Program - A Tribute to Comic Con V - Sondheim & Lloyd Webber Showcase

SPECIAL

2018/19

SYMPHONIC TRIBUTE TO COMIC CON — V

2018/19 SEASON PRESENTING SPONSORS:

COLORADO SYMPHONY CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor

Friday, February 8, 2019, at 7:30 p.m.

Boettcher Concert Hall

Selections to be announced from stage

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

SOUNDINGS

2018/19

PROGRAM 1

SPECIAL BIOGRAPHIES CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor Australian conductor Christopher Dragon is in his fourth season as the Associate Conductor of the Colorado Symphony. For three years he 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. Dragon works regularly in Australia and has guest 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 Orchestra was released on album by ABC Music and won an ARIA the following year. Dragon’s international guest conducting includes the Orquestra Sinfônica de Porto Alegre, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. He has also conducted at numerous festivals including the Breckenridge and Bangalow Music Festivals, with both resulting in immediate re-invitations. At the beginning of 2016 Dragon conducted Wynton Marsalis’ Swing Symphony as part of the Perth International Arts Festival alongside Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at the Lincoln Center Orchestra. Dragon began his conducting studies in 2011 and was a member of the prestigious Symphony Services International Conductor Development Program in Australia under the guidance of course director Christopher Seaman.

He has also studied with numerous distinguished conductors including Leonid Grin, Paavo and Neeme Järvi at the Järvi 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

SYMPHONY POPS

2018/19

2018/19 SEASON PRESENTING SPONSORS:

SONDHEIM & LLOYD WEBBER SHOWCASE COLORADO SYMPHONY CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor (see biography on Program 2) SCARLETT STRALLEN, vocalist DEBBIE GRAVITTE, vocalist HUGH PANARO, vocalist Saturday, February 9, 2019, at 7:30 p.m.

Boettcher Concert Hall

STYNE/SONDHEIM

Overture to Gypsy

SONDHEIM “Comedy Tonight” from A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum “Broadway Baby” from Follies

SONDHEIM

SONDHEIM “Not While I’m Around” from Sweeney Todd SONDHEIM “Move On” from Sunday in the Park with George BERNSTEIN/SONDHEIM

Medley from West Side Story

SONDHEIM “Send in the Clowns” from A Little Night Music continued on next page

Saturday’s Concert is Gratefully Dedicated to Ken and Zoe Barley PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

SOUNDINGS

2018/19

PROGRAM 3

SYMPHONY POPS

2018/19

STYNE/SONDHEIM “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” from Gypsy SONDHEIM

“Being Alive” from Company

SONDHEIM

“Getting Married Today” from Company — INTERMISSION —

LLOYD WEBBER

Jesus Christ Superstar Medley

LLOYD WEBBER

“Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” from Evita

LLOYD WEBBER “Any Dream Will Do” from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat LLOYD WEBBER

“Jellicle Ball” from Cats

LLOYD WEBBER

“ Memory” from Cats

LLOYD WEBBER “Phantom of the Opera” from Phantom of the Opera LLOYD WEBBER “Music of the Night” from Phantom of the Opera

SYMPHONY POPS BIOGRAPHIES CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor Australian conductor Christopher Dragon is in his fourth season as the Associate Conductor of the Colorado Symphony. For three years he 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. Dragon works regularly in Australia and has guest 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 Orchestra was released on album by ABC Music and won an ARIA the following year. Dragon’s international guest conducting includes the Orquestra Sinfônica de Porto Alegre, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. He has also conducted at numerous festivals including the Breckenridge and Bangalow Music Festivals, with both resulting in immediate re-invitations. At the beginning of 2016 Dragon conducted Wynton Marsalis’ Swing Symphony as part of the Perth International Arts Festival alongside Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at the Lincoln Center Orchestra.

Dragon began his conducting studies in 2011 and was a member of the prestigious Symphony Services International Conductor Development Program in Australia under the guidance of course director Christopher Seaman. He has also studied with numerous distinguished conductors including Leonid Grin, Paavo and Neeme Järvi at the Järvi Summer Festival, Fabio Luisi at the Pacific Music Festival, and conducting pedagogue Jorma Panula.

S TAY

SOCIAL #ColoradoSymphony Make the most of your Colorado Symphony experience by connecting with us on social media. Find backstage features, concert announcements, musician updates, and special discounts! @coloradosymphony @coloradosymphony @CO_Symphony

COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG SOUNDINGS

2018/19

PROGRAM 5

SYMPHONY POPS BIOGRAPHIES SCARLETT STRALLEN, vocalist Scarlett Strallen has starred in productions on Broadway, London’s West End, and is a frequent soloist on the concert stage. She is currently starring on Broadway as Gwendolyn in Travesties and has appeared in the title role of Mary Poppins, a role she also played in the West End and as Sibella Hallward in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. Additional theater credits include Mabel in Pirates of Penzance at Barrington Stage Company, Lady Macduff in Macbeth at the Armory in New York, Cunegonde in Candide at the Menier Chocolate Factory, Cassie in A Chorus Line at The London Palladium, Kathy Selden in Singin’ in the Rain at Chichester Festival Theatre and The Palace Theatre London (Olivier Award Nomination for Best Actress in a Musical), Amalia in She Loves Me at the Chocolate Factory, and Clara in Passion at Donmar Warehouse. Her performance of Josephine at Regents Park Open Air Theatre in HMS Pinafore won her an Olivier nomination. In 2014, Scarlett received the ‘Whatsonstage’ awards for best actress in a musical for A Chorus Line at the London Palladium and Candide at the Menier. A frequent soloist with orchestras around the world, Strallen made her German debut at the Philharmonie in Berlin with the John Wilson Orchestra in “A Celebration of the MGM Film Musicals”. Recent concerts include “Disney on Broadway” at the Royal Albert Hall, “I Love Musicals” arena tour of Sweden with Peter Joback, “Cole Porter in Hollywood” UK tour with the John Wilson Orchestra, a broadcast on Sky television from the Royal Albert Hall in London and “Bernstein Stage and Screen” at the BBC Proms with the John Wilson Orchestra which was broadcast on BBC television. Strallen has recorded with Simon Keenleyside “Something’s Gotta Give” for Chandos conducted by David Charles Abel. Film and television credits include the title role in the BBC production of Mary Poppins celebrating HM Queen Elizabeth’s 80th birthday.

DEBBIE GRAVITTE, vocalist One of Broadway’s biggest personalities, Debbie Gravitte received the Tony Award for her critically acclaimed performance in Jerome Robbins Broadway, along with the New York Showstopper Award and a Drama Desk Award nomination. She made her Broadway debut in the original cast of They’re Playing Our Song, and went on to appear in: Blues In The Night, Perfectly Frank (Drama Desk Award Nomination), Zorba, Ain’t Broadway Grand?, Chicago and Les Miserables. Gravitte appeared in London in Jerry Herman’s Mack and Mabel at the Drury Lane Theatre. She’s also been seen in the New York City Encores! productions of The Boys From Syracuse, Tenderloin, and Carnival at New York’s City Center. Gravitte has performed her nightclub act worldwide, from New York’s Rainbow and Stars, to London’s Pizza On The Park. In Atlantic City, she’s had the honor to open for George Burns and Jay Leno. Gravitte has sung with over 100 orchestras worldwide, including National Symphony with Marvin Hamlisch, Cleveland Orchestra, Boston Pops, Cleveland Pops, Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, Pittsburgh Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, San Diego Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, and Houston Symphony. Overseas, she’s appeared with the London Symphony, Aalborg Symphony, Birmingham Symphony, Stockholm Philharmonic, Gotesborg

PROGRAM 6

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

SYMPHONY POPS BIOGRAPHIES Symphony, Jerusalem Symphony, The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, National Syphonica of Brazil, Munich Philharmonic, along with a special performance in Beijing with Lang Lang and the Chinese Philharmonic. Gravitte is featured on many recordings including her three solo CDs: Defying Gravity, The Alan Menken Ablum, and The MGM Album. Film: Isn’t She Great and The Little Mermaid. Television: Trial and Error (CBS), Pursuit of Happiness (NBC), numerous PBS Specials including: Broadway Plays Washington, Ira Gershwin’s 100th Birthday Live from Carnegie Hall, and In Concert with the Boston Pops. Gravitte was featured in the Peter Martin’s ballet Thou Swell with the NYC Ballet.

HUGH PANARO, vocalist Hugh Panaro is perhaps best known for having played the coveted role of the Phantom in Broadway’s The Phantom of the Opera over 2,000 times, including the 25th Anniversary production. In fact, Panaro is one of the few actors to be cast by Harold Prince as both The Phantom and Raoul in the show’s Broadway production and recently starred as the title role in the New York production of Sweeney Todd. Panaro made his Broadway debut in the original production of Les Misérables as Marius, the role he originated in the First National Company. He also created the roles of Buddy in the original Side Show (Sony cast recording); Julian Craster in Jule Styne’s last musical, The Red Shoes; and the title role in the American premiere of Cameron Mackintosh’s Martin Guerre. Panaro was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award for his performance in the title role of Elton John’s Lestat, based on Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles. He made his West End debut in the original London company of Harold Prince’s Show Boat as Gaylord Ravenal, the role he previously played in the Broadway and Toronto productions. An active concert artist, Panaro has performed with numerous symphony orchestras including the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, Philly Pops, Dallas, Detroit, San Francisco, Seattle, Utah Symphonies, and the London Sinfonietta, among many others. Panaro also recently returned as a guest soloist with the Festival Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. He also had the privilege of performing in the world premiere of Penderecki’s Te Deum at Carnegie Hall and was a guest soloist with the Buffalo Philharmonic, conducted by Marvin Hamlisch. His recordings include Jerome Kern Treasury, the original cast recording of Side Show, Tap Your Troubles Away (Herman), The Centennial (Weil), and Life On The Wicked Stage (Kern). His first solo CD, recorded with Sony/BMG, was released in the summer of 2007. In addition, he toured throughout Europe with the legendary Barbra Streisand. A native of Philadelphia, Panaro graduated from Temple University and was awarded the Boyer College of Music Certificate of Honor.

SOUNDINGS

2018/19

PROGRAM 7

IN CONCERT

with the Colorado Symphony conducted by Music Director Brett Mitchell

1STBANK CENTER - BROOMFIELD, CO

MAR 23-24 - 2:00

COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG