Program - L/H 102 The Hard-Core Romantics and Red Carpet Rewind: The Music of the Academy Awards

Colorado Symphony 2017/18 Season Presenting Sponsor:

LISTEN/HEAR • 2017/18 ANYTHING BUT INNOCENT: THE HARD-CORE ROMANTICS COLORADO SYMPHONY CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor AUSTIN FISHER, cello

Thursday, February 22, 2018, at 7:30 p.m.

Boettcher Concert Hall

BEETHOVEN

Overture to Egmont, Op. 84

MUSSORGSKY

A Night on Bald Mountain

DVOŘÁK

Silent Woods for Cello and Orchestra

WAGNER Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, "Pathetique" III. Allegro molto vivace

SOUNDINGS

2 0 1 7/ 1 8

PROGRAM 1

LISTEN/HEAR BIOGRAPHIES CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor Australian conductor Christopher Dragon is in his third season as the Associate Conductor of the Colorado Symphony and continues his position as Principal Guest Conductor with the Denver Young Artists Orchestra. For three years, Christopher previously held the position of Assistant Conductor with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, which gave him the opportunity to work closely with Principal Conductor Asher Fisch. Christopher works regularly in Australia and has conducted the Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and West Australian Symphony Orchestras. His 2015 debut performance at the Sydney Opera House with Josh Pyke and the Sydney Symphony has been released on CD by ABC Music. In 2017, Christopher returned to the West Australian Symphony Orchestra for a subscription concert. In 2016, he made his Brazilian conducting debut with the Orquestra Sinfônica de Porto Alegre. He has also conducted at numerous festivals including the Breckenridge and Bangalow Music Festivals, both resulting with invitations to return. At the beginning of 2016, Christopher conducted Wynton Marsalis’ Swing Symphony as part of the Perth International Arts Festival alongside Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at the Lincoln Center Orchestra. In 2014, Christopher was selected from 100 international applicants to conduct the Princess Galyani Vadhana Youth Orchestra in Thailand and earlier that year participated in the Jarvi Winter Academy in Estonia where he was awarded the Orchestra’s Favourite Conductor Prize. Christopher began his conducting studies in 2011 and was a member of the prestigious Symphony Services International Conductor Development Program under the guidance of course director Christopher Seaman. He has also studied with numerous distinguished conductors including Leonid Grin, Paavo and Neeme Jarvi at the Jarvi Summer Festival, Fabio Luisi at the Pacific Music Festival, and conducting pedagogue Jorma Panula.

PROGRAM 2

C O L O R A D O SY M P H O N Y.O R G

LISTEN/HEAR BIOGRAPHIES AUSTIN FISHER, cello A member of the Colorado Symphony since November 2014, Austin Fisher was appointed Assistant Principal Cello in September 2015 and served as Acting Principal for the 2016/17 Season. He made his solo debut with the Symphony in October 2016, performing Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 1. An active soloist and chamber musician, Austin has been praised for his “virtuosity, refinement, and style” (South Florida Classical Review).

He has performed Schumann’s Cello Concerto with the New World Symphony in Miami and the Lakewood Symphony here in Colorado. He is a regular performer on the Englewood Arts Chamber Music Series and recently joined the Miami String Quartet for a performance of Schoenberg’s Verklarte Nacht in Fort Collins. Last July, he performed in Banff’s Rolston Hall with members of the Miró Quartet. Austin has also recorded and performed with Miami-based indie-folk trio The alt Default. Austin has attended festivals and master classes around the world, including IMS Prussia Cove, London Master Classes, and the Pacific Music Festival in Japan. He is Co-Principal Cello at the Lakes Area Music Festival in Minnesota, where he will return for his eighth season, and regularly performs with the Strings Music Festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Austin holds a Master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music and a Bachelor’s degree from the Eastman School of Music, studying under Hans Jørgen Jensen and Steven Doane. Important mentors include Yo-Yo Ma, Silver Ainomae, and the Miró Quartet. He plays on a French cello made by Francois Caussin, 1830.

SOUNDINGS

2 0 1 7/ 1 8

PROGRAM 3

Colorado Symphony 2017/18 Season Presenting Sponsor:

SYMPHONY POPS • 2017/18 RED CARPET REWIND: CELEBRATION OF THE MUSIC OF THE ACADEMY AWARDS COLORADO SYMPHONY CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor DEVIN DESANTIS, vocals CLAUDE SIM, violin Saturday's Concert is Gratefully Dedicated to Keith and Kathie Finger

Saturday, February 24, 2018, at 7:30 p.m.

Boettcher Concert Hall

NEWMAN

Fox Fanfare

ARLEN/HARBURG Orch. Wilcox

Overture to The Wizard of Oz “Cyclone” from The Wizard of Oz

ARLEN "Over the Rainbow" from Wizard of Oz GERSHWIN/Whitney

An American in Paris Suite

RODGERS “Oh What A Beautiful Morning” from Oklahoma BERNSTEIN/Muller

West Side Story Highlights

R.B. and RICHARD SHERMAN Arr. Kostal

Mary Poppins Symphonic Fantasy

JOHN WILLIAMS/Lavender

Tribute to John Williams

— INTERMISSION — continued on next page

PROGRAM 4

C O L O R A D O SY M P H O N Y.O R G

SYMPHONY POPS • 2017/18

JOHN CORIGLIANO Chaconne for Violin from The Red Violin Arr. Bulla

007 Through the Years

ADELE ADKINS Arr. Redford

Skyfall

JAMES HORNER/Moss James Horner: Hollywood Blockbusters ALAN MENKEN & ELTON JOHN arr. Reineke/Kunzel

Disney’s New Classics

SOUNDINGS

2 0 1 7/ 1 8

PROGRAM 5

SYMPHONY POPS BIOGRAPHIES CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor Australian conductor Christopher Dragon is in his third season as the Associate Conductor of the Colorado Symphony and continues his position as Principal Guest Conductor with the Denver Young Artists Orchestra. For three years, Christopher previously held the position of Assistant Conductor with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, which gave him the opportunity to work closely with Principal Conductor Asher Fisch. Christopher works regularly in Australia and has conducted the Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and West Australian Symphony Orchestras.

His 2015 debut performance at the Sydney Opera House with Josh Pyke and the Sydney Symphony has been released on CD by ABC Music. In 2017, Christopher returned to the West Australian Symphony Orchestra for a subscription concert. In 2016, he made his Brazilian conducting debut with the Orquestra Sinfônica de Porto Alegre. He has also conducted at numerous festivals including the Breckenridge and Bangalow Music Festivals, both resulting with invitations to return. At the beginning of 2016, Christopher conducted Wynton Marsalis’ Swing Symphony as part of the Perth International Arts Festival alongside Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at the Lincoln Center Orchestra. In 2014, Christopher was selected from 100 international applicants to conduct the Princess Galyani Vadhana Youth Orchestra in Thailand and earlier that year participated in the Jarvi Winter Academy in Estonia where he was awarded the Orchestra’s Favourite Conductor Prize. Christopher began his conducting studies in 2011 and was a member of the prestigious Symphony Services International Conductor Development Program under the guidance of course director Christopher Seaman. He has also studied with numerous distinguished conductors including Leonid Grin, Paavo and Neeme Jarvi at the Jarvi Summer Festival, Fabio Luisi at the Pacific Music Festival, and conducting pedagogue Jorma Panula.

PROGRAM 6

C O L O R A D O SY M P H O N Y.O R G

SYMPHONY POPS BIOGRAPHIES DEVIN DESANTIS, vocals Devin DeSantis is a Colorado native who hails from Arvada, and is elated and honored to be back on the Boettcher stage with Maestro Dragon and the Colorado Symphony. He grew up in this very hall as a proud member of the Colorado Children’s Chorale, and started his solo career with the Colorado Symphony at the age of 11 in Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, conducted by Marin Alsop. Favorite professional credits include: Tommy in The Who’s Tommy (Jeff Award Nomination Best Actor), Marius in Les Miserables (Jeff Award Nomination Best Supporting Actor), Prince Eric in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Britt Craig/Young Soldier in Parade, Dr. Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein, Corny Collins in Hairspray, Buddy in the first regional post-broadway production of Side Show, Nanki-Poo in Hot Mikado, Frederic in Pirates of Penzance, Matthew in Altar Boyz Chicago, the world premier of The Three Musketeers at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Anyone Can Whistle starring Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald, and The Most Happy Fella starring George Hearn. He was a singer for 4 years in The Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring The Rockettes. He has also performed across the pond with Chamber Opera Chicago at the Shanklin Theatre on the Isle of Wight and the Theatre Royal Winchester. He is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Music, a member of Actor’s Equity, and Associate Artistic Director/founding member of the Chicago Artists Chorale, currently in their 4th season. Have courage and be kind.

LOCK+LAND.COM

CLAUDE SIM, violin Claude Sim has been with the Colorado Symphony since 1999. He frequently performs as soloist with the orchestra. He previously held a principal position with the Baltimore Symphony, and has been guest Concertmaster of the Kansas City Symphony. Other affiliations include the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra. As a chamber musician, Claude has concertized as guest first violinist of the critically acclaimed Miró String Quartet, and as violist with the Grammy award winning Pacifica Quartet. He has also collaborated with members of the Tokyo and Vermeer String Quartets, and with noted pianists including Jeffrey Kahane and Christopher O’Riley. Known for his stylistic versatility, Claude has recorded a studio album of jazz standards from the American Songbook. www.claudesim.com

SOUNDINGS

2 0 1 7/ 1 8

PROGRAM 7

Two Titans: Bernstein & Mahler MAY 25-27 FRI-SAT 7:30 ■ SUN 1:00 Brett Mitchell, conductor Yumi Hwang-Williams, violin BERNSTEIN BERNSTEIN MAHLER

Overture to Candide Serenade (After Plato’s Symposium) Symphony No. 1 in D major, “Titan”

COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG