MUSICDIRECTOR ROBERT SPANO LEADS THE
ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AT CARNEGIE HALL
ON OCTOBER 30 AT 8:00 PM
Program Includes Landmark Twentieth Century Works by
Eastern European Composers Ligeti, Bartók, and Janácek
On Saturday, October 30 at 8:00 p.m., Carnegie Hall presentsthe Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, led by Music Director Robert Spano,in a program of monumental twentieth century compositions by Eastern Europeanmasters: Ligeti’s Atmosphères, Bartók’s The Miraculous MandarinSuite, and Janácek’s Glagolitic Mass. The performance of Janácek’s Massfeatures soprano Twyla Robinson, mezzo-soprano Monica Groop,tenor John Mac Master, bass Burak Bilgili, and the AtlantaSymphony Orchestra Chorus, which is under the direction of NormanMackenzie.
Composed in 1961 and written for large orchestra, Ligeti’s Atmosphèresexplores the textures that can be created with sound. Ligeti opens the workwith a large cluster chord that uses every note of the chromatic scale over arange of five octaves—all played at once— with the score evolving from there. TheMiraculous Mandarin Suite is based on a pantomime ballet that Bartókcomposed between 1918 and 1931, which tells a sordid story of prostitution,robbery, and murder. And Janácek’s Glagolitic Mass, completed in 1926,refers to the Glagolitic alphabet, one of the earliest alphabets of the Slavicculture, a culture that greatly inspired the composer’s music. Of Janácek’slarge body of choral compositions, this mass is considered by many to be hisgreatest work in the genre.
Robert Spano returns to Carnegie Hall in February to lead the Carnegie HallFestival Anniversary Chorus (with choral preparation by Norman Mackenzie),which was inaugurated and initially led by Robert Shaw, the late, longtimemusic director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and founder and leader of theAtlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus, which is currently in its 40th season. Thisyear’s workshop, presented by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, bringstogether hundreds of choral singers from around the world to study and rehearseBerlioz’s Requiem, with a culminating performance on Sunday, February 13at 3:00 p.m. with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s led by Mr. Spano in SternAuditorium/Perelman Stage.
About the Artists
Soprano Twyla Robinson has performed with many of the world’s leadingorchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Staatskapelle, TheCleveland Orchestra, and Los Angeles Philharmonic, singing under suchconductors as Bernard Haitink, Pierre Boulez, Franz Welser-Möst, Esa-PekkaSalonen, and Michael Tilson Thomas. Highlights from recent seasons includeperformances of Zemlinsky’s Lyric Symphony with the RotterdamPhilharmonic conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, a gala performance with TheCleveland Orchestra of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, and performances withArizona Opera as Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Cosí fan tutte.
Finnish mezzo-soprano Monica Groop began her professional singing careeras a soloist in baroque music and oratorios. After singing in the Finnish RadioChamber Choir under Harald Andersèn she went on to study at the Sibelius Academy.Ms. Groop is in demand as a concert soloist, and she has appeared with manyorchestras including The Cleveland Orchestra; San Francisco Symphony; Boston,Chicago, London, and Toronto symphony orchestras, and the Los Angeles and NewYork philharmonics; and the Dresden Staatskapelle, among others.
Since his acclaimed portrayal of Canio in Pagliacci at GlimmerglassOpera, John Mac Master has been in demand as a dramatic tenor. Recentperformances and recording projects include Florestan in Fidelio with SirColin Davis in London, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Sir Bernard Haitink, andhis debut at Dresden’s Semper Oper as Calaf in Turandot, conducted byFabio Luisi. Mr. Mac Master made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Canio in Pagliacciin performances that included the Saturday afternoon Live from the Metradio broadcast. Recent performance highlights include Verdi’s Requiemat the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Aegisth in Elektra for theCanadian Opera Company, and performances with Vancouver Opera.
Turkey-born bass Burak Bilgili has performed the roles of Leporello inMozart’s Don Giovanni, Zaccaria in Verdi’s Nabucco, and Ferrandoin San Francisco Opera's season opening of Verdi’s Il Travatore (whichhe has also performed at the Metropolitan Opera). He made his professionaloperatic debut at the Teatro alla Scala during the 2002–03 season as DonAlfonso in Donizetti’s Lucrezia Borgia and since has enjoyed a busyinternational schedule of engagements including performances at New York CityOpera, Seattle Opera, Virginia Opera, Florida Grand Opera, and the CanadianOpera Company, among others. In the 2010–2011 season, he will make hisBayerische Staatsoper debut as Don Basilio in Rossini’s The Barber ofSeville.
Music Director Robert Spano, currently in his tenth season as musicdirector of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, is recognized internationally asone of the most imaginative conductors today. Since 2001, he has expanded theorchestra’s repertoire and elevated the ensemble to new levels of internationalprominence and acclaim. It is also the tenth anniversary of the Atlanta Schoolof Composers, which reflects Mr. Spano’s and the orchestra’s commitment tonurturing and championing music through multi-year partnerships defining a newgeneration of American composers, including Osvaldo Golijov, Jennifer Higdon,Christopher Theofanidis, and Michael Gandolfi. Since the beginning of histenure, Mr. Spano and the orchestra have performed over 100 contemporary works,including 16 ASO commissioned world premieres, and five additional worldpremieres. Mr. Spano has a discography with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra ofnine recordings, six of which have been honored with Grammy Awards. He has ledthe orchestra at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, as well as the Ravinia,Ojai, and Savannah Music Festivals. Mr. Spano has also conducted the New Yorkand Los Angeles philharmonics; the San Francisco Symphony; the Boston andChicago symphony orchestras; and the Cleveland and Philadelphia orchestras; aswell as Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala, BBC Symphony, and the RoyalConcertgebouw Orchestra. In addition, he has conducted for Covent Garden, WelshNational Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, and Seattle Operafor its 2005 and 2009 Ring cycles. Mr. Spano was Musical America's 2008Conductor of the Year.
Currently in its 66th season, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is one ofAmerica’s leading orchestras, known for the excellence of its liveperformances, presentations, renowned choruses, and Grammy Award-winningrecordings. The orchestra is a leading cultural organization in the southeastUnited States and the cornerstone for artistic development and music educationin the region. Now in his tenth season with the orchestra, Mr. Spano and theASO have performed nearly 100 contemporary works, including 16 ASO-commissionedworld premieres, and five additional world premieres. During its 32-yearhistory with Telarc, the orchestra has recorded more than 100 albums, 27 ofwhich have earned Grammy Awards in categories including Best Classical Album,Best Orchestral Performance, Best Choral Performance and Best OperaPerformance. The Atlanta Symphony Chorus has earned nine Grammy Awards for BestChoral Performance, most recently for Berlioz’s Requiem in 2005.
Program Information
Saturday, October 30 at 8:00 p.m.
Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage
ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Robert Spano, Music Director and Conductor
Twyla Robinson, Soprano
Monica Groop, Mezzo-Soprano
John Mac Master, Tenor
Burak Bilgili, Bass
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus
Norman Mackenzie, Director
GYÖRGY LIGETI Atmosphères
BÉLA BARTÓK The Miraculous Mandarin Suite
LEOŠ JANÁCEK Glagolitic Mass
The Trustees of Carnegie Hall gratefully acknowledge the generosity of JamesThurmond Smithgall in support of the 2010-2011 season.
Bank of America is the Proud Season Sponsor of Carnegie Hall.
| Ticket Information
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