Eckart Preu, Conductor
Adam Richardson, Baritone
Roger Wilkie, Concertmaster, Violin I
Chloé Tardif, Violin
Andrew Duckles, Viola
Cécilia Tsan, Cello
A NEW WORLD – Celebrating Long Beach Symphony’s 90th Anniversary!
Oct 05, 2024 7:30 PM — Oct 05, 2024
| Beethoven | Egmont Overture, Op. 84 (1st piece LBSO performed in 1934) |
| Anna Clyne | Quarter Days Concerto for String Quartet (West Coast Premiere) |
| Dvořák. Text by William Arms Fisher | “Goin’ Home” |
| Dvořák | Symphony No. 9, “From The New World” |
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Welcome to this celebratory affair as we open the 2024-2025 Season and 90th anniversary of Long Beach Symphony. Beethoven’s Egmont Overture opens our 90th Anniversary Season which was the first piece the Symphony performed in 1934. It will be followed by the West Coast Premiere of Anna Clyne’s Quarter Days and Dvořák’s “Goin’ Home” and Symphony No. 9 “From the New World.”
Egmont Overture, Op. 84, the jubilant opus that inaugurated the Long Beach Symphony in 1934, encapsulates the quintessence of Beethoven’s artistry. Revered as the “Victory Symphony,” its power and thunderous beginning emanates with an almost excessive virtuosic jubilation. Beethoven had a deeply rooted belief in humanistic freedom. He was drawn to protagonists who fought against repressive forces. In this emotional overture – which is part of incidental music composed to accompany Goethe’s play “Egmont” – he depicts the struggle of count Egmont fighting for freedom and liberty. From thunderous chords of oppression to fanfares of victory, with its dramatic turn from tragedy into triumph, Beethoven unleashes some of his most powerful music. This overture showcases the power and virtuosity of music and represents the philosophical and musical ideals of this orchestra.
Cultivating new beginnings, we present the West Coast Premiere of “Quarter Days, a new concerto for solo string quartet and orchestra by the distinguished British violinist, composer, and Emmy nominee Anna Clyne. Her cello concerto DANCE – performed by the Long Beach Symphony in 2022 – has garnered over 10 million plays on Spotify. We are proud to be part of the consortium that commissioned “Quarter Days”. This concerto will be a great opportunity to showcase the principal string players of the orchestra as soloists, featuring Concertmaster Roger Wilke, Chloé Tardif (Violin II, Principal), Andrew Duckles (Viola, Principal), and Cécilia Tsan (Cello, Principal). Quarter Days is a reflection on the passing of time – both within a minute, a day, and through the seasons of the year. Anna Clyne’s music has an instant appeal – full of lyricism, colors, and emotion.
The evening concludes with Antonin Dvořák’s Ninth Symphony “From the New World”, composed during Antonin Dvořák’s early days in the United States. It is not only one of quintessential symphonies of the entire orchestral repertoire, but it also stands as a testament to his encouragement of American composers to cultivate a national identity in their music. This tour-de-force for the orchestra includes influences of Native-American melodies, spirituals – and of course his indomitable “Czech spirit.” The performance of the “New World” Symphony will be preceded by a presentation of “Goin’ Home”, a song based on the famous melody of the second movement, with a text by William Arms Fisher.
Be inspired by these works:
Be inspired by the backstories: Enjoy the Program Notes for this concert, by Susan Swinburne.
Audiences will enjoy the Classical Series fun and elegant evening surrounded by the Terrace Theater’s dazzling fountains and fire pits, live ensemble in the lobby, 6:30 PM Pre-Concert Talk to gain greater knowledge regarding the evening programming, and the ability to “Sip & Enjoy” in the concert hall. Doors open at 6PM. Celebrate the inaguration of the 90th Season with us after the concert.
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Eckart Preu, Conductor
Eckart Preu (Eck-art Proy) began his tenure as Music Director of Long Beach Symphony in 2017. Critics, the orchestra, and audiences alike have celebrated his ability to combine well-loved masterworks with rare or newer works in programs offering dimension, sophistication, and spirit. Preu also currently serves as …
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Adam Richardson, Baritone
Baritone Adam Richardson is a celebrated artist known for his captivating performances across opera, concert, and theatre stages. Praised by Opera News for his "gorgeous textured baritone," Richardson's career has been marked by a series of impressive achievements and notable debuts. In the upcoming 2023-2024 season, …
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Roger Wilkie, Concertmaster, Violin I
A Southern California native, violinist Roger Wilkie has been the beloved concertmaster of the Long Beach Symphony for more than 30 years. He has appeared as soloist throughout his career with the Symphony, performing the concertos of Brahms, Mendelssohn, Bruch, Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, and more recently …
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Chloé Tardif, Violin
Chloé Tardif enjoys a varied career as an orchestral leader, chamber musician, and soloist. A student of William Fitzpatrick and Paul Kantor, she received her Bachelor of Music from Chapman University and her Master of Music from Rice University. Chloé has served as Principal Second …
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Andrew Duckles, Viola
Canadian-born violist Andrew Duckles leads a diverse musical life as a recording artist, soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. From a very tall family of musicians, Andrew is the “runt” of the Duckles family, standing at mere 6’4”. Formerly principal viola of the Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet orchestras, Duckles now makes …
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Cécilia Tsan, Cello
"Uncompromising musical character and a towering technique… In the breadth of her virtuosity and the charisma of her musical personality, Tsan made this work her own.” - (Daniel Cariaga/L.A. Times/Haydn D Major Cello Concerto) Born in France, Cécilia Tsan began playing the cello with the same …
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