Program l Rhapsody & Rhythm: The Gershwin Concert Experience with the Colorado Symphony

SYMPHONY POPS

2019/20

2019/20 SEASON PRESENTING SPONSOR:

RHAPSODY & RHYTHM: THE GERSHWIN CONCERT EXPERIENCE PERFORMED BY YOUR COLORADO SYMPHONY CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor RICHARD GLAZIER, piano/narrator NATALIE CORDONE, vocalist MICHAEL ANDREW, vocalist Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 7:30pm Boettcher Concert Hall Richard Glazier will narrate the show with short insightful and entertaining stories supplemented by multi-media including pristine transfers of George and Ira Gershwin’s home movies, film clips, and rare images.

Overture to Strike Up the Band “’S Wonderful” from Funny Face “Rialto Ripples” for solo piano “Swanee” from the revue Sinbad (solo piano) “Stairway to Paradise” from the revue George White’s Scandals of 1922 (solo piano) “The Man I Love” from Lady Be Good and Strike Up the Band “I’ve Got a Crush on You” from Treasure Girl and Strike Up the Band “But Not for Me” from Girl Crazy Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra Movement III: Allegro agitato — INTERMISSION —

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STEINWAY PIANO SPONSOR

Saturday’s Performance is Gratefully Dedicated to Ed and Laurie Bock PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

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SYMPHONY POPS

2019/20

Overture to Of Thee I Sing Medley: Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off/A Foggy Day/ Nice Work If You Can Get It from Shall We Dance and A Damsel in Distress (for jazz combo) “Slap That Bass” from Shall We Dance “Someone to Watch Over Me” from Oh, Kay! “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess “Love is Here to Stay” from The Goldwyn Follies of 1938 “Embraceable You” from Girl Crazy Rhapsody in Blue for Piano and Orchestra CONCERT RUN TIME IS APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AND 41 MINUTES WITH A 20 MINUTE INTERMISSION.

FIRST TIME TO THE SYMPHONY? SEE PAGE 8 OF THIS PROGRAM FOR FAQ’S TO MAKE YOUR EXPERIENCE GREAT!

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SYMPHONY POPS BIOGRAPHIES CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, resident conductor Australian conductor Christopher Dragon is in his fifth season with 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.

RICHARD GLAZIER, pianist Every artist has an epiphany. For classically-trained, award-winning pianist Richard Glazier, it happened at age nine, when he saw the film Girl Crazy with a score by George and Ira Gershwin. He was so excited by the music he heard, he was prompted to write a fan letter to famed lyricist Ira Gershwin. After corresponding with each other for three years, Gershwin invited his young friend, then 12, to meet him in Beverly Hills. During their visit, Ira asked Glazier to play a Gershwin tune on the piano that once belonged to his brother, legendary composer George Gershwin. Fueled by Ira’s encouragement and interest, Glazier dedicated himself to the Gershwin repertoire and the The Great American Songbook, eventually becoming one of the genre’s leading authorities.

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SYMPHONY POPS BIOGRAPHIES NATALIE CORDONE, vocalist Broadway to world-class Performing Arts Centers, Natalie Cordone has played to packed houses around the country. Equally comfortable in front of a sweeping orchestra, big band or in an intimate cabaret venue, she has had the pleasure of connecting with viewers in all kinds of settings.

From opera to musical theatre, film to commercials, and concerts to corporate events, Natalie has traveled the world entertaining audiences.

Natalie began touring with Rhapsody & Rhythm: The Gershwin Concert Experience in 2017. That same year, she also won Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her portrayal in the Rogers & Hammerstein revue, Some Enchanted Evening. She has recently starred with the Greensboro Symphony, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, and Orlando Philharmonic Orchestras. In 2020 she will make her debuts with the worldwide hit Cirque de la Symphonie and the San Antonio Symphony. Natalie also produces and stars in Side by Side: A Vocal Variety Duo. Along with her partner, she is currently touring the country with their five original shows, including their hit, Side by Side: A Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme Tribute. Learn more and see video of the shows at SideBySideVocalDuo.com and find them on Facebook.

She also enjoys teaching and mentoring young artists through her coaching company, TheConnectedPerformer.com. She is also a guest Vocal Director for her alma mater, Wake Forest University. NatalieCordone.com

MICHAEL ANDREW, vocalist For two years, Michael Andrew was the headline singer and bandleader at the world famous Rainbow Room atop Rockefeller Center in New York City where he entertained audiences nightly and hosted a live Radio Broadcast, Live from the Rainbow Room. He was the bandleader and singer at Merv Griffin’s Coconut Club in The Beverly Hilton in California. While on Larry King Live, Merv called Andrew “one of the great singers of all time.”

Michael performs often as a guest artist with symphonic orchestras across the country and with his own orchestras Swingerhead, The Atomic Big Band, and the Gershwin Big Band. He also performs in musical comedies and his last long-term role (as Professor Julius Kelp), led him to star in the world premiere of the new musical, The Nutty Professor, directed by the late Jerry Lewis.

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