The month of January holds some big programs for us here at the Oregon Symphony. This week we begin with rehearsals for next weekend’s classical series 6 concerts under Resident conductor Gregory Vajda, which includes Bartók’s complete score to his ballet-pantomime The Miraculous Mandarin, and Paul Dukas’ Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Next week Carlos Kalmar returns to conduct classical 7, which includes one of the most difficult modern scores I’ve had the “pleasure” to look at by Scottish composer James MacMillan - The Confession of Isobel Gowdie, along with the complete incidental music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Felix Mendelssohn. Finally, at the end of the month comes classical 8 (with Gregory Vajda back on the podium) with Schumann’s Fourth Symphony (not too difficult) and the formidably difficult Chamber Symphony by John Adams.

Phew! [Read more →]

Bartók in 1929 [courtesy of wikipedia]

One of the great works of the 20th century, Bartók’s Miraculous Mandarin, gets its first performance in Portland in over 30 years this January 12 - 14, 2008 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. The concert will feature supertitles projected over the orchestra to illustrate the precise stage directions indicated by Bartók. [Read more →]