CSO Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2 - program 04-28-23

DIGITAL PROGRAM BOOK

April 28 & 29

Lan Shui, conductor

Mari Kodama, piano

Belk Theater

Welcome to your CSO!

The weather is heating up in Charlotte and so is the Charlotte Symphony! Over the next month, our incredible musicians and guest artists will showcase their talents and versatility through a range of musical genres from classics like Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 to film music from The Princess Bride and hit pop songs from the best spy movies.

But the music doesn’t stop there. We’re pleased to have recently announced the Charlotte Symphony’s highly anticipated summer season. In partnership with Novant Health, we’ll turn Symphony Park into a patchwork of picnickers with the return of our Summer Pops series, featuring four family-friendly concerts including “The Music of John Williams” and “Celebrate America.” New this year: if you subscribe to all four concerts, we’ll reserve a premium spot for you on the lawn — you can avoid the rush and still enjoy great music under the stars. We’re also taking the show on the road, presenting five free concerts in community parks throughout the region. To learn more about our summer offerings, visit charlottesymphony.org/summer

While there is so much left to enjoy this season, we’re always looking ahead — and we have a fantastic season planned for you in 2023–24. I invite you to explore all of the exciting details at charlottesymphony.org/season-2023-24.

Thank you for joining us and enjoy the concert.

David Fisk President & CEO

The CSO is…

MORE THAN WHAT’S ONSTAGE.

Did you know that the Charlotte Symphony is much more than what you see on the Belk and Knight Theater stages? Beyond the Classical, Pops, Family, and Movie Series in the theaters, we work to uplift, entertain, and educate our community through inclusive education programs and community performances.

• The CSO has three programs for young musicians: the Youth Orchestra, the Youth Philharmonic, and the Youth Ensemble. CSO musicians participate in coaching throughout the year, and even perform with the young musicians!

• Reaching approximately 15,000 students each season, we also have extensive school programs, including Project Harmony, “Music and the Holocaust,” and “One Musical Family” Education Concerts.

• We perform throughout the region, from community parks and schools to breweries, senior care centers, and places of worship all season long.

The CSO is…FOR EVERYONE .

To learn more, visit charlottesymphony.org

Friday, April 28, 2023 at 7:30pm Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 7:30pm

Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center

Lan Shui, conductor

Mari Kodama, piano

SAMUEL BARBER (1910-1981)

Overture to The School for Scandal

(approx. duration: 8 minutes)

FELIX MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)

Concerto for Piano No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25

I. Molto allegro con fuoco

II. Andante

III. Presto - Molto allegro e vivace (approx. duration: 20 minutes)

Mari Kodama, piano

INTERMISSION

SERGEI RACHMANINOFF (1873-1943)

Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27

I. Largo - Allegro moderato

II. Allegro molto

III. Adagio

IV. Allegro vivace (approx. duration: 60 minutes)

concert duration: approximately 2 hours. There will be one 20-minute intermission. This concert is made possible in part by John & Maria Huson

Lan Shui

guest conductor

Lan Shui is renowned for his abilities as an orchestral builder and for his passion in commissioning, premiering and recording new works by leading composers from Asia and elsewhere on the international contemporary orchestral scene. Having recently assumed the position of Principal Guest Conductor of the Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, 2021/22 sees Shui continuing to guest conduct eminent orchestras in both Asia and Europe.

Lan Shui served as the Music Director of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra from 1997 to 2019, with American Record Review noting that Shui “turned a good regional orchestra into a world-class ensemble that plays its heart out at every concert”. Together they made several acclaimed tours to Europe, Asia and the United States and appeared for the first time at the BBC Proms in September 2014. As of January 2019, Shui has been appointed SSO’s Conductor Laureate. Lan Shui also held the position of Chief Conductor of the Copenhagen Phil from 2007 to 2015, currently serving as the orchestra’s Honorary Conductor.

As a guest conductor, Shui has worked with many orchestras worldwide. In the United States he has appeared with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, and Baltimore and Detroit symphony orchestras. In Europe he has performed with Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, hr-Sinfonieorchester, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR, Deutsche Radio Philharmonie, Gothenburg Symphony, Orchestre National de France and Orchestre National de Lille. In Asia he has conducted the Hong Kong, Malaysian and Japan Philharmonic orchestras and maintains a close relationship with the China and Hangzhou Philharmonic orchestras and Shanghai Symphony.

Since 1998 Shui has recorded over 35 CDs with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra for BIS — including the first ever complete cycle of Tcherepnin’s symphonies — and also works by Arnold and Hindemith with the Malmö Symphony

Orchestra featuring soloists such as Dame Evelyn Glennie, Cho-Liang Lin and Gil Shaham. His albums have twice received GRAMMY ™ nominations.

Lan Shui is the recipient of several international awards from the Beijing Arts Festival and the New York Tcherepnin Society, the 37th Besançon Conductors’ Competition in France and Boston University (Distinguished Alumni Award) as well as the Cultural Medallion — Singapore’s highest accolade in the arts.

Born in Hangzhou, China, Shui studied composition at the Shanghai Conservatory and graduated from The Beijing Central Conservatory. He continued his graduate studies at Boston University while at the same time working closely with Leonard Bernstein at the Tanglewood Music Festival. He has worked together with David Zinman as Conducting Affiliate of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, as Associate Conductor to Neeme Järvi at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and with Kurt Masur at the New York Philharmonic and Pierre Boulez at The Cleveland Orchestra.

Mari Kodama is consistently praised for her virtuosity in a wide range of repertoire, including orchestral, chamber, and solo works by composers of all periods. She is also known for her natural musicality, tonal expressiveness with a clear form, and as a benchmark Beethoven interpreter.

In the 2022/23 Season, Mari Kodama showcases her diverse talents with various international concert appearances, such as Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (Kent Nagano) Duo Recital in Amsterdam/Muziekgebow (Momo Kodama) Charlotte Symphony (Lan Shui) Hyogo Performing Arts Orchestra (Hubert Soudant), and Baden Baden Festspielhaus (John Neumeier). Other recent highlights include concerts with Tokyo Symphony Orchestra (Krzysztof Urbański), Colorado Springs Philharmonic (Josep Caballé Domenech) performing three Beethoven concerti in one evening, and Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg (Kent Nagano). She also had the world premiere of Rodolphe BruneauBoulmier’s new piano concerto, Terra Nostra, broadcast on Deutschlandfunk with Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin under the direction of Kent Nagano at the Berlin Philharmonie.

As a further demonstration of her versatility she plays a central part in the hugely successful ballet production Beethoven Projekt II (John Neumeier) which re-opened the Staatsoper Hamburg after months of COVID closure and which will be revived this season. In recital, she collaborated with Markus Hinterhäuser featuring Messiaen’s Visions de l’Amen. She also organized the Beethoven Festival "A Life in a Day" in San Francisco, and presented all 32 of Beethoven’s piano sonatas over two days by 14 different soloists.

Beethoven’s piano works form a focal point of Mari Kodama’s recording activities with Pentatone and Berlin Classics. She is one of few female pianists to record the composer’s complete sonatas, with her 2014 box set from Pentatone receiving critical acclaim. In fall 2019 she released Beethoven’s Piano Concerto Nos. 0 – 5, which together with his Rondo for Piano and Orchestra and his “Eroica” Variations for solo piano

(Guest Artist bios continued next page)

Mari Kodama piano

complement the Beethoven CD Box with all of Beethoven’s piano concertos as well as the Triple Concerto together with Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and Kent Nagano (Berlin Classics).

Since her New York recital debut at Carnegie Hall in 1995, Mari Kodama has performed with renowned orchestras and conductors in the world’s leading concert halls. She has played with Gothenburg Symphony, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, SWR Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. In her native Japan, she has played with NHK Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo and the symphony orchestras of Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Osaka, among others. Mari Kodama’s Festival appearances include the Verbier Festival, Festival International de Piano La Roque d’Antheron, Aldeburgh Festival of Music, Mostly Mozart in New York City, Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, and Kissinger Sommer.

Through her performing activities, Mari Kodama has brought infrequently heard gems of the piano repertoire to global audiences. She has performed Stenhammer’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in Gothenburg and New York and has also collaborated with Viviane Hagner on Alban Berg’s Chamber Concerto for Piano and Violin, which they performed with both the Jyväskylä Sinfonia and the DSO Berlin. Additionally, in 2013 Mari Kodama premiered Jean-Pascal Beinthus’ Double Piano Concerto together with Momo Kodama and Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo. Mari Kodama also performed in the Canadian premieres of Jörg Widmann’s Valse Bavaroise and Humoresken, both at the Canadian Orford Festival in summer 2010.

In addition to her performances, Mari Kodama also plays an active role as a music festival artistic director. She co-founded the Forest Hill Musical Days Festival, a chamber music festival in San Francisco, with her husband Kent Nagano, and she has also led the chamber music series at the Orford Music Festival. In 2018 she assumed artistic directorship at the Festival Tra Luce e Sogno in Postignano, Italy, for which she secured artists such as Christian Gerhaher, Matt Haimovitz and Gerold Huber, among others. Mari Kodama is a Steinway Artist.

YOUR CHARLOTTE SYMPHONY

Christopher Warren-Green, Conductor Laureate & Music Adviser

Christopher James Lees, Resident Conductor

FIRST VIOLINS

Calin Ovidiu Lupanu, Concertmaster

The Catherine & Wilton Connor Chair

Joseph Meyer, Associate Concertmaster

Kari Giles, Assistant Concertmaster

Ernest Pereira°*

Susan Blumberg°°

Jane Hart Brendle

Emily Chatham°°

Ayako Gamo

Jenny Topilow°°

Dustin Wilkes-Kim

Hanna Zhdan

SECOND VIOLINS

Oliver Kot, Principal

The Wolfgang Roth Chair

Kathleen Jarrell, Assistant Principal

The Pepsi-Cola Foundation of Charlotte Chair

Carlos Tarazona°

Monica Boboc

Tatiana Karpova

Ellyn Stuart

Martha Geissler

Sakira Harley

VIOLAS

Benjamin Geller, Principal

The Zoe Bunten Merrill Principal Viola Chair

Alaina Rea, Assistant Principal *

Chihiro Tanaka, Acting Asst. Principal

Ellen Ferdon

Cynthia Frank

Viara Stefanova

Ning Zhao

Matthew Darsey †

CELLOS

Jonathan Lewis, Principal

The Kate Whitner McKay Principal Cello Chair

Allison Drenkow, Assistant Principal

Alan Black, Principal Emeritus

Marlene Ballena

Jeremy Lamb

Sarah Markle

DOUBLE BASSES

Kurt Riecken, Principal

Judson Baines, Assistant Principal

Jeffrey Ferdon

Jason McNeel

FLUTES

Victor Wang, Principal

The Blumenthal Foundation Chair

Amy Orsinger Whitehead

Erinn Frechette

PICCOLO

Erinn Frechette

OBOES

Hollis Ulaky, Principal

The Leo B. Driehuys Chair‡

Erica Cice

Terry Maskin

ENGLISH HORN

Terry Maskin

CLARINETS

Taylor Marino, Principal

The Gary H. & Carolyn M. Bechtel Chair

Samuel Sparrow

Allan Rosenfeld

E♭ CLARINET

Samuel Sparrow

BASS CLARINET

Allan Rosenfeld

BASSOONS

Joseph Merchant, Principal

Joshua Hood

Naho Zhu†

CONTRABASSOON

Naho Zhu†

HORNS

Byron Johns, Principal

The Mr. & Mrs. William H. Van Every Chair

Andrew Fierova

Robert Rydel

Richard Goldfaden

Philip Brindise†

TRUMPETS

Alex Wilborn, Principal

The Betty J. Livingstone Chair

Jonathan Kaplan

Gabriel Slesinger, Associate Principal*

The Marcus T. Hickman Chair

TROMBONES

John Bartlett, Principal

Thomas Burge

BASS TROMBONE

Scott Hartman, Principal

TUBA

Colin Benton, Principal

The Governor James G. Martin Chair

ARTISTIC OPERATIONS

TIMPANI

Jacob Lipham, Principal

The Robert Haywood Morrison Chair

PERCUSSION

Brice Burton, Principal

HARP

Andrea Mumm Trammell, Principal

The Dr. Billy Graham Chair

This roster lists the full-time members of the Charlotte Symphony. The number and seating of musicians onstage varies depending on the piece being performed.

° Non-revolving position

°° Alternates between first and second violins

† Acting member of the Charlotte Symphony

‡ Funded by The Symphony Guild of Charlotte, Inc.

* On leave

Michael Reichman, VP of Artistic Operations & General Manager

Carrie Graham, Director of Artistic Planning

Tim Pappas, Director of Operations

Claire Beiter, Operations Coordinator

Nixon Bustos, Principal Music Librarian

Bradley Geneser, Associate Principal Librarian

Erin Eady, Personnel Manager

John Jarrell, Stage Manager

The Charlotte Symphony is a proud member of the League of American Ochestras.

EMILY CHATHAM Violin

Member of CSO since 1986 hometown: Shelbyville, KY

FUN FACTS

• I studied Flamenco dance which is hard, fun, and really good for me to develop my “Dance Brain” in learning and retaining choreography.

• I am a Star Trek nerd − ”Live Long and Prosper!”

• I love to cook different cuisines and feed people!

For more information about Charlotte Symphony musicians, visit charlottesymphony.org

One of the premier music organizations in the Southeastern United States and the oldest operating symphony orchestra in the Carolinas, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO) connects with more than 100,000 music lovers each year through its lively season of concerts, broadcasts, community events, and robust educational programs. The CSO is committed to its mission of uplifting, entertaining, and educating the diverse communities of Charlotte-Mecklenburg and beyond through exceptional music experiences.

The Charlotte Symphony upholds the highest artistic integrity and takes bold steps to engage with its community through music. Its 62 professional, full-time musicians perform throughout the region — from community parks and breweries, to places of worship and senior care centers — and offer significant educational support, aimed at serving the underresourced areas of our community.

The Charlotte Symphony is deeply committed to the notion that music, accessible to all and experienced in its many forms, enriches and unifies our community. The CSO believes in equity and inclusion and strives to be an industry leader in imaginative, relevant programming by intentionally seeking out women conductors, underrepresented in our industry, and conductors, composers, and guest artists of color.

Founded in 1932, the Charlotte Symphony plays a leading cultural role in the Charlotte area and aims to serve the community as a civic leader, reflecting and uniting our region through the transformative power of live music.

OUR MISSION

The Charlotte Symphony uplifts, entertains, and educates the diverse communities of Charlotte-Mecklenburg and beyond through exceptional musical experiences.

OUR VISION

Reaching out through the transformative power of live music, the Charlotte Symphony will be a civic leader, reflecting and uniting our region.

For more information, visit us online at charlottesymphony.org

JUST ANNOUNCED!

Join the Charlotte Symphony for an exciting new season with a compelling lineup of concerts! Subscribe today for the best seats, the best prices, and great benefits!

Single tickets on sale later this summer.

featuring...

BEETHOVEN’S EROICA Oct. 6 - 8

GERSHWIN’S RHAPSODY IN BLUE Mar. 1 & 2 HOLST’S THE PLANETS May 17 & 18

featuring...

THE HOT SARDINES Nov. 10 & 11

REGINA CARTER Feb. 9 & 10 GREAT LADIES OF SWING April 12 & 13

featuring...

HOLIDAY POPS Dec. 16

SAINT-GEORGES’ SWORD & BOW Feb. 10 CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS April 13

featuring...

ELF IN CONCERT Nov. 24 & 25 THE FORCE AWAKENS IN CONCERT Mar. 15 & 16 JAWS IN CONCERT June 14 & 15

SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE

UP TO 50% OFF SINGLE TICKETS!

view the full season at charlotte symphony.org

presented by

presented by

2O23 GALA ARTIST

Renée Fleming

JAZZ VIOLINIST

Regina Carter

RESIDENT CONDUCTOR

Christopher James Lees

star wars:

wed, may 10 | 6-10 p.m.

club bazal

950 NC MUSIC FACTORY BOULEVARD

COCKTAILS + HEAVY HORS D’OEUVRES COCKTAIL ATTIRE

Mark your calendar for an amazing evening of art, music, and mingling with your Charlotte Symphony musicians, brought together as only a venue like Bazal can! Join us upstairs for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres accompanied by a quartet of your Charlotte Symphony musicians displayed as an art installation. Later, head downstairs for dancing and dessert with a DJ in Bazal's prohibition-style nightclub.

SAMUEL BARBER

born: March 9, 1910 in West Chester, Pennsylvania died: January 23, 1981, in New York City

Overture to The School for Scandal Opus 5 (1931)

Samuel Barber was a 21-year-old student at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia when he composed his Overture to The School for Scandal. The title refers to Irish author Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s 1777 comic play. Barber noted that the Overture was not intended as a curtain raiser for performances of Sheridan’s work. Rather, Barber composed the piece “as a musical reflection of the play’s spirit.”

In April of 1933, Barber’s The School for Scandal Overture won Columbia University’s Joseph H. Bearns Prize. That August 30, the work received its premiere as part of the Philadelphia Orchestra’s final 1933 summer concert at the Robin Hood Dell, conducted by Alexander Smallens. The Overture was well received by an audience of almost eight thousand.

In the spring of 1938, both the New York Philharmonic and Cleveland Orchestra included Barber’s The School for Scandal Overture as part of New York concerts. On November 5 in New York, Arturo Toscanini conducted the NBC Symphony Orchestra in the world premieres of Barber’s Adagio for Strings and First Essay for Orchestra. That concert, broadcast nationwide, solidified Barber’s reputation as one of America’s most gifted young composers.

Although composed at the very outset of Samuel Barber’s career, The School for Scandal Overture features the melodic inspiration, colorful orchestration, and unerring sense of momentum that remained hallmarks of the American composer’s work. These qualities have assured The School for Scandal Overture’s continued presence in the concert repertoire.

premiere: August 30, 1933 in Philadelphia

May 19 & 20 7:30 pm | Knight Theater

Kazem Abdullah, conductor Alexi Kenney, violin

A departure from his previous work, Dvořák's cheerful Symphony No. 8 evokes wonderment. Led by "attentive" (The Florida Times-Union) guest conductor Kazem Abdullah, this program also includes works by Mozart and Stravinsky.

704.972.2000 | charlottesymphony.org

FELIX MENDELSSOHN

born: February 3, 1809 in Hamburg, Germany died: November 4, 1847 in Leipzig, Germany

Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor

Opus 25 (1831)

premiere: October 17, 1831 in Munich

approx. duration: 20 minutes

On May 8, 1830, 21-year-old Felix Mendelssohn departed Berlin for Italy. During his Italian sojourn, Mendelssohn received the inspiration for one of his most famous works, his Fourth Symphony. But in addition to that “Italian” Symphony, Mendelssohn’s travels during this period led to the creation of yet another work — one that would prove to be remarkably popular during the German composer’s lifetime.

While in Munich, Mendelssohn encountered a beautiful 16-year-old pianist by the name of Delphine von Schauroth, whom Mendelssohn described as “adored here — and deservedly.” Mendelssohn confided to his sister, Fanny: “We flirted dreadfully, but there isn’t any danger because I’m already in love with a young Scotch girl whose name I don’t know.”

Later, in Rome, Mendelssohn composed a Piano Concerto in G minor, which he dedicated to Delphine. In September of 1831, Mendelssohn returned to Munich. On October 17, Mendelssohn took part in a charity concert at the Munich Odeon Theater. Mendelssohn conducted his Symphony No. 1 in C minor, as well as the Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Mendelssohn was also the soloist in the premiere of his G-minor Piano Concerto.

Both Mendelssohn and Delphine von Schauroth later wed others. Still, Delphine neither forgot Mendelssohn, nor the work he dedicated to her. The composer died in 1847, at the age of 38. Twenty-three years later, at a February 3, 1870 concert held to commemorate Mendelssohn’s birthday, Delphine von Schauroth appeared as soloist, performing the G-minor Piano Concerto.

The Concerto No. 1 is in three movements, all played without pause. After a brief orchestral crescendo, the soloist enters with a dramatic presentation of the agitated first thematic group (Molto Allegro con fuoco). The slow-tempo second movement (Andante) is based upon a lovely melody, first sung by the violas and cellos. A brilliant virtuoso finale (Presto; Molto Allegro e vivace) brings the Concerto to a rousing close. (Program Notes continued next page)

Delphine von Schauroth (1813 – 1887), the German pianist and composer who inspired Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto.

SERGEI RACHMANINOFF

born: April 1, 1873 in Semyonovo, Russia

died: March 28, 1943 in Beverly Hills, California

Symphony No. 2 in E minor

Opus 27 (1907)

Sergei Rachmaninoff completed his First Symphony in August of 1895. Thanks in large part to the efforts of composers Sergei Taneyev and Alexander Glazunov, the Symphony received its premiere at the Hall of the Nobility in St. Petersburg (now St. Petersburg Philharmonic Hall) on March 27, 1897. Glazunov conducted, but it seems he didn’t do much to advance the cause of Rachmaninoff’s new composition. A few months later, Rachmaninoff lamented to a friend: “I am amazed how such a highly talented man as Glazunov can conduct so badly.”

Rachmaninoff remained backstage during the entire March 27 premiere. After the wretched performance, Rachmaninoff escaped to the street rather than face the audience’s negative reaction. Still, he could not avoid the ire of such critics as composer César Cui, who wrote:

If there were a conservatory in Hell, if one of its many talented students were instructed to write a programme symphony on the “Seven Plagues of Egypt,” and if he were to compose a symphony like Mr. Rachmaninoff’s, then he would have fulfilled his task brilliantly and would delight the inhabitants of Hell.

Rachmaninoff’s First Symphony was neither performed again nor published during the composer’s lifetime.

The disastrous premiere of the First Symphony precipitated a three-year crisis for the young Rachmaninoff, who lost all confidence in his abilities as a composer. In 1900, Princess Alexandra Lieven attempted to lift Rachmaninoff’s spirits by arranging for him to visit Leo Tolstoy. Rachmaninoff met Tolstoy on two occasions, the second time accompanied by the Russian basso, Feodor Chaliapin. But the encounters with Tolstoy did little to buoy Rachmaninoff’s confidence. In fact, they only served to heighten his feelings of inadequacy. After Rachmaninoff gathered the nerve to play one of his

premiere: February 8, 1908 in St. Petersburg approx. duration: 60 minutes

compositions for Tolstoy, the author responded by inquiring: “Tell me, does anybody need music like this?”

However, a breakthrough for Rachmaninoff occurred that same year. On the advice of relatives, Rachmaninoff consulted Dr. Nikolai Dahl, a psychiatrist who used hypnosis in the treatment of his patients. The consultations with Dr. Dahl were an extraordinary success. Rachmaninoff experienced a tremendous resurgence of confidence and immediately began to compose his Second Piano Concerto (1901), a work he dedicated to Dr. Dahl.

Rachmaninoff even summoned the courage to attempt another Symphony. In the fall of 1906, Rachmaninoff and his family moved to Dresden. The relocation offered Rachmaninoff the solitude he needed to devote himself entirely to composition. In October, Rachmaninoff began his Second Symphony, and finished the first draft of the score on New Year’s Day, 1907. Rachmaninoff tried to keep the project a secret, but a Russian newspaper announced the Symphony’s completion. In February of 1907, Rachmaninoff admitted to his friend, Mikhail Slonov:

I have composed a symphony. It’s true! It’s only ready in rough. I finished it a month ago, and immediately put it aside. It was a severe worry to me and I am not going to think about it any more. But I am mystified how the newspapers got into it!

Rachmaninoff later refined the score of his Second Symphony and conducted its premiere in St. Petersburg on February 8, 1908. The work’s favorable reception by the audience and critics did much to vindicate Rachmaninoff after the humiliating premiere of his First Symphony. The Second Symphony proved to be immensely popular throughout Rachmaninoff’s life, and remains one of his most beloved orchestral works. The rich orchestration and passionate melodies make it one of the finest Russian symphonies of the late Romantic era.

The Second Symphony is in four movements. The first begins with an extended slow-tempo introduction (Largo), opening with a motif that will appear in various guises throughout the work. The principal quick-tempo section (Allegro moderato) follows. The second movement is a vibrant scherzo (Allegro molto), culminating with the brass’s chorale transformation of the Symphony’s opening measures. The beautiful third movement (Adagio) is based upon two melodies, presented at the outset. The finale (Allegro vivace), recalling music from previous movements, propels to an exuberant close.

We gratefully acknowledge these generous donors to the Charlotte Symphony Annual Fund. This list reflects gifts received between July 1, 2022 through March 1, 2023

BENEFACTOR CIRCLE

$100,000+

Anonymous

Catherine & Wilton Connor

$50,000 – $99,999

Roberta H. Cochran

Ellen M. Fitzsimmons & Greg Rogowski

$25,000 – $49,999

Joan & Mick Ankrom

Richard & Ruth Ault

Dr. Milton & Arlene Berkman Philanthropic Fund

Mark & Judith Brodsky

DG Brungard Foundation

Jean & Dick Cornwell

J. Porter & Victoria Durham

Linda & Bill Farthing

$15,000 – $24,999

Ralph S. Grier

Richard Krumdieck

DeDe & Alex McKinnon

$10,000 – $14,999

Anonymous (3)

Francisco & Jeannette Alvarado

Katharine & Frank Bragg

Mr. & Mrs. R. Alfred Brand III

Lynne & Colby Cathey

Christoph & Robin Feddersen

Karen Fox

Chris & Susan Kearney

Ginger Kelly

Page & Ed Kizer

Douglas Young

Patrick J. O’Leary

John & Maria Huson

Jacqueline B. Mars

Jane & Hugh McColl

Patricia & Thrus Morton

Richard J. Osborne

Paul & Kathy Reichs

Carolyn Shaw

John & Andromeda Williams

Alex & Ulrike Miles

Debbie & Pat Phillips

Judy & Derek Raghavan

Ann & Fritz Rehkopf

Betty P. & Jeffrey J. Lee

Ms. Nina Lesavoy

Susan & Loy McKeithen

Robert Norville

Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Richardson

Mary Anne Rogers

Mike Rutledge

Thomas & Sherry Skains

Richard & Lisa Worf

For more information on how to make a gift to the CSO Annual Fund, please contact Libby Currier, Interim Director of Major Gifts, at 704.714.5137 or lcurrierl@charlottesymphony.org

CIRCLE

Suzie & Nick Trivisonno

In Memory of Tess Verbesey

Kevin & Jill Walker

Floyd Wisner & Glenda Colman

$3,500 – $4,999

Wedge & Debbie Abels

Philipp J. Bischoff

Judith Carpenter

Joan & Parker Foley

H. Clay Furches

Richard I. McHenry & Cynthia L. Caldwell

Mr. & Mrs. Paul McIntosh

Tony & Linda Pace

Edgar & Karen Whitener

$2,500 – $3,499

Anonymous (3)

Julian Andretta

Mrs. Harriet B. Barnhardt

Bill & Georgia Belk

Tiffany & Jason Bernd

Jan & Bob Busch

Cathy Bessant & John Clay

Ms. Melody Birmingham

Mr. & Mrs. Alan Blumenthal

Dr. & Mrs. O. Robert Boehm

Twig & Barbara Branch

Ann Thomas Colley

Dorothy & Mike Connor

Melissa Cornwell

Chris & Elizabeth Daly in Memory of Betty Haggarty

Alfred & Amy Dawson

Peter De Arcangelis

Phil & Mary Delk

Cheryl DeMaio

Peggy & Charles Dickerson

Peggy & Richard Dreher

Mrs. Carolyn Faison

Alex & Patty Funderburg

Timothy & Kara Gallagher

Harvey & Cindy Gantt

Mr. Billy L. Gerhart, in memory of Judith Gerhart

Todd & Andrea Griffith

Laura & Michael Schulte

Lori & Eric Sklut

Emily & Zach Smith

Melinda & David Snyder

Ms. Andrea J. Stevenson

Kevin Taylor

Drs. Jennifer Sullivan & Matthew Sullivan

Chris & Jim Teat

Judith & Gary Toman

Mr. & Mrs. C.L. Trenkelbach

Ivan Hinrichs

Brian & Juliet Hirsch

Carol A. Hitselberger & Robert Petty

Jim & Peggy Hynes

Shirley & Bob Ivey

David S. Jacobson

Ginger Kemp

Bruce & Martha Karsh

Dr. & Mrs. Christ A. Koconis

Meghan & Luis Lluberas

(continued next page)

Catherine P. Carstarphen

David M. Cody

Neil & Claire Cotty

Elizabeth Betty Eaton

Arlene H. Elisha

Mrs. Geraldine S. Emmert

Mr. Peter F. Guild

Katherine G. Hall

Angela & Michael Helms

Steven Hershfield & Mary Jo Germain

Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin F. Hill, Jr.

Joan Irwin

Gene & Helen Katz

Dr. & Mrs. Jack Kramer

Elizabeth J. McLaughlin

Anna Marriott

Ms. Rosemarie Marshall & Mr. Lee Wilkins

Jim & Dottie Martin

Cricket Weston & David Molinaro

Eleanor W. Neal

Caroline Olzinski

Mr. Vincent Phillips & Mr. Paul Pope

John & Wilma Pinter

Larry & Dale Polsky

John & Susan Rae

Jane Perry Shoemaker

Mr. & Mrs. Pope A. Shuford

Morris & Patricia Spearman

Ken Spielfogel & Richard Withem

Robert & Maxine Stein

Ann & Wellford Tabor

Tillie S. Tice

James H. Trexler & Kelly Zellars

Daniel & Kathleen Troy

Mindy & Don Upton

Vera Watson

Grant Webb

Linda & Craig Weisbruch

Mrs. Eugenia N. White

Deems Wilson

Ms. Deborra Wood & Mr. Russell Propst

$1,000 – $1,499

Anonymous (2)

Ashley & Steve Allen

Kathleen & Richard Anderson

Melissa & Daren Anderson

Mary Lou & Jim Babb

Mr. & Mrs. Lincoln A. Baxter

Morgan & Katie Beggs

John & Katherine Beltz

Shirley W. Benfield

Si & Michael Blake

Ms. Brett Blumenthal & Mr. David Wax

Carole Bourret

Khary Brown in Memory of Kyden Justice

Brown

Herbert Browne

Jane & Larry Cain

Maggie Callen

Sarah & Marco Carbone

Bill & Pauline Chinnis (continued

Uri

Mrs. William K. Van Allen

Mr. & Mrs. Michael Van Glish

Bill & Rita Vandiver

Dr. & Mrs. Bill Chu & Jin Wang

Pam & Steve West

Peter White

David Wilcox

Bryan Wilhelm

Ms. Judith Wood

$500 – $999

Anonymous (4)

Michael & Lee Abbott

Mark Abrams & Iris Prandi

Mr. Lester Ackerman & Mr. Layton Campbell

Larry Anderson

Leigh & Rhonda Armistead

JWD Atchison

Mrs. Natascha A. Bechtler

Bob & Cathy Becker

Dr. John L. Bennett & Mr. Eric T. Johnson

Jeffrey Boghosian

David Bower & Ann Richardson

Ms. Marianne Bragg

James Broadstone

Aram & Scott Bryan

Mr. Charles Budd

Greg & Mary Lou Cagle

Barbara F. Caine

Ms. Lisa Callen

Amanda & Kevin Chheda

Hobart B. Cheyne

Ms. Michele T. Classe

Mr. Brent Clevenger

Dr. W. Gerald Cochran & Mr. Timothy D. Gudger

Mr. Thomas E. Collins, Jr.

Dr. & Mrs. Charles E. Cook

Dr. Kilian Cooley

Martin & Leslie Cooper

Dr. & Mrs. Mark Couture

Mr. & Mrs. Alpo F. Crane

Ellen M. Crowley

Mrs. Judy Crozier

Craig Selimotic Danforth

Dr. Roy E. DeMeo, Jr. & Ms. Linda A. Evanko

Thomas & Kris Duffy

Virginia Dulaney

Ms. Helen Edwards

Rebecca Elliott

Martin Ericson, Jr.

Dr. & Mrs. J. Murray Fadial

Doug Faris

Tom & Gail Fennimore

Lawrence W. Fetner, Jr.

Melisa & Frank Galasso

Dr. John & Eileen Gardella

Stephen C. & Jean S. Geller (continued next page)

$500 – $999 (continued)

Mr. & Mrs. Kodwo Ghartey-Tagoe

Pete & Stacy Gherardi

Sarah Goad

Mr. Walter H. Goodwin, Esq.

Dan & Linda Gordon

Ms. Cynthia Greenlee

Mr. & Mrs. Lowrance Harry

Mr. Charles Haughey

Mr. & Mrs. Michael D. Heafner

Mr. & Mrs. William Seifert

John Schroeder, in honor of Patty McArthur

Mr. Andrew Silliker

Michael Silverman

Carol Smith

Dr. & Mrs. Henry L. Smith II

Rebecca & Eric Smith

Scott Smith

John-Palmer Smith

Julia J. Souther

Mr. & Mrs. Larry Stern

Kathryn Stewart

William & Catherine Stone

Wesley & Claudia Sturges

George & Brenda Sweet

Ms. Sarah Teague

Tim Timson

B. Maureen Turner

James & Melanie Twyne

Greg & Sandy Vlahos

Theodore & Dorothy Kramer Jonathan Lamb Christopher James Lees Jerome & Barbara Levin

Mr. Michael Lewandowski

Mr. George Linfors Kathryn Long Mark & Katherine Love

Mr. Calin Lupanu

Dr. & Mrs. William W. MacDonald Bruce & Leigh Marsh Francis & Paula Martin Ed & Wendy Matthews Tom & Sandy Meckley

Mr. & Mrs. Kiran H. Mehta Roy H. Michaux Eric Miller Anne & Brad Mitchell

Sallie & Joe Moody Tom & Sally Moore Gary & Fran Morrison Janet Nelson In Memory of Patricia Nims

Karen L. Oldham

Nancy Olah & Bill Pace

Gwen Peterson & Tom Hodge

Janet & Rick Pfeiffer Catherine Philpott

John H. Pickett

Mr. & Mrs. Rodney C. Pitts

Jeanine & Naeem Qasim

Dr. & Mrs. R. Pinkney Rankin, Jr.

Haywood & Sabine Rankin

Casey Rentch

Nancy Rutledge & Jim Rutledge

Robert & Christine Rydel

Minyan Wang

Lyman Welton

Barnet & Harriet Weinstock

Dr. Thomas H. White

Mr. & Mrs. John A. Yakob

Ms. Barbara Yarbrough

Dan & Susan Yardley

Dr. & Mrs. T. Price Zimmermann

$250 – $499

Anonymous (3)

Michael & Lee Abbott

Paula Andretta

Andrew & Karen Antoszyk

Dr. & Mrs. Michael J. Bell

Sam & Nancy Bernstein

Ms. Deborah Berry

Mr. & Mrs. Alexander Bierce

Stuart Blackmon

Ken & Nelle Brown

Steve Bost

Saul & Martha Brenner

David H. & Barbara J. Burns

Philip Bush

John Carr

Robert & Jo Anne Caruso

Mary Case

Amy Cathey

Gray Clark

Mortimer & Josephine Cohen Fund

Ms. Dorothy Cole

Ron & Shirley Coffman

Tom Covington

Mr. Todd Croy

Leeda Currin

Glenn A. Muegel

David H. Nance & Jennifer Nance

Sara & Tom Nolan

Dr. & Mrs. Michael E. Norman

Cookie & Jerry Parnell

Rose & Bailey Patrick

Bradley & Sharon Patterson

Conrad Pogorzelski

Mr. Conrad Puckett

Mr. Mason & Dr. Krista Rankin

Stephen & Melissa Ratliff

Emily & Brian Reinicker

Dr. Livia Robicsek

Mr. & Mrs. Albert E. Rodgers

Ms. Aparna Sagunarthy

Sarah E. Schoedinger

Eileen Scholl

Merle & Judy Schuh

Dr. & Mrs. Marvin Shapiro

Ginny Shaw

Fred H. Smith

Anna Stallman

James & Ellie Stephens

Larry Stratemeyer

Charlene Sturgill

Brenda Gail Summers

Ms. Jean M. Summerville

Mr. Jorge Tapie

Carrie & Jeffrey Teixeira

Nancy & Dick Thigpen

Gretchen & Jean-Claude Thill

Ms. Audrey Truman

Cynthia Turner

Sarah & Tim Turner

LynnErin & Scott Tyler

Rebecca Valenstein

Minyan Wang

Jenny & Henry Ward

Mr. Erik Weghorst

Mr. & Mrs. Tom Weidman

Allen & Clara Wolfe

CORPORATE PARTNERS

We are grateful for the following outstanding corporate funders:

$250,000 +

$100,000 - $249,999

$20,000 - $49,999

$10,000 - $19,999

$5,000 - $9,999

For more information, please contact Shayne Doty at 704.714.5104.

Kingfisher Capital The Dunhill Hotel

GOVERNMENT & FOUNDATION SUPPORT

We are grateful for the following outstanding foundation and government funders:

$100,000 +

$50,000 - $99,999

$20,000 - $49,999

DG Brungard Foundation

Dowd Foundation, Inc

Dunspaugh-Dalton Foundation, Inc.

Mariam & Robert Hayes Charitable Trust

The Trexler Foundation

$10,000 - $19,999

Blumenthal Foundation

Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation

Cole Foundation

The Maurer Family Foundation

$5,000 - $9,999

AT&T Foundation

The George W. & Ruth R. Baxter Foundation

The Jack H & Ruth C. Campbell Foundation

The Charlotte Assembly

$2,500 - $4,999

Barnhardt/Thomas Trust

Kathryn Stephenson Pipe Organ Endowment Foundation

Stanly County Community Foundation

Winer Family Foundation

For more information, please contact Shayne Doty at 704.714.5104.

Dickson Foundation

Robert Haywood Morrison Foundation

The Truist Charitable Fund is a donor-advised fund created by Truist and administered by The Winston-Salem Foundation

We invite your firm to join this special group of corporate supporters committed to keeping the music alive — enriching Charlotte and the surrounding communities as a first-class place to work and live.

$2,500 - $4,999

GreerWalker

Moore & VanAllen Park Inc.

$5,000 + $500 - $2,499

Carter

Troutman Pepper LLP

World Famous Golf Carts of South Carolina

Symphony Orchestra recognizes donors of exceptional generosity whose cumulative giving to the CSO exceeds $1 million with the designation of Music Director Society.

Anonymous (2)

Bank of America Corporation

Catherine & Wilton Connor

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

The Leon Levine Foundation

John S. & James L. Knight Foundation

Mr. & Mrs. Hugh L. McColl, Jr.

Robert Haywood Morrison Foundation

C. D. Spangler Foundation

The Symphony Guild of Charlotte, Inc.

Wells Fargo Corporation

For more information, please contact Shayne Doty at 704.714.5104.

The Charlotte

Anonymous (3)

Geraldine I. Anderson†

Richard & Ruth Ault

Baldwin Family Trust

Barnhardt Thomas Trust

Larry & Joyce† Bennett

Donald H. & Barbara K. Bernstein

Mark & Louise Bernstein†

Twig & Barbara Branch

Saul Brenner

Mike & Joan Brown†

Mrs. Joan Bruns †

Jan & Bob Busch

Dr. Helen G. Cappleman, Ph.D.†

Jim Cochran†

Robin Cochran

Tom Covington

Charles & Peggy Dickerson

Mr. Martin Ericson, Jr.

David J.L. Fisk & Anne P. O’Byrne

Peter & Ann† Guild

William G. & Marguerite K. Huey Fund†

Dr. Nish Jamgotch, Jr.

Betty & Stanley Livingstone†

† Deceased

Paul and Paula McIntosh

Nellie McCrory †

M. Marie Mitchell†

Cricket Weston & David Molinaro

Joan & Richard Morgan

Don C. Niehus

Eva Nove

Richard J. Osborne

Gwen Peterson & Tom Hodge

James Y. Preston†

Mrs. Clayton (Dusty) Pritchett

Ann & Fritz Rehkopf

Elizabeth Waring Reinhard

Nancy W. Rutledge

Mike Rutledge

Harriet Seabrook

Mr. & Mrs. William Seifert

Morris & Patricia Spearman

Bob & Maxine Stein

Dr. Ben C. Taylor III

Mr. & Mrs. Hans Teich

Cordelia G. Thompson

Tim Timson

Jenny & Ken Tolson

Ms. Debora Wood & Mr. Russell Propst

The Encore Society includes individuals who have made provisions for the CSO in their estate plans. We are honored to recognize their support: Leave a lasting legacy of great music through your planned gift. For more information, please contact Shayne Doty at 704.714.5104.

Support your CSO.

With your gift, the Charlotte Symphony uplifts, entertains, and educates the diverse communities of Charlotte-Mecklenburg and beyond through exceptional musical experiences.

Every gift makes a difference. Make your contribution today:

Music by MARK KNOPFLER

7:30 pm | Belk Theater

Fencing, fighting, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles...The Princess Bride has something for everyone! Mark Knopfler’s unforgettable score has been specially arranged for a symphony orchestra. Missing this concert experience would be “inconceivable!”

Multimillion Dollar Commitment City of Charlotte

$1.5 million and above Bank of America

C.D. Spangler Foundation / National Gypsum Company

John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

Trane Technologies

$600,000 - $1 million

Albemarle Foundation

Atrium Health

Barings

Duke Energy

Honeywell

JELD-WEN, Inc.

LendingTree Foundation

Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

Novant Health

Red Ventures

Truist

$300,000-$600,000

Ally Financial

The Centene Charitable Foundation

Childress Klein Properties

Coca-Cola Consolidated

Deloitte

EY

The Gambrell Foundation

Moore & Van Allen

PwC

Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.

Rodgers Builders

Wells Fargo

Up to $300,000

Fifth Third Bank

Foundation For The Carolinas

Deidre and Clay Grubb

Leslie and Michael Marsicano

Jane and Hugh McColl

Nucor Corporation

PNC Bank

Premier, Inc.

Jane and Nelson Schwab

The Charlotte Symphony is supported, in part, by the Infusion Fund and its generous donors.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Linda McFarland Farthing

Chair

John Williams

Vice Chair

Mick Ankrom

Treasurer

David Fisk

President & CEO

Melissa Anderson

Joye D. Blount

Mike Butterworth

Manny Clark

Nick Clements

Catherine Connor

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Richard Osborne, Chair

Ruth & Richard Ault

Kat Belk

Arlene & Milton Berkman

Jason & Tiffany Bernd

Mary & Charles Bowman

Frank Bragg

Robin & Bill Branstrom

Derick & Sallie Close

Robin Cochran

Wilton Connor

Jeanie & T. Thomas Cottingham III

Brian Cromwell

Alessandra & Pasquale De Martino

Alvaro & Donna de Molina

Peggy & Richard Dreher

Lisa Hudson Evans

Eileen Friars & Scott Pyle

Todd Gorelick

Ralph S. Grier

Laurie Guy

Janet Haack

Reginald B. Henderson, Esq.

Mark & Whitney Jerrell

Mary Delk*

Denise DeMaio

Richard Krumdieck

Alex McKinnon

Ulrike W. Miles

Glenn Mincey

Robert Rydel*

Ylida Scott

Melinda Snyder

Jennifer Sullivan

Jenny Tolson*

Jenny Topilow*

Kevin Walker

*ex officio

Jeff Lee

Gov. James G. Martin

Jane & Hugh McColl

Susan & Loy McKeithen

Elizabeth J. McLaughlin

George McLendon

Patrick J. O’Leary

Debbie & G. Patrick Phillips

Paul Reichs

Nancy & Charles Robson

Patricia A. Rodgers

M.A. Rogers

Dan & Sara Garces Roselli

Laura & Mike Schulte

Carolyn Shaw

Tom Skains

Emily & Zach Smith

Bob & Marsha Stickler

Adam Taylor

Cynthia Tyson

Braxton Winston

Richard Worf

Albert Zue

EXECUTIVE

David J. L. Fisk, President & CEO

Samantha Hackett, Executive Administrator

ARTISTIC OPERATIONS (see p. 11)

DEVELOPMENT

Shayne Doty, Vice President of Development

Libby Currier, Interim Director of Major Gifts

Tammy Matula, Database Manager

Jennifer Gherardi, Development Manager - Campaign & Special Events

Senta Harvey, Annual Fund & Sponsorships Associate

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

Angel Adams, Vice President of Finance & Administration

Lissette Rodriguez, Staff Accountant

Chazin & Company, Financial Services

Amy Hine, Office Administrator

HUMAN RESOURCES

Maribeth Baker (Catapult), Human Resources Counselor

LEARNING & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Aram Kim Bryan, Vice President of Learning & Community Engagement

Emily Gordon, Project Harmony Manager

Dylan Lloyd, Youth Orchestras Manager

Peyton Wulff, Learning Manager

Jirah Montgomery, Youth Orchestras Assistant

MARKETING

Mical Hutson, Vice President of Marketing & Audience Development

Deirdre Roddin, Director of Institutional Marketing & Communications

Nicole Glaza, Senior Manager of Digital Marketing

Chad Calvert, Visual Communications Manager

Laura Thomas, Marketing Manager

Meghan Starr, Patron Communications Manager

Garrett Whiffen, Ticketing Manager 128 S. Tryon Street, Suite 350

THE BEST OF JAMES BOND

May 12 & 13 7:30 pm | Knight Theater

“The name’s Bond...James Bond.”

Over two dozen Bond films spanning five decades have produced some of the greatest movie music of our time. The CSO presents the best of Bond, from the iconic Theme Song to the sultry “Nobody Does it Better” — and more spy thriller favorites!