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Sunday, February 13, 2005
Tricentennial Work Highlights NMSO Season
By David Steinberg
Journal Staff Writer
The New Mexico Symphony Orchestra's 2005-06 Classics Series will have a distinctive Albuquerque flavor.
The big news is that in April 2006 the symphony will premiere a work commemorating Albuquerque's tricentennial.
"We thought we should use it as an occasion for the creation of a great new piece," said NMSO music director Guillermo Figueroa.
He said the NMSO teamed up with the National Hispanic Cultural Center and the Downtown Action Team to sponsor the commission of the piece.
Miguel del Aguila, a Uruguayan composer living in Los Angeles, received the commission. Figueroa said Del Aguila has been in Albuquerque several times and will continue visiting here to help him explore themes for the work.
Figueroa said his idea was that it should be a major staged work with actors and dancers, but at this point, he doesn't know what Del Aguila's concept for it is.
"I don't know what shape it's going to take," he added.
Del Aguila, who also is a pianist, will give a sneak preview of the work at the Oct. 28-29 paired Classics concerts.
The Classics Series opens with triple concerts— Sept. 16, 17 and 18— with pianist Awadagin Pratt, an Albuquerque resident with an international reputation, performing Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3.
Figueroa said Pratt is "always a big favorite in New Mexico. It makes sense to do him with one of the great Beethoven concertos and (Gustav) Mahler's Symphony No. 5."
For two other paired concerts members of the Albuquerque Youth Symphony, which will celebrate its 50th season, will join the NMSO on stage.
The first NMSO-AYS dates will be Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 with up-and-coming Russian pianist Natasha Paremski as guest artist.
The other dates will be Jan. 20 and 21 with the virtuoso violinist Midori.
"We were able to get her because she's involved with youth education," Figueroa said of Midori. "She will coach, give master classes and on the January program she will play a piece with (the Albuquerque Youth Symphony) to open the program and then one with us. So it's a very exciting collaboration."
A collaboration outside the Classics Series will have famed pianist Van Cliburn playing with the NMSO on March 11. Tickets for this special concert are available only to renewing or new NMSO subscribers.
These are the other concerts in the Classics Series:
Nov. 11, 12 and 13 with Eddie Daniels and the NMSO playing Aaron Copland's Clarinet Concerto. The guest conductor is Andrea Quinn.
Dec. 16, 17 and 18 with the NMSO Chorus performing George Frideric Handel's "Messiah." Figueroa said it will be the first time that he's conducted the complete "Messiah."
Feb. 17, 18 and 19, 2006, with the NMSO Chorus in Giuseppe Verdi's Requiem.
March 3 and 4, 2006, with guest artist Carol Wincenc performing Christopher Rouse's Flute Concerto.
March 31, April 1 and 2, 2006, with Figueroa playing the violin in Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto. Maximiano Valdes is guest-conducting.
May 26, 27 and 28, 2006, with guest artist Elmar Oliveira playing Antonin Dvorak's Violin Concerto.
The paired concerts in the Classics Series are in Popejoy Hall as is the Van Cliburn concert.
For the triple concerts, the first two are in Popejoy and the Sunday matinees are at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.
Those interested in buying season subscriptions should call the NMSO box office at 881-8999 or go to the NMSO Symphony Store at 4407 Menaul NE.
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