Seattle Symphony’s New Chamber Series, designed to showcase the talents of individual members of the Orchestra, continues with a recital featuring Principal Trombone Ko-ichiro Yamamoto and Resident Pianist Kimberly Russ.
The program will feature a wide range of works for solo trombone and trombone and piano by composers such as J.S. Bach, Umberto Giordano, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, Juraj Filas, Yoichi Murata, Stjepan Sulek and Enrique Crespo. The performance will take place Tuesday, February 24, at 7:30 p.m. in the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall.
Ko-ichiro Yamamoto
Seattle Symphony Principal Trombonist Ko-ichiro Yamamoto is an active soloist, with solo appearances with the New York Philharmonic and Met Chamber Orchestra, as well as at the 2007 Eastern Trombone Workshop and 2008 International Trombone Festival. In 1990, Yamamoto was accepted to the Franz Liszt Music Academy, where he studied with Gusztav Hona and Sztan Tivador and performed with the Budapest Festival Orchestra. He later studied with Joseph Alessi at The Juilliard School. Awards include fourth place at the International Trombone Association Competition; first prize at the Japan Wind and Percussion Competition; and the diploma prize at the Prague International Music Competition. Yamamoto is a former trombonist for the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and, in addition to his position at Seattle Symphony, currently serves as the Principal Trombonist of the Saito Kinen Orchestra in Japan.
Kimberly Russ
As Seattle Symphony’s Resident Pianist, Kimberly Russ assists the conductors and soloists in preparation of their performances with the Orchestra; performs a variety of keyboard instruments in Seattle Symphony concerts; and collaborates with many members of the orchestra in various chamber music concerts. She additionally serves as rehearsal pianist for both the Seattle Choral Company and Seattle Symphony Chorale, and has appeared locally with the Seattle Opera Orchestra, the Bellevue Philharmonic, the Seattle Choral Company and Choral Arts Northwest. As a guest soloist, Russ has also appeared with the Central Florida Symphony Orchestra (formerly Florida Symphony Orchestra), Tacoma Young Artist Orchestra, Sammamish Symphony and the Port Angeles Symphony. She is a member of the Music Teachers National Association, Washington State Music Teachers Association and Seattle Music Teachers Association.
Program Information
Perhaps better known for his sacred music, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi also composed a number of secular instrumental works. The Sinfonia for Trombone and Pianoforte is a lilting pastoral piece that blends the warm tones of the trombone with the rhythmic capabilities of the piano.
Johann Sebastian Bach’s Prelude and Courante from Cello Suite No. 2 have been transcribed for more than 15 different instruments. The short pieces contain both technical fireworks and heart-tugging emotion.
Juraj Filas’ “At the end of the century” is a single-movement work unified by its haunting first theme. As Filas states, “The falling third patterns of the opening statement give way to a heroic theme which explores fully the ranges and sonorities of the trombone.”
Enrique Crespo’s programmatic Improvisation No. 1 for Solo Trombone follows a young trombone player, frustrated over the middling classical repertoire for his instrument. On the eve of an audition, the trombonist grows frustrated at the mundane music. The trombonist improvises a spectacular piece that displays the versatility of his instrument. He writes it down and performs it at the audition, never letting on that it is his composition. He wins the audition thanks to the virtuosic work. The only drawback: Who will ever be able to play this pyrotechnic showpiece besides him?
The jazz-inspired sounds of Yoichi Murata’s Divers Vision are both melancholy and soulful (No. 2), and yet upbeat and cheerful (No. 3).
Umberto Giordano’s “La Mamma Morta” is originally an aria for soprano. Sung by the character Maddelena, the piece is a haunting aria describing Maddelena’s flight from her burning home after witnessing revolutionaries murder her mother.
Stjepan Sulek’s Sonata for Trombone and Piano, “Vox Gabrieli,” is a lush, romantic piece, featuring the full range of the trombone. The solo lines are long and lyrical, and the piano accompaniment is full of rolling, rhapsodic energy.
Additional performances in the New Chamber Series will feature established chamber ensembles started by Seattle Symphony musicians, including The Serious String Quartet (April 24), Ben Hausman, Tim Garland and Guests (May 24), and odeonquartet and Wesito & Friends (June 7). -- www.seattlesymphony.org
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