ASO's next season peppered with premieres

Posted by arts_reviews

Posted: April 27, 2008 - 7:04 pm

The Anchorage Symphony Orchestra on Saturday announced its upcoming season, which will feature two world premieres and a silent-movie night.

Chee Yun

"Echoes" is a new work commissioned by several Native American groups, including the Alaska Native Heritage Center, to tell the story of the 19th-century whaling industry. The piece incorporates dancers, singers and video projections, and was composed by the ASO's music director, Randall Craig Fleischer.

The ASO's commissioning club chose 26-year-old New Yorker Alexandra DuBois to compose the second premiere, "Fanfare."

Next season's guest roster includes Korean-born violinist Chee Yun, who Gramaphone magazine recently called "utterly magical," and cellist Wendy Warner, who debuted with the National Symphony Orchestra at 18.

The ASO will also re-create the heyday of silent films by showing Buster Keaton's classic Civil War comedy, "The General," while the symphony plays along.

In a press release, Fleischer said he's hoping to "strike a satisfying balance between programming works by composers audiences know and love while introducing new works and composers."

THE 2008-09 SEASON SCHEDULE

• Sept. 27: Includes Stravinsky's "The Firebird." With cellist Wendy Warner.

• Oct. 25-26: Includes world premiere of "Echoes" and Copland's "Appalachian Spring."

• Oct. 31: Halloween Family Concert

• Jan. 17: Includes world premiere of "Fanfare." With violinist Chee Yun.

• Jan. 31: "The General," silent film starring Buster Keaton

• Feb. 28: Includes Mendelssohn's "Scottish" symphony. With piano trio Perlman, Schmidt and Bailey.

• April 11: Includes Handel's Water Music Suite No. 2 in D major. With pianist Juliana Osinchuk.

• May 2: Includes Brahms' "Requiem." With Anchorage Concert Chorus, Alaska Chamber Singers.

TICKETS: Single ticket sales will begin in September. Six-concert season subscriptions cost $105-$210, and three-concert packages cost $55-$115. Subscriptions are on sale now at 274-8668 and www.anchoragesymphony.org

--Sarah Henning

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