finalistsSix candidates.Six audition performances.Help choose your next conductor.

Asheville Symphony2017-2018 Season

Asheville Symphony 2017-2018

09.24.17 Beethoven’s EmperorSee p. 6

10.21.17 Tchaikovsky’s 5thSee p. 7

11.18.17 Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23See p. 8

12.31.17 Orff’s Carmina BuranaSee p. 14

02.10.18 Mendelssohn’s ScottishSee p. 9

03.17.18 Rachmaninoff’s 2ndSee p. 10

04.14.18 Sibelius’ 2ndSee p. 11

05.12.18 Hyken reimagines VivaldiSee p. 12

Plus Asheville Symphony Youth OrchestraSee p. 13

333rd Bach Birthday BashSee p. 16

ASO’s Amazing Collaboration CDsSee p. 18

Support ASOSee p. 19

David WhitehillExecutive Director

Daniel MeyerMusic Director

Doris Phillips LoomisPresident, Board of Directors

Contact828.254.7046

ashevillesymphony.org

P.O. Box 2852Asheville, NC 28802

Connectfacebook.com/asheville.symphony

twitter.com/avlsymphony

listen big

The Asheville Symphony’s 57th season is going to be ONE BIG YEAR!

BIG CELEBRATIONS: This season we’ll honor Maestro Daniel Meyer, who has guided us through a

period of unmatched artistic growth over the past 12 seasons, as he conducts his final two concerts

as our music director.

BIG PERFORMANCES: We’ve selected some of the most celebrated pieces from the classical music

canon to showcase the virtuosity and quality of our orchestra. Yefim Bronfman, one of today’s most

acclaimed pianists, will join us for Beethoven’s majestic “Emperor” piano concerto. For a magnificent

conclusion to a wondrous tenure and to ring in the New Year with the Asheville Symphony, Maestro

Meyer has selected Orff’s masterpiece Carmina Burana. We’re also acknowledging Bach’s 333rd

birthday with some of his seminal works: the “Goldberg” Variations and the Mass in B Minor.

BIG CHANGES: This is an important time in our orchestra's lifecycle as we search for our next music

director. The quality and diversity of the candidate pool has given us the opportunity to find a music

director who can continue to build on everything we have accomplished.

BIG OPPORTUNITIES: This season is your opportunity to play an important role in our orchestra’s

future. You will have the opportunity to see each finalist conduct a Masterworks concert and then fill

out a survey providing important feedback. We want to hear from you about who you think can lead

our orchestra in exceptional concerts and connect with our community in new and meaningful ways.

PLAY A BIG ROLE: We invite you to join us as we build a sound future for the Asheville Symphony of

today and our audiences of tomorrow!

Listen BIG,

David Whitehill

Executive Director

finalistsWho will become ASO’s next conductor?

The search is on! A committee of

symphony board members, orchestra

musicians, and community members

began the music director search process

in spring 2016. After receiving nearly 400

applications, the committee narrowed it

down to six conductors. These top-notch

finalists represent an incredible diversity

of experience, style and philosophy. Each

of the finalists is coming to Asheville to

conduct one of the symphony's

2017-2018 Masterworks concerts. There

will be opportunities for the public to

meet and greet each finalist, and the ASO

will survey the audience at each concert

to gather feedback. The ASO expects to

announce its new music director in

mid-2018.

Rei Hotoda Darko Butorac

Rei Hotoda is rapidly becoming one of America's most sought-after and dynamic artists and was recently appointed music director of the Fresno Philharmonic. She has appeared as a guest conductor with many of today’s leading ensembles, including the symphony orchestras of Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Edmonton, Fort Worth, Jacksonville, Utah, Toronto, and Winnipeg, as well as the Colorado and St. Louis symphonies, among others. Her repertoire spans the staples of the classical canon to works by leading composers of today, and she is equally at home leading the orchestra from the piano and from the podium.

Darko Butorac has established himself as an exciting conductor, in demand with European and American orchestras. He currently serves as the music director of both the Tallahassee and Missoula symphony orchestras. He has appeared at prestigious venues such as the Vienna Konzerthaus, the Gran Teatro Nacional of Lima, Belgrade’s Kolarac Hall, Teatro Magnani in Italy, as well as at the Tartu, Aspen and Brevard summer music festivals. He has collaborated with soprano Renee Fleming, cellist Colin Carr, and Oscar-winning actor J.K. Simmons. Butorac is an avid traveler, passionate about bringing people together through the beauty of music.

4 Asheville Symphony

Garry Walker Nicholas Hersh Jayce Ogren

Winner of the 1999 Leeds Conductor's Competition, Scottish-born Garry Walker was recently appointed music director of Germany's Rheinische Philharmonie Koblenz. He is also artistic director of conducting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Walker was permanent guest conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, principal guest conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and now enjoys a close association with Red Note Ensemble, Scotland’s premier contemporary music ensemble. Walker’s acclaimed American conducting debut was with the Utah Symphony Orchestra in the 2011-2012 season.

Nicholas Hersh is associate conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. As guest conductor, Hersh made his debut with the North Carolina Symphony in 2017, and has appeared with the New World Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, Auburn Symphony, and others. He is a frequent collaborator at the Peabody Conservatory as well as the BSO’s OrchKids program for Baltimore City schoolchildren. His symphonic arrangement of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” saw worldwide success as a viral YouTube hit.

Jayce Ogren is building a reputation as one of the finest young conductors to emerge from the United States in recent seasons. He is the artistic director of Philadelphia's Orchestra 2001. Ogren began the 2016-2017 season leading concerts with the Utah Symphony, the Brevard Music Festival, and the Colorado Symphony, and performances of Rufus Wainwright’s Prima

Donna—a work he recorded for Deutsche Grammophone. As a composer, Ogren’s works have been performed at the Royal Danish Conservatory of Music and the Brevard Music Center.

Jacomo Bairos

Jacomo Bairos has earned a reputation for versatility, superb musicianship, and creative ingenuity. He is currently the Amarillo Symphony’s music director and conductor, as well as co-founder and artistic director for Miami’s Nu Deco Ensemble, an eclectic chamber orchestra reimagined for the 21st century. Recent highlights include debuts with the National, Atlanta, Houston, Grand Rapids, and Sarasota symphony orchestras. Bairos is a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory’s distinguished Orchestral Conducting Program and the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen.

September 24, 2017Thomas Wolfe Auditorium4 p.m.

BeethovenPiano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor”

LisztLes préludes

Rimsky-KorsakovCapriccio espagnol

We open our 2017-2018 season with a performance with one of the most celebrated pianists of our time, Yefim Bronfman, who makes his Asheville Symphony debut in Beethoven’s beloved “Emperor” Concerto, a work that continues to astonish audiences with its expansiveness and energy. We then feature the virtuosity of our own musicians in two iconic masterworks. Liszt’s Les préludes is his most popular tone poem, harnessing the rich sounds of each section of the orchestra. Rimsky-Korsakov, on the other hand, created a sparkling orchestral suite which spotlights the individual soloists of the orchestra as well as each section on its own. It caps a night celebrating the mastery of a world-class soloist a well as our own terrific soloists within the ranks of the ASO.

Yefim BronfmanPiano

Praised for his lyrical gifts, Bronfman has been nominated for six GRAMMY Awards, winning in 1997 for a recording of the three Bartok Piano Concerti. This fall he will open the Israel Philhar-monic’s season with Zubin Mehta.

emperor

Daniel MeyerConductor

6 Asheville Symphony

October 21, 2017Thomas Wolfe Auditorium8 p.m.

DvorákCarnival Overture

WijeratneConcerto for Tabla & Orchestra

TchaikovskySymphony No. 5

I believe music has the power to take audiences on journeys that inspire, challenge and engage. In this program we travel to a world without boundaries. Dvorák’s Carnival Overture sets the tone for our travels. Of this work he said: “the city at nightfall, where a carnival is in full swing. On every side is heard the clangor of instruments, mingled with shouts of joy…of people giving vent to their feelings.” From Bohemia to India in Dinuk Wijeratne’s stunning Concerto for Tabla and Orchestra, with master tabla player, Sandeep Das. A dynamic blend of traditional Indian music infused with familiar Western melodic techniques. Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, a powerful symphonic tapestry depicting the composer’s struggles, joys and triumphs, is our final destination.

Sandeep DasTabla

One of the world’s leading tabla players with a career spanning 23 years, Das has played with Yo-Yo Ma and The Silk Road Ensemble, and orchestras like the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, and the Boston Symphony.

journeys

2017-2018 Season 7

Rei HotodaConductor

November 18, 2017Thomas Wolfe Auditorium8 p.m.

TheofanidisRainbow Body

MozartPiano Concerto No. 23

ProkofievSymphony No. 5

One of my passions is to create programs that bring together deeply contrasting works which share an underlying thread. Such is the case with this program, featuring works spanning three centuries. Theofanidis’ Rainbow Body is a recent work, fusing Buddhist philosophy and medieval chant; a dramatic journey from dark reflection to an explosion of orchestral color and light. Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony, composed during the bleak days of the World War II, pits lyricism versus rhythm, heroism against pathos, all while whirling in Prokofiev’s signature rhythmic intensity. Teeming with colorful characters and contrasts, it comes as no surprise that Mozart composed his Piano Concerto in A major while wrestling with his greatest dramatic work, The Marriage of Figaro.

Lisa SmirnovaPiano

Smirnova is a recognized concert artist renowned for her interpretations of Baroque and Classical repertoire. Since her debut at Carnegie Hall at the age of 20, she has been a much sought-after soloist on concert stages around the world.

versus

Darko ButoracConductor

8 Asheville Symphony

February 10, 2018Thomas Wolfe Auditorium8 p.m.

ArnoldFour Scottish Dances

DebussyMarche écossaise

BruchViolin Concerto No. 1

MendelssohnSymphony No. 3, “Scottish”

As a Scot, I am naturally aware and proud of the impact of the Scottish diaspora in America. Even Uncle Sam’s parents were Scottish, and (whisper it quietly) Mickey Mouse was voiced for 40 years by a man from Dundee! So it is a great pleasure to perform this wonderful program. Mendelssohn visited Scotland in 1829, and it affected him greatly. I can think of few pieces which can juxtapose a religious procession, a ceilidh dance, a love song and a fast Strathspey! The Debussy is a little gem, seeming to emerge out of the Scottish mists. Bruch’s timeless First Violin Concerto needs no introduction, of course, but you might not know that Bruch's interest in Scotland ran deep too. The Malcolm Arnold Dances exude Scottish character; listen for the bassoon solo in the second dance!

Elena UriosteViolin

Hailed by The Washington Post for playing “with equal parts passion, sensuality, brains and humor,” Urioste has played with major orchestras throughout the U.S. and has regularly performed in Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium.

scot free

2017-2018 Season 9

Garry WalkerConductor

March 17, 2018Thomas Wolfe Auditorium8 p.m.

BeethovenLeonore Overture No. 3LeshnoffChamber Concerto for Violin & OrchestraQueen/Hersh“Bohemian Rhapsody” for Violin & OrchestraRachmaninoffSymphony No. 2

I like to call this program "Romanticism: Redux," as we explore how the Romantic voice resonates in the 21st century. We begin with Beethoven—who catapults us out of the 18th century and into the modern age with his fiery Leonore Overture. Serge Rachmaninoff calls both upon his 19th century Russian roots and a lush, 20th century orchestral sound to create a sweeping, semi-autobiographical epic in his Second Symphony. And between these Romantic monoliths, a living voice of Romanticism: Jonathan Leshnoff, whose soulful Chamber Concerto is played by the inimitable Itamar Zorman. Itamar lends his talents once again in my arrangement of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which we will seek to prove is not only a rock classic but a postmodern Romantic masterpiece.

Itamar ZormanViolin

Joint winner of the 2011 International Tchaikovsky Com-petition, Zorman has appeared with the American Symphony Orch-estra in Carnegie Hall and the Tokyo Symphony in Japan’s Suntory Hall. He plays a Guarneri Del Jesu from 1734.

reborn

Nicholas HershConductor

10 Asheville Symphony

April 14, 2018Thomas Wolfe Auditorium8 p.m.

AdamsThe Chairman Dances

FallaNights in the Gardens of Spain

SibeliusSymphony No. 2

The sound worlds of John Adams, Manuel de Falla and Jan Sibelius are rooted in different countries, time periods, and influences, yet they share a great deal of DNA. All three works deal with nationalism, and each composer used rhythmic drive and vigor to communicate that theme. The Chairman Dances—a vignette from John Adams’ infamous opera Nixon in China—paints a bitingly comic picture of the Mao regime through rock-inspired rhythmic propulsion. Manuel de Falla’s rarely-performed masterpiece Nights in the Gardens of Spain is a loving, Impressionist portrait of his country’s beauty and fire. The program closes with Sibelius’ great Symphony No. 2, a poignant tribute to the people of his native Finland, and a powerful call for freedom in response to centuries of oppression.

Joyce YangPiano

Yang captivates audiences with her virtuosity, lyricism, and interpretive sensitivity. As a Van Cliburn medalist, she showcases her colorful per-sonality in recitals and collaborations with the world’s top orchestras and chamber musicians.

patriots

2017-2018 Season 11

Jayce OgrenConductor

May 12, 2018Thomas Wolfe Auditorium8 p.m.

BernsteinOverture to Candide

HykenFour - A reimagining of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons

BrahmsSymphony No. 2

I am thrilled to bring an eclectic program of my favorite genre-bending composers and works to Asheville! As we celebrate Bernstein’s centennial year, we honor the ultimate genre-bending composer who fused jazz, Broadway and classical traditions into a truly authentic American voice. Some of Sam Hyken’s biggest influences were composers and artists like Gershwin, Michael Jackson, Bill Conti, and Quincy Jones. Sam’s take on Vivaldi’s masterpiece has influences of jazz, ’70s film noir, and even hip-hop, while also keeping one eye on the Baroque. While Brahms’ reimagining of Hungarian Dances may be some of the first genre-bending music in the classical world, it is his deep symphonies that stir the soul and transform the heart in magical and powerful ways.

Jennifer FrautschiViolin

Frautschi is acclaimed as an adventurous mu-sician with a wide-ranging repertoire. Her discography includes GRAMMY-nominated recordings of works by Schoenberg. She has also received an Avery Fisher Career Grant.

bend it

Jacomo BairosConductor

12 Asheville Symphony

“I remember going to hear the Asheville Symphony and I fell in love with it. That's what made me take lessons.”

Lillian Chase, ASYO Violinist

Hear the future of music today and watch the next generation of leaders take shape. The Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra program serves more than 200 of the very best young musicians in the greater Asheville area. The program consists of four orchestras, in addition to woodwind, brass, percussion, and chamber music ensembles. ASYO musicians participate in masterclasses, retreats, workshops, tours, and social events. They also receive superb music instruction from many of the region’s most respected professional conductors and musicians and have the opportunity to perform throughout the community. Most importantly, whether or not students continue their music studies, they leave with a strong sense of discipline, increased confidence, and a deep appreciation for music and the arts.

beginning

2017-2018 Season 13

Emily Schaad, Music Director

2017-2018 Concerts

Wednesday, November 1, 7 p.m.Diana Wortham Theatre

Sunday, February 25, 7 p.m.Thomas Wolfe Auditoriumfeaturing Triton Brass

Tuesday, May 15, 7 p.m.Asheville High School Auditorium

December 31, 2017Thomas Wolfe Auditorium7:30 p.m.

Saint-Saëns“Bacchanale” from Samson et Dalila

WieniawskiViolin Concerto No. 2

OrffCarmina Burana

Isabelle DurrenbergerViolin

18-year-old Durrenberger is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree with Jaime Laredo at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She has performed with various orchestras including the Cleveland Philharmonic.

Daniel MeyerConductor

2017-2018 Season 15

is perfectly suited to grand traditions, and

we invite you to join us as the ASO

continues its tradition of featuring a full

program of great music on New Year’s

Eve. We also celebrate the tenure of Music

Director Daniel Meyer as he leads his final

concert as artistic leader of your Asheville

Symphony.

The evening opens with the opulent

“Bacchanale” from Saint-Saëns’ opera

Samson et Dalila. We then continue

another tradition of featuring

up-and-coming soloists from the

Cleveland Institute of Music with Isabelle

Durrenberger, as she performs the

rhapsodic and romantic Violin Concerto

No. 2 by Wieniawski. We cap the evening

with one of the most astonishing

celebrations in all of music: Carmina

Burana by Carl Orff. With a cast of three

solo vocalists, the full Asheville Symphony

Chorus, and the complete forces of the

ASO, this work is filled with the joys of life,

love, and lust in a rich, colorful score. It

will prove a fitting capstone to Maestro

Meyer’s incredible achievements together

with the musicians of the ASO, and will

encapsulate his deep commitment to

enhancing the musical life of Asheville.

Elizabeth CaballeroSoprano

Ms. Caballero’s performance has been described as “animated, communicative and believable... a big, facile, focused sound, making the vocal demands seem easy.”

Daniel CurranTenor

Curran is known for his intensity and intelligence on opera, theatre, and concert stages. Of a recent perform-ance, The New York Times praised his voice as “precise and penetrating.”

Corey McKernBaritone

McKern earns critical acclaim in every appearance he makes. His consistency and professionalism have made him a favorite of several prestigious companies.

new year’s eve

February 17, 2018Central United Methodist Church8 p.m.

Bach“Goldberg” Variations

We are excited to be joined by one of France's leading pianists,

Alexandre Tharaud, for a recital of Bach's mesmerizing

“Goldberg” Variations. This iconic work comprises an aria and a

set of 30 variations including canons, a fugue, a French overture,

a siciliana, accompanied solos, and a series of inventions and

dance-like movements.

Recognized on the international stage as an artist of unique

vision and originality, Tharaud is heralded for his brilliantly

conceived programs and best-selling recordings that range from

Bach, Chopin, Rameau, and Ravel, to music inspired by Paris

cabaret of the 1920s. His 2015 recording of the “Goldberg”

Variations was named one of “The Best Classical Music

Recordings of 2015” by The New York Times, where music critic

Vivien Schweitzer noted, “This admirable French pianist took a

nine-month sabbatical to hone his interpretation of Bach’s

‘Goldberg’ Variations. Beginning with a spacious aria, Mr. Tharaud

offers imaginatively ornamented renditions of each movement,

his playing—full of contrasts—spirited and poetic by turn.”

Alexandre TharaudPiano

As a recitalist, Tharaud has performed in cities around the world including Amsterdam, Boston, Buenos Aires, Chicago, Cologne, London, New York, Paris, Prague, Tokyo, Vienna, and Washington, D.C.

2017-2018 Season 17

The Mass in B Minor composed by J. S. Bach is considered by many to be the greatest and most profound musical setting of the Ordinary of the Mass. The massive opening Kyrie statement followed by the immense, solemn fugue launches us on one of the most epic of all journeys in music. This setting of the mass is unprecedented in its scale, majesty and sobriety.

Join us for a truly grand celebration of Bach’s 333rd birthday, as Dr. Michael Lancaster leads the more than 130 voices of the Asheville Symphony Chorus and members of the Asheville Symphony in this glorious work.

piano recital

chorusApril 28, 2018Arden Presbyterian Church7:30 p.m.

BachMass in B Minor,Part 1: Kyrie & Gloria

Asheville Symphony Choruswith members of theAsheville Symphony Dr. Michael Lancaster,Conductor

collaboration

18 Asheville Symphony

Leading muscians from Asheville’s music scene join forces.

The Asheville Symphony has partnered with some of the most influential, innovative singers, songwriters and players in Western North Carolina to craft two albums of surprising style and musicality.

Climb aboard a hip-hop time machine with 2017 GRAMMY award winner Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, pianist Orion Weiss, DJ Marley Carroll, and the Asheville Symphony! Mozartistic is a family-style hip-hop take on the story of a young Mozart's tour throughout Europe where his legend took root. Mozartistic puts the legacy of Mozart into a modern context, allowing today's children to recognize Mozart for the rock star he truly was. Starting with some of Mozart's most famous works, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo has re-contextualized them using classic hip-hop beat-making styles, and then taken it one step further by inventing a technique in which a string section mimics the sound of record scratching.

“Mozartistic is a new way for kids to experience some of the greatest melodies in history. This is a masterpiece!”– Kenny Curtis, Senior Director of Kids & Family Programming, SiriusXM Satellite Radio

How to Listen: These albums are available to stream or download on 150 digital media outlets including Amazon Music, Apple Music,

Google Play, iTunes, Pandora, Spotify, and more. CD copies are available for sale at the ASO office or at ashevillesymphony.org.

Recorded at Asheville's Echo Mountain Recording Studios, The Asheville Symphony Sessions features songs that combine the unique styles of locally based musicians with the Asheville Symphony.

The album synthesizes a variety of genres including folk, country, roots, rock, pop, bluegrass, R&B, and jazz, featuring artists Doc Aquatic, Electric Owls, Free Planet Radio featuring Lizz Wright, Lovett, Matt Townsend, Rising Appalachia, Shannon Whitworth, and Steep Canyon Rangers.

“This album serves as a soundtrack for the city,” says ASO Executive Director David Whitehill. “The Asheville Symphony champions great music, and we're very fortunate that there is great music being made here. Not many communities of this size have the kind of resources—including symphony musicians, recording engineers, producers, publicists, arrangers, session musicians and recording studios—that we have.”

2017-2018 Season 19

your community

Imagine the wonder of a kindergartner picking up her first musical instrument. The anticipation of a fifth-grader hearing his first symphony. The excitement of a high school student performing in their first ensemble. The rush the audience feels following an inspiring performance.

Supporting the symphony’s Annual Fund gives you access to donor benefits and privileges, including behind-the-scenes experiences that bring you closer to the music. Benefits can include:

• Receptions with Asheville Symphony musicians, guest artists, and music director candidates

• Reserved parking

• Invitations to special events

• Tickets and invitations to share with friends

• Access to orchestra rehearsals

• Recognition for all donors in season programs

For a full list of benefits and donor levels, visit ashevillesymphony.org

Asheville Symphony Society

3 Reasons to Support Your Symphony

1.Exceptional music from extraordinary artists

2.Inspiring youth programs

3.Unique experiences and local connections

3 Easy Ways to Give1.

Donate with your ticket order

2. Donate online

3. Make a pledge

Did you know?Ticket revenue covers less than half of the symphony’s operating costs.

Fundraising Activities

Ticket Sales

Guild Contribution

Endowment

Questions about giving?Contact Amy McGuire, Director of Development at 828.318.8181 or almcguire@ashevillesymphony.org

inside: Six candidates vie to become the next ASO conductor. You can help make the selection. Reserve your seats now!

Rei Hotodaconducts Dvorák, Wijeratne and Tchaikovsky.See page 7

Darko Butoracconducts Theofanidis, Mozart and Prokofiev.See page 8

Garry Walkerconducts Debussy, Bruch and Mendelssohn.See page 9

Nicholas Hershconducts Beethoven, Leshnoff and Rachmaninoff.See page 10

Jayce Ogrenconducts Adams, Falla and Sibelius.See page 11

Jacomo Bairosconducts Bernstein, Hyken and Brahms.See page 12

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Asheville Symphony SocietyP.O. Box 2852Asheville, NC 28802