For the third season, Robert Greenberg, the noted educator and author of The Teaching Company's best-selling series "How to Listen to Great Music,"Â joins the HSO in hosting this unique concert where historical anecdotes accompany the performance and the audience can experience the orchestra in the Belding Theater's intimate setting, while partaking in a post-concert question and answer session. Tickets for this concert are currently on sale.
The theme of the 2006-2007 Classical Connections Series focuses on the evolution of the concerto from the mid-18th century to the present and is sponsored by United Technologies Corporation. Robert Greenberg's appearances are made possible by a gift from Robinson and Nancy Grover.
ABOUT THE GUEST ARTIST:
Leonid Sigal, Concertmaster of the HSO since 2005 has enjoyed a multi-faceted career as recitalist, chamber musician and orchestra leader, and has been praised by audiences and critics for his virtuosity and musical sensitivity. The Miami Herald wrote: "Sigal demonstrated what a fine violinist he is, playing passionately and cleanly with a soaring tone", and The Hartford Courant echoes: ""¦His tone was consistently sweet. He brought a clear sense of phrasing, articulation and effortless virtuosity".
Born in Moscow, he began violin studies at the age 5, and a year later was accepted to the renowned Gnessin School. He went on attending and graduating with excellence from the Moscow Conservatory. Later he had also studied with Isaac Stern, Yehudi Menuhin, Pinchas Zukerman and Erick Friedman.
Winner of several violin competitions and recipient of 1993 Algur H. Meadows Artistic Scholarship Award, he moved to the US, where in 1995 he was invited by Michael Tilson Thomas to a prestigious fellowship at the New World Symphony. While serving as concertmaster for the New World Symphony, he was coached as conductor by Mr. Thomas. His experience includes recital and chamber music appearances in the US, Canada, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Russia, Japan and South Korea. He has performed with Sir Georg Solti, Leonard Bernstein, Michael Tilson Thomas, Christoph Eshenbach. Among his festival appearances are Rencontres Musicales d'Evian, Schwetzingen Festival, as well as festivals in Prague, Tokyo, Seoul and Miami.
A dedicated chamber musician, Mr. Sigal collaborated with Mstislav Rostropovich, Evgeny Kissin, Edgar Meyer and Joseph Silverstein, among others. Recent highlights include the Shostakovich Piano Quintet with James Ehnes, Roberto and Andres Diaz and Valentina Lisitsa, and the complete Brahms Sonatas with pianist Vanessa Perez. He appears with the Miami Friends of Chamber Music and is a frequent guest with the Avery Ensemble. Previously Associate Concertmaster of the Florida Philharmonic, he had also performed with San Diego Symphony. From 2001 to 2004 he served as Artistic Director of the Miami Chamber Symphony. Later this season, he returns to the podium to conduct works by Haydn, Schubert and Schnittke on May 25th at Saint Joseph College in West Hartford and June 2nd at the Werner Centennial Theater in Simsbury. Mr. Sigal serves on faculty of The Hartt School.
Robert Greenberg has performed, taught, and lectured extensively across North America and Europe. He is currently music historian-in-residence with San Francisco Performances, the city's premier presenter of chamber music, instrumental and vocal recitals, jazz, and contemporary dance. Professor Greenberg received a B.A. in music, magna cum laude, from Princeton University and earned a Ph.D. in music composition, with distinction, from the University of California at Berkeley. Dr. Greenberg has served on the faculties of the University of California at Berkeley, California State University at Hayward, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he chaired the Department of Music, History, and Literature.
Professor Greenberg's awards include three Nicola De Lorenzo Prizes in composition, three Meet the Composer grants, and commissions from the Koussevitzky Foundation of the Library of Congress, the Alexander String Quartet, XTET, and the Dancer's Stage Ballet Company. Dr. Greenberg has composed more than 40 works for a wide variety of instrumental and vocal ensembles. His work has been performed recently in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, England, Ireland, Italy, Greece, and The Netherlands. His music is published by Fallen Leaf Press and CPP/Belwin and is recorded on the Innova label.
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra, marking its 63rd season in 2006-2007, is Connecticut's premier musical organization and is widely recognized as one of America's leading regional orchestras. The Hartford Symphony Orchestra believes passionately in the performance of live symphonic music and its value in the community. To that end, the mission of the HSO is to perform live orchestral music of the highest quality for ever-expanding audiences, and to increase through its education and community programs the understanding and enjoyment of that music by the residents of Connecticut. Each season, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra plays to audiences numbering approximately 175,000 and reaches thousands statewide through its broadcast concerts on WNPR/Connecticut Public Radio.
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra's extensive array of Musical Pathways educational activities serves more than 63,000 individuals in Hartford and surrounding communities annually, and dozens of community programs introduced in the past several years are helping to encourage new audiences of many diverse backgrounds. The Hartford Symphony Orchestra is supported by more than 5,000 subscribers and 3,000 donors. -- www.hartfordsymphony.org
Posted January 12th, 2007 by ruzik_tuzik
