Program - UTRGV Symphony Orchestra: Belated Beethoven

Symphony Orchestra UTRGV Performing Arts Complex Saturday, October 9 at 7:00 pm TSC Performing Arts Center Sunday, October 10 at 2:00 pm

UTRGV SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA First Program ~ 2021 • 2022 Concert Season

Belated Beethoven UTRGV Performing Arts Complex, Edinburg Saturday, October 9, 2021 at 7:00 pm TSC Performing Arts Center, Brownsville Sunday, October 10, 2021 at 2:00 pm Norman Gamboa, Conductor Manuel Monge-Mata, Guest Conductor Diana Seitz, Violin

Adagio for Strings, Op. 11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Samuel Barber (1910 - 1981)

Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26. . . . . . . . . . . Max Bruch (1838 - 1920) Vorspiel: Allegro moderato Adagio Finale: Allegro energetico

INTERMISSION Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93. . . . . . Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827) Allegro vivace e con brio Allegretto scherzando Tempo di menuetto Allegro vivace

For a better concert experience, we kindly ask you to turn off cellular phones, pagers, and all types of noise makers.

We strongly recommend the use of face coverings over nose and mouth as well as maintaining social distancing whenever possible. Thank you!

2 - UTRGV Symphony Orchestra

2021 - 2022 Concert Season

PROGRAM NOTES

by Norman Gamboa & William E. Runyan

Adagio for Strings, Op. 11 Samuel Barber

Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor Op. 26 Max Bruch

Upon request by conductor Arturo Toscanini, Barber submitted a string orchestra adaptation of the second movement from the String Quartet, Op. 11 he had written in 1936. The Adagio for Strings was first performed by the new NBC Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Toscanini at a live radio broadcast from NBC’s Studio 8-H (now home of TV’s Saturday Night Live) in New York. It has is been said that shortly after Barber gave his score to Toscanini, he found it returned to him with no further comment, to Barber’s great annoyance. Later however, Toscanini told him through a friend that he was indeed going to perform it; he had simply sent it back because he was done memorized it.

Rumor says that at the end of the first rehearsal, Toscanini said, “Semplice e bella” (Simple and beautiful).

Even though its first performance was just another radio broadcast of the NBC Symphony, the piece has endured the test of time; it is one of the most beloved and moving compositions of the American repertoire. The “Adagio” has become the quintessential mourning music of the nation. It has been used endlessly to commemorate life-changing events including the ceremony marking the collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. It has also appeared in several films, including Platoon and The Elephant Man. In 1967 Barber created a choral adaptation, Agnus Dei, that is now a staple of the American choral repertoire. Tonight, we wish dedicate Adagio for Strings to the memory of those who we have lost to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bruch is best known for his popular Violin Concerto No. 1. He also wrote two others but they did not achieve any major success. Several of his other works are well renowned, however, including the Scottish Fantasy for violin and Kol Nidrei for violoncello. The reception of most of his output suffered to some degree due to his living in the shadow of Brahms; the lack of appeal to British audiences before and during WWI; his often favored German style; and the wrong assumption by Germans in the 1930s that he was Jewish. Also, his romantic style was perceived to be outdated by the time of his death in 1920.

The Violin Concerto No. 1 is of a rather unusual overall form, the first movement is quite short and serves as introduction to the slow second movement. So, instead of a robust first movement as is usual in solo works, Bruch was happy with an shorter Vorspiel (Prelude). It however does have two main themes, reminding us of Bruch’s gift for melody. In the beginning, a brief idea in the winds alternates with short, rather pensive, cadenza-like reflections from the soloist. Two main themes follow: an emphatic first theme and a much more tender, lyrical second one. Don’t bother to look forward to a typical development of ideas, for after a robust diversion, the introduction returns for an early recapitulation. After revisiting the opening cadenzas and an answer from the full orchestra, the movement then glides via a sustained low note in the violins to the core of the concerto: the extensive slow movement.

The lovely middle movement is with no doubt the heart of the piece, and what creates its timeless appeal.

In the last movement, the soloist enters after a brief introduction with the dramatic main theme, with its

3 - UTRGV Symphony Orchestra

2021 - 2022 Concert Season

multiple stops. The second theme comes quickly—another winsome example of Bruch’s innate lyricism— heard first in soaring iteration in the full orchestra, taken up quickly by the soloist. And just as quickly, the development begins working through both ideas. Bruch was not one to “pad” his compositions, and the scintillating conclusion of this timeless work comes without delay.

dramatic pauses, with passages that almost sound like powerful endings rather than an opening. The form is the familiar sonata form, but Beethoven dashes through it, almost as if trying to quickly reach the long intense coda of pounding sections and unprecedented sustained volume. Then the movement ends with intense hammer strokes followed by sudden soft accents.

The second movement is not what we expect but a fairly rapid exercise in what is consider as some kind of parody on a metronome or a clock.

Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93 Although not proven, it definitely goes Ludwig van Beethoven from beginning to end with incessant sixteenth notes or “tick-tocks” in the Written between 1811 and 1812, winds without varying a bit in tempo, the Symphony No. 8 is a reflection of even during the “stumble stops.” the happy times and optimistic The third movement—usually a personal attitude of Beethoven at that time in his life. His beloved Symphony brisk, and dramatic “scherzo”—is a No. 6 “Pastoral” was finished in 1808, throwback to the old minuet of Haydn and he was busy with important works and Mozart, but with a twist. For Beethoven, this is an oddity in rhythm such as the Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor” and the music for Egmont. full of unusual accents that would make Sketches for symphonies 7 and 8 were it a challenge to dance. It’s as if Beethoven is deliberately trying to also part of his activity at this time. infuse the symphony with more He had already suffered health eccentricity. The horn and clarinet solos problems by early 1811 and both his in the Trio section are a tranquil th th 7 and 8 symphonies were finished diversion from the outer sections. the following year, together marking The last movement takes off at a the end of an era. From that time on fast speed; swift notes that only until the end of his life in 1827, occasionally pause, are followed by an Beethoven and his music saw drastic enigmatic loud note. We hear a main changes. His health further section that returns on regularly, with deteriorated, his family affairs and his contrasting ones and a bit of a personal relationships worsened, all development, as the movement travels contributing to his change. His inspiration decreased and his style took through unusual and entertaining keys that surprise and delight. Just like the on a new abstract quality. So, the Symphony No. 8 in many ways roughly first movement—Beethoven more or less zips through the form to quickly marks the end of a major creative period in his life—what lay ahead were indulge himself in a coda of great length. Along the way, the works that often tested his audiences.

Compared to the Symphony No. 7, unexpectedly loud notes continue— but now in a context that rather which is also from this same period, explains them. The rustic humor carries No. 8 is much shorter and full of on in the thumping octave jumps in the humor, elegance, and with a lightbassoons and timpani. This fanciful hearted sparkle. Beethoven, himself, symphony ends with another poke at referred to it as “my little one.”

With some of the loudest passages convention: tonic chords are repeated endlessly to reaffirm the conclusion, that Beethoven ever called for, Symphony No. 8 is filled with surprises. almost a self-parody of the “long hair” Beethovenian emphatic ending.

The works starts right out with an emphatic, happy theme replete with 4 - UTRGV Symphony Orchestra

2021 - 2022 Concert Season

Dr. DIANA SEITZ Violin engagements include her Carnegie Hall debut recital scheduled for Spring 2022.

Diana’s international career has taken her to the concert halls of Russia, France and Italy and garnered the highest praise of her colleagues:

“A world class musician with a strong following…”(Kansas City Star), violinist Diana Seitz is “a fresh and passionate presence” on the contemporary classical music scene.

“…fabulous technical control, with remarkable facility and intonation and extremely sophisticated bow arm, I was immediately captivated!” – James VanDemark, Eastman School of Music.

Seitz is a graduate of Moscow Conservatory, where she studied with a student of renowned Russian violinist David Oistrakh. She continued her studies in the United States with Felicia Moye - a student of Ivan Galamian and Born into a family of professional a former first violinist of Miami String singers, Diana grew up backstage, Quartet. Dr. Seitz is presently serving as traveling with her parents’ rock band all Violin Faculty at the University of Texas over the former Soviet Union. She made Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, TX, her debut at the age of nine as a soloist where she resides with her husband and with a Chamber Orchestra in Moscow, the youngest of her three children.

Russia. As a teenager, she went on to Apart from her position at UTRGV, become a laureate of the Azerbaijan Diana’s teaching experience includes National Young Musician’s Competition, Meadowmount School of Music performing Paganini’s Violin Concerto (Westport, NY) Kinhaven Summer no.1 with the Azerbaijan State School of Music (Weston, VT), Endless Philharmonic Orchestra, including a Mountain Music Festival (Mansfield, PA), fiendishly difficult Cadenza by E. Sauret. and InterHarmony Music Festival (Acqui Terme, Italy). Dr. Seitz has also A refugee, forced to leave her conducted numerous master classes at Homeland after severe ethnic venues in the US, Russia and Europe, persecution, Diana stepped off an including the Russian Institute of Culture airplane onto US soil in 1993 and never (Moscow, Russia), Instituto Musicale looked back. She has performed all “Boccherini” (Lucca, Italy), InterHarmony around the US, including solo Music Festival (Acqui Terme, Italy), and appearances with the Valley Symphony Conservatoire à Rayonnement Orchestra (Edinburg, TX), Kansas City Départemental Claude Debussy (Paris, Civic Orchestra, Kinnor Philharmonic France).

Orchestra, Grassroots Festival Orchestra (PA), Endless Mountain Music Festival A strong believer in increasing Symphony Orchestra (Corning, NY), and accessibility to classical music for all, the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra (PA). Diana has begun creating videos Diana has also been featured as a featuring the classical violin style on soloist with the Chamber Orchestra of various social media platforms. Several Turkmenistan on the soundtrack of of her recent videos have ranked first revolutionary VR immersive out of millions of posts under multiple documentary “1991”. Her upcoming trending hashtags. Diana’s fast-growing 5 - UTRGV Symphony Orchestra

2021 - 2022 Concert Season

YouTube channel Seitz String Pros has also allowed her to connect with audiences in both the U.S. and abroad.

Falling in step with her passion for connection and community, Seitz was a featured speaker at TEDx McAllen in November of 2019. Her TED talk, titled “A Refugee’s Journey from Carnage to Carnegie Hall”, shares her life story and brings awareness to the plight of

refugees in the USA and around the world.

In 2012, Seitz recorded and released three singles, including concert crowd pleaser “Amazing Grace”. These can be found on iTunes, Spotify and other online retailers.

Diana plays a 1759 Paolo Testore violin.

MANUEL MONGE-MATA Guest Conductor Reed Thomas at Middle Tennessee State University.

He served as a violin and viola instructor at SiNEM (National System of Schools of Music) in the City of Guácimo and in the City of Limón.

In 2021 Manuel Monge-Mata has managed to publish two works with Rising Tide Music Press of New Orleans, Louisiana. Furthermore, in January the CD “David Maslanka: First Recordings” was released in physical and digital formats, where he participates as conductor and producer. This is the third album where he serves as a producer and the first where he appears as a conductor. This year he was accepted to pursue a master’s degree in Instrumental Conducting with orchestral Manuel began his music studies at the emphasis at the University of Texas at Municipal School of Music of Paraíso Rio Grande Valley under the guidance (Costa Rica), at the age of 4 in an experimental program for boys and girls of Dr. Norman Gamboa to further of pre-school age; he takes the violin as expand his knowledge and refine his craft in the field. his instrument, which generates that curiosity for music at a noticeably young age.

In 2017 he obtained a Master of Music degree with an emphasis in wind conducting, under the tutelage of Dr. 6 - UTRGV Symphony Orchestra

2021 - 2022 Concert Season

Dr. NORMAN GAMBOA Conductor and Orquestra Sinfônica Estado de São Paulo (Brazil), Orquesta Sinfónica del

Estado Mérida and Orquesta Sinfónica de Los Llanos (Venezuela), as well as the National Symphony Orchestras of Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras.

Dr. Gamboa has led numerous joint ventures such as fully choreographed productions of Ravel's Ma mère l'Oye with Ballet Midwest, The Nutcracker Ballet with Aurora Dance Arts and Santa Rosa Dance Theater, and also several operas with Topeka Opera Society and Opera on Tap Colorado.

In his second year as Director of Festival appearances include Plzeň Orchestral Activities at The University 2015, FOSJA Casals Festival, Central of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Norman Gamboa is in his tenth season as Music American Festival of Chamber Music, Medellín International Music Festival, Director of the Sonoma County Villarrica Arts Festival, Costa Rica Philharmonic in California and of the International Festival of Arts, Blue Lake Aurora Symphony in Colorado. He is also conductor and founder of the Rio Fine Arts Camp, Bregenzer Festspiele, Las Vegas Music Festival, OSESP Grande Youth Symphony at UTRGV. Gamboa is considered one of the most Orchestra Conductors Competition, and the New York Brass Conference. In prominent Central American 2015 he led the Youth Symphony conductors, with an active schedule that includes appearances with the San Orchestra of Europe, a project that Francisco Civic Symphony, Winchester gathered students from numerous music conservatories all over Europe.

Orchestra, Kansas City Philharmonia, Bemidji Symphony, Topeka Symphony, Previously, he served as Music Director Bay Area Rainbow Symphony, Newton of the Powder River Symphony in Symphony, and Salina Symphony Wyoming, Director of Orchestras at among others. Worldwide Washburn University, Cover Conductor engagements include renowned of the Topeka Symphony, Associate orchestras such as the Západočeský Conductor of the Las Vegas Music Symfonický (Czech Republic), Orchestra Festival, Assistant Conductor of the Filarmonicii Ploieşti (Romania), Orquesta Waco Symphony and Music Director of Filarmónica de Medellín (Colombia), the Waco Symphony Youth Orchestra Orquestra Sinfônica de Ribeirão Preto in Texas.

7 - UTRGV Symphony Orchestra

2021 - 2022 Concert Season

Symphony Orchestra CELLO Israel Cantu, principal Sebastian Garcia-Loredo Raul Lara Judith Recio Kimberly Reyes Zubin Solis Robert Zuñiga

VIOLIN I

Eldaa Hernandez, concertmaster

Samantha Alvarado Priscilla Espinoza Ruben Garcia, Jr. Luis Gonzalez Marifer Guerrero Alexandra Hernandez Joel Sanchez

BASSOON Ashley Perez1,2 Angel Nevarez HORN Rodrigo Barrera2 Daniel Garza David Gutierrez1 Josue Juarez

DOUBLE BASS Diego Garza, principal Michael Farrick Alyssa Gonzalez Isai Martinez David Molina

VIOLIN II Maria Ochoa, principal Nathan Fernandez Jose Anthony Flores Angela Gonzalez Astrid Herrera Angelica Martinez Daniel Santiago Alex Treviño, II Refugio Tristan

TRUMPET Michael Barrera Victor Casas1 Benjamin Gonzalez Ryan Mowers2

FLUTE & PICCOLO Sarah Canning2 Carlos Hernandez1 Stephanie Hernandez

OBOE VIOLA Lorena Coronado1,2 Gamaliel Sanchez, principal Samantha Salazar Denise Alanis Hunter Garcia CLARINET Analuisa Salvador* Angel Aldana1 Guillermo Cavazos Jason Jimenez2 Hugo Lopez

TIMPANI Ian Charlton2 Janellie Maldonado1 ASSISTANT CONDUCTORS Alexandro Lucero-Quintana Manuel Monge-Mata Andrew Stahlman Denotes principal in Bruch Denotes principal in Beethoven *Denotes visiting guest player 1 2

Latin AmericanBallets November 20 & 21, 2021

8 - UTRGV Symphony Orchestra

2021 - 2022 Concert Season