2008-09 Season: Nov | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May

Free Forum on Otello on May 2, 2009

Passionate Celebration
March 20, 2009
Friday, 8:00pm, Paramount Theatre, Oakland
Michael Morgan, Conductor


7pm: Pre-concert speaker:
Lynne Morrow, Music Director, Oakland Symphony Chorus

Program

Franz Joseph Haydn
Symphony No. 49, "La Passione" (1768)
Michael Morgan, harpsichord

Peteris Vasks
Sala: Symphonic Elegy for Orchestra
(2007; Magnum Opus commission)

Giuseppe Verdi Otello, Act I (1887)
Concert performance with

Richard Crawley, tenor (Otello)

Talise Trevigne, soprano (Desdemona)
"Trevigne has star power: good looks, graceful
movements, potent acting ability and a voice
that should spring her toward a big career."
- San Jose Mercury News

Scott Bearden, baritone (Iago)

AJ Glueckert, tenor (Cassio)

Zachary Gordin, baritone (Montano)

Trey Costerisan, tenor (Roderigo)
and
Oakland Symphony Chorus,
Lynne Morrow, Music Director

One of the most thrilling opening scenes for orchestra and chorus in all of opera is the opening of Verdi's Otello. In an opera house, it hits one with tremendous force; but there's also something very special about hearing it with the focus of the concert hall. The story of the white Desdemona and the Moor Othello was a point of much interest, and some controversy, hundreds of years ago when Shakespeare wrote it. In the sort of twist that OEBS is known for, our Desdemona is African American and our Othello is white. Singing the role of Desdemona is the radiant rising star of opera, the African American soprano Talise Trevigne, who is in demand from Britain to Russia to Australia. There are several other OEBS vocal debuts in this cast that are also not to be missed..

Also on the program is one of Haydn's finest and most deeply emotional work, Symphony No. 49, frequently referred to as "La Passione" or the "Sturm und Drang" Symphony, as well as a new work by Latvian composer Peteris Vasks.