, though, the stage remains open to all who
believe in these ideals and wish to participate.
The Facebook group CONCIERTO PARA LA LIBERTAD FE VENEZUELA has been
created exclusively to consolidate all the different criteria, and
specially to provide a medium through which we can face the logistical
challenges ahead. As professionals, it is important to point out that
we must totally abstain from publishing destructive criticisms and/or
out of place comments in the site. It is also imperative that we
transmit a message of unity and civil courage, which our country
desperately needs.
We all do what we do for a reason, and what a blessing to know that in
epic moments of history such as these we can bravely contribute and
fight for that sacrosanct right which is OUR Liberty. I’d also like
to invite the whole Venezuelan and world community to help us with
this endeavor. Every grain is worth gold.
Just as Venezuela itself, the program is still to be determined,
depending on our own collective effort and summoning power. Together,
we can help our own and make history!
Anybody willing to help? Please sign up!
Carlos Izcaray