‘Sky’s the limit’ for Netanya Kibbutz Chamber Orchestra
This will be a busy season for the Netanya Kibbutz Chamber Orchestra, one of the longest established orchestras in Israel, which will open its 48th concert season on October 12 in Givat Brenner with music director Christian Lindberg on the podium. The concert will feature the preeminent Swedish Vocal Ensemble singing Schubert’s Mass No. 2 in G Major and Bach’s Wachet Auf.
As in each concert of the NKO series, the orchestra will perform the concert in seven different locations throughout Israel: Tel Aviv, Netanya, Ein Hahoresh and Givat Brenner in the center of the country; Beit Gavriel on the Kinneret; Nahariya on the coast; Mizra in the Jezreel Valley; and Dorot in the South near Sderot.
“I am excited to continue the orchestra’s tradition of performing not only in the center of the country, as in the beautiful Recanati Auditorium in Tel Aviv Museum,” said Lindberg, “but also in the peripheral communities throughout Israel where people perhaps do not have many opportunities to attend symphonic performances
“The NKO has the potential to attract larger audiences and our subscription numbers are increasing,” he told The Jerusalem Post in a phone interview from his home in Valudden, Sweden.
“Our Tel Aviv performances are always full. My goal this year to increase audience attendance in the smaller halls, and I believe things will take care of themselves due to the combination of innovative programing and fine music.”
Lindberg is an exuberant, internationally acclaimed conductor, composer and solo trombonist. In order to excel in these three demanding professions, he sets a strict daily schedule for himself, which includes not only time to prepare scores, practice his instrument and compose, but also time for a sauna, a swim and calisthenics. He says he constantly raises the bar for excellence in himself and those he works with. He is the principal conductor of the Arctic Philharmonic, as well as having a busy, international schedule as guest conductor and solo performer.
HE HAS recorded over 60 records for solo trombone and performed as soloist with orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony and the London Symphony. Lindberg is also a noted composer, in addition to premiering over 100 compositions written for him.
This will be Lindberg’s third season with the NKO as musical director, and he is delighted. “The sky is the limit with the NKO,” he said. “They are a fine, hard-working ensemble whose musicians are very talented and thorough in their preparation and performance.”
“This year, we are invited on two tours – one to Scandinavia and the other to Spain, performing in a series side-by-side with orchestras such as the London Philharmonic, the Milan Verdi Orchestra, and the Mariinsky Orchestra with Valery Gergiev.”
Lindberg noted that he and NKO will produce two super-audio CDs with BIS Records this year: the music of Franz Schubert, including the “Unfinished Symphony,” and on the second disc, flute concertos with Sharon Bezaly as soloist.
Lindberg explained that he and the orchestra chose this season to emphasize the visual connections which music transfers to the listener. He feels that the atmosphere of the Bach and Schubert, which the Swedish Vocal Ensemble will sing in the first concert, conveys a vision of God.
“Music scheduled for concerts later this season are ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ by Modest Mussorgsky and ‘The Four Seasons of Buenos Aries’ by Astor Piazzolla,” he remarked. “Tucked in at each concert are pieces designed by the composers to musically take the listener ‘someplace else,’ such as the ‘Czech Suite’ by Anton Dvorak.
“The power and influences of music are amazing,” enthused Lindberg. “Our final concert of each season is called ‘The Audience Decides,’ because the audience votes on music they heard throughout the season and decides on the makeup of the final concert. The results of the voting last season were a surprise. I was very happy they chose the ‘Boccherini Symphony,’ a lesser-known piece, over the ‘Classical Symphony’ by Prokofiev. To me it indicates a widening of the audience’s musical knowledge and development of tastes.”
Lindberg said the NKO will deliver stunning, strong programs that are innovative and exciting. “We can assure you some unforgettable moments, visions and experiences only music can deliver.”
For more information, call *3579 or 077-466-1766 or visit www.nko.co.il.