March 4, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2014
Contact: Rachel Dellinger
KSO Director of Communications
Direct: 865-521-2317
Cell: 865-660-3037
[email protected]
The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra continues its Moxley Carmichael Masterworks Series with Johann Sebastian Bach’s Six Brandenburg Concerti over two performances. The concerts are sponsored by Partners Development and will take place on Thursday, March 20 and Friday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Tennessee Theatre.
KSO Resident Conductor James Fellenbaum makes his Masterworks Series debut as he conducts the Orchestra with featured KSO soloists and special guests Michael Unger, harpsichord; Ryan Beach, trumpet.
“I am thrilled to conduct the complete Brandenburg Concerti for my Masterworks debut,” said KSO Resident Conductor James Fellenbaum. “This concert begins with large orchestrations of solo pieces by J. S. Bach, arranged by the great conductor Leopold Stokowski. These are famous transcriptions (the Toccata and Fugue is the one heard in the movie Fantasia) and the sounds range from powerful and immense to subtle and breathtaking. They are incredible pieces to behold. In contrast, the Brandenburg Concerti on the second half are much more intimate, and very well-known; they are some of the greatest instrumental creations from the entire Baroque period. Along with special guests Michael Unger and Ryan Beach, I am proud to highlight the talent in our own orchestra with several KSO musicians as soloists. Overall, the audience can expect an easy listening – and very familiar – musical experience with these Baroque masterpieces.”
Canadian-born organist and harpsichordist Michael Unger is currently Assistant Professor of Organ and Harpsichord at the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati. Ryan Beach is currently the Principal Trumpet for the Indianapolis Symphony and is a former member of the Chicago Civic Orchestra. Featured KSO soloists include Gabriel Lefkowitz, Concertmaster; Ebonee Thomas, Principal Flute; Jill Bartine, Second Flute; Kathryn Gawne, Principal Viola; Eunsoon Lee-Corliss, Assistant Principal Viola and Phylis Secrist, Principal Oboe.
Musical selections include two Bach/Stokowski arrangements on the first half of the program: Toccata and Fugue in D minor and Chaconne, from Partita No. 2 in D minor. Thursday’s performance includes Bach’s Brandenburg Concerti Nos. 4, 3 and 1. Friday’s performance includes Brandenburg Concerti Nos. 5, 6 and 2.
About the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra
The KSO has contributed to the cultural life in East Tennessee since 1935. Under the leadership of Lucas Richman, the orchestra consists of 75 professional musicians and performs more than 250 programs throughout East Tennessee each season. Performing in traditional venues such as the Tennessee Theatre, Bijou Theatre and the Civic Auditorium, and in non-traditional places like hospitals, school classrooms, nursing homes, city parks and churches, the KSO reaches more than 200,000 people throughout the region each year.
