DPO offers special ‘Bernstein Songfest’
The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra continues its celebration of the 100th anniversary of influential composer Leonard Bernstein’s birth with a Chamber Series concert fittingly titled “Bernstein Songfest” Sunday, Jan. 28, at the Dayton Art Institute.
Under the direction of DPO Associate Conductor Patrick Reynolds, the program will encompass various selections from Bernstein’s illustrious repertoire, which spanned the realms of Broadway and opera to symphony halls around the world. In addition to the Prologue from “West Side Story,” slated works include compositions such as “Two Love Songs” (“Extinguish My Eyes” and “When My Soul Touches Yours”) and “La Bonne Cuis ine:FourRec ipes for Voice and Piano” in addition to selections from “On the Town,” “MASS,” “Trouble in Tahiti” and “Candide.”
“I will be forever grateful to have grown up in the ‘Bernstein Era,’” said Reynolds. “For me, he was an inspira- tion, a hero and role model. He was an almost unimagi- nable genius. I admired him so much. I didn’t have any rock stars as a kid, so for me, hewasmyrockstar.Hewas a lot of people’s rock star.
“I met him once, after a concert he conducted with the Vienna Philharmonic in 1987. We spoke briefly and he signed my program. I have never ever seen eyes that shined m ore brightly than his. There’s been no one like him since.”
Reynolds is excited about the programming as a whole but anticipates two numbers in particular.
“I am thrilled to be conducting three excerpts from his timeless one-act opera ‘Trouble in Tahiti,’ and the beautiful ‘Candide’ finale “Make Our Garden Grow.’”
Accenting the concert will be the Dayton Opera’s Art- ists-in-Residence consisting of soprano Olivia Yokers, mezzo-soprano Nor- agh Devlin, tenor Michael Anderson, and bass-baritone Alexander Harper.
“This is the fourth year of participation in this Chamber Series by the talented singers of Dayton Opera’s Artists-in-Residence program,” said Dayton Opera Artistic Director Thomas Bankston. “It is truly one ald Noble. Joining the Philharmonic musicians will be pianist Carol Walker, Dayton Opera Music Director of the Artists-in-Residence Program.
Also, the first half of the concert will briefly fo cuson brass with selections from Bernstein’s “Brass Music” performed by the Dayton Philharmonic Brass Quintet, commonly known as Carillon Brass. The troupe consists of C harlesPagnard and Alan Siebert on trumpet, Chad Arnow on trombone, Aaron Brant on horn, and of the most fulfilling and Timothy Northcut on tuba. enriching parts of t heirresi“In the last three of these dency to be featured in this (Chamber Series) concerts concert and to be able to per- we have turned to more traform in collaboration with ditional composers of the the musicians of the Daychamber music repertoire,” ton Philharmonic.” Bankston reminded. “This
The quartet will be accomyear, however, we focus on panied by musicians includone composer, and what beting Joshua Nemith on piano, ter one could t hat be than Rebecca Tryon Andres on Leonard Bernstein, as we flute, John Kurokawa on clarhonor his life and works in inet, Deborah Taylor on douthe 100th anniversary year ble bass, Timothy Anderson of his birth.” on trombone, Donald Donnett on timpani, and per- cussionists Michael LaMat- tina, Jeffrey Luft and Ger-
Under the direction of DPO Associate Conductor Patrick Reynolds, the program will encompass various selections from Bernstein’s illustrious repertoire, which spanned the realms of Broadway and opera to symphony halls around the world.