Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Founded in 1972, the Grammy Award-winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra is based upon the unique concept of musician-lead performances. For each individual work, orchestra members select the concertmaster and the principal players for each section. This distinctive artist-based philosophy has lead to a remarkable 35-year long performing and recording legacy, marked by more than 70 albums, international touring, and collaboration with countless outstanding artists. Due to an interest in sharing its special organizational approach and techniques with upcoming musicians, the orchestra conducts sessions with students at the Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music, passing on a passion for music. The orchestra brings this enthusiasm to each of its performances as it displays its impressive standard and contemporary's vast repertoire.
Sarah Chang, violinist
Named by Newsweek as one of the 20 Top Women on Leadership in 2006, violinist Sarah Chang is recognized world-wide as one of classical music's most captivating and gifted performers. Appearing on the orchestral scene as one of music's most remarkable prodigies, she has continued to astonish audiences with her seamless blend of technical virtuosity and emotional interpretation. While collaborating with most major orchestras in Asia, Europe, and the Americas as well as countless esteemed conductors and artists, Chang brought her talent to the forefront through many television appearances and concert broadcasts. In 1999 her outstanding musical accomplishments were recognized as she received the Avery Fisher Prize, one of the most prestigious awards given to instrumentalists. Recording numerous widely-acclaimed discs over the years, her most recent album of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons with Orpheus was released worldwide in the fall of 2007.
In this Insight, speaker Raymond Wojcik sheds light on the contrasting compositional styles—programmatic and serial—represented on the program. Musical evocations of birds and nature dominate the evening, with works by Respighi (The Birds) and Vivaldi (his perennially popular The Four Seasons with violinist Sarah Chang). Rounding out the program is a brand-new work by American composer Charles Wourinen, who makes for an interesting juxtaposition with the other two composers. -- www.statetheatrenj.org
