Contact: Allison Griffin
Public Relations Associate
503-416-6347
January 23, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … Ahhh, Paris. Under the baton of Music Director Carlos Kalmar, the Oregon Symphony will explore the impressions of an American visitor in the City of Lights in “Not Quite Classical,” on February 17 at 7:30 p.m. and February 18 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.
George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris,” performed last year to sold-out audiences, continues to be one of the most popular symphonic works nearly 80 years after its composition. The music is filled with “walking themes” as the American of the title walks the Paris streets. To illustrate the American’s journey, the traveler becomes homesick and by the conclusion the orchestra winds up with a glittering, exuberant finale as night falls on the city.
Soprano Lisa Vroman will be featured in Kurt Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins, an Oregon Symphony premiere. Starring for several years on Broadway as Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera, she also earned Theatre Critic’s awards for the role in a record breaking run in San Francisco. She has sung on separate occasions for Queen Elizabeth, former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore.
The piece chronicles the story of a young dancer, Anna, who is sent on a journey through seven American cities to earn money as a dancer for her family. Anna’s character splits into two personalities, torn by the demands of making a living, as well as by her human weaknesses (“deadly sins”). One personality represents her rational side, determined to reach her goal. The other gives in to her desires and therefore threatens the family’s plans. Ultimately, however, the rational side prevails.
The Symphony will also premiere Aaron Copland’s Music for the Theatre. Deemed “whorehouse” music by composer Roy Harris, audiences at the time were unaccustomed to hearing jazz-influenced music in a symphony concert. Copland captures the antics of vaudeville, as well as the sleazy striptease of a nudie show, in burlesque style.
Included in the program is Leonard Bernstein’s Overture to Candide.
Tickets are $20 to $88 and may be purchased at the Oregon Symphony
Ticket Office, located at 923 S.W. Washington. Ticket office
hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets
can be charged by phone at (503) 228-1353 or
(800) 228-7343, Monday through
Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased
at Ticketmaster outlets or by
calling (503) 224-4400. Discounted tickets for groups of eight
or more are available through the group sales hotline at (503)
416-6380. Media support is
provided by Northwest NewsChannel
8 and K103. Additional support provided by the Heathman Hotel.
Images and guest artist bios are available at www.orsymphony.org/media.