~ Submitted by the Concord Orchestra
The Concord Orchestra presents the first concert of its 2021-2022 season, with five programs planned and conducted by finalists auditioning for the position of Music Director. Orchestra musicians are very excited to be able to work with these accomplished candidates this season. Patrons are invited to meet the candidates, share their reactions, and be a part of the journey as the orchestra chooses its next Music Director.
Orchestra members Sarah Kiel, Nancy McCarthy, and Alexia Schulz live in Bedford.
The first program of the season, “East Meets West”, planned and conducted by Geneviève Leclair, takes place on Saturday, October 16 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, October 17 at 2:00 p.m. There is a pre-concert lecture by Ms. Leclair at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, October 16. The orchestra performs Richard Wagner’s Tannhäuser Overture, Alan Hovhaness’ Artik with French horn soloist Lauren Winter, Chen Yi’s Ge Xu (Antiphony), and Claude Debussy’s La Mer.
The following are Ms. Leclair’s comments on how she chose this program: “Wagner’s grand Tannhäuser needs no introduction while being a splendid concert opener. Its massive orchestration is a palette opener leaving us wanting more brass and yet contrasts with the string orchestration of Hovhaness’ horn concerto Artik. Chen Yi is a Chinese-American composer known for blending Chinese and Western influences in a highly personal and innovative style. Her piece Ge Xu (Antiphony) takes the listener into an entirely different musical landscape, full of discoveries. Debussy’s love for oriental music, his use of pentatonic scales and atmospheric orchestration seem to literally emerge from her piece creating a powerful musical connection.”
Canadian conductor Geneviève Leclair was appointed Assistant Professor at Berklee College of Music in 2016. Very active with organizations across Canada, the United States, and the UK, she is also a guest conductor with Northern Ballet (UK) and a member of the Board of Directors of the International Conductors Guild. Highlights of the 2020-21 season will also include guest appearances with Symphony New Brunswick and Orchestre Classique de Montréal.
In recent years, Ms. Leclair has had the opportunity to guest conduct various orchestras both in Canada and the United States, including National Ballet of Canada, Boston Ballet, Winnipeg Symphony, Orchestre Symphonique du Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean, McGill Chamber Orchestra, Symphony New Hampshire, Guelph Symphony, Syracuse University Symphony Orchestra, and New England Conservatory Chamber and Youth Philharmonic Orchestras. Her performances have been hailed as “impeccable” (Boston Phoenix), “ravishing” and of “exemplary pacing and reading” (Hugh Fraser) while her conducting style is praised for its “verve and precision”, “confident dynamics and tempos, crisp rhythms, and crystalline phrasing creat[ing] powerful forward momentum” (Carla DeFord).
Lauren Winter is principal horn of the Portland Symphony Orchestra and Springfield Symphony Orchestra. She is also third horn with the Boston Ballet Orchestra, and formerly Principal Horn of Symphony New Hampshire. Lauren also can be seen performing with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, Rhode Island Philharmonic, Boston Lyric Opera, Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, and Emmanuel Music.
Tickets for adults and seniors are $25. Admission for youth under 18 is free. For tickets and information, call 978-369-4967 or visit www.concordorchestra.com.
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