OSO’s 2010-2011 Season

Saturday evening, the Oregon Symphony unveiled its 2010-2011 season programming.  I was giving the pre-concert talk that night, so I couldn’t be at the unveiling reception, but I suspect that there must have been a fair amount of applause and the sound of jaws hitting the floor as the specifics were announced.  It’s that good.

I believe that this is the strongest, most impressive season in my 15 years with the orchestra – and that includes the season-long celebration of the OSO’s 100th anniversary season in 1995.  There are so many A-list soloists, great repertoire (both new and old, known and unknown), and the promise of many, many great performances from the world-class Oregon Symphony.

Here are the concerts that I most eagerly anticipate, as well as individual works and artists that really piqued my interest.

Sept. 16, 2010 – Joshua Bell plays Lalo
It’s great to have Josh back so soon after his last appearance, and we haven’t had the pleasure of hearing the Lalo Symphonie espagnole since Elmar Oliviera played it under James DePriest quite some time ago.  Word has it that Josh was highly impressed by the OSO the last time he was here, and it must be true if he’s back with us so soon.

Oct. 2 -4, 2010 – Hilary Hahn plays Tchaikovsky
Yes, it’s the Tchaikovsky concerto, but I don’t care.  I’ve been wanting to hear Hahn play live since the moment I first heard her solo Bach recording over 10 years ago.  She’s one of the most probing and honest artists out there today, and she has one of the most formidable techniques seen since Heifetz.  If these concerts don’t sell out, I’ll eat something really disgusting.

Oct. 30 & Nov. 1, 2010 – Bolcom Violin Concerto
The Bolcom is a wonderful piece that I think audiences will love, and I always enjoy playing new concerto repertoire, especially for the violin.  Violinist Benjamin Schmid has just recorded the Korngold Concerto with Seiji Ozawa and the Vienna Philharmonic, and is definitely a hot young violinist on the rise, so that brings even more excitement to the Bolcom.

Nov 20 – 22, 2010 – Stephen Hough and Mahler 10
Stephen Hough can play anything, and I will await it eagerly.  He’s an amazing artist, and such a wonderful gentleman as well.  Then there is Mahler’s 10th Symphony, in the completion by Deryck Cooke.  Violists both love and fear this symphony, as it opens with a long, exposed, and difficult slow section solo.  It’s an amazing piece, and I’m so glad that we’re doing a full version of it rather than just the opening movement (the only one that Mahler completed scoring).

Jan 15-17, 2011 – Emanuel Ax plays Brahms
First: Emanuel Ax.  He’s always been a hero of mine, and I’m so glad to finally be seeing him live for the first time.  Second: Brahms’ Second Piano Concerto – my favorite piano concerto, bar none.

Jan 29 & 31, 2011 – Percussion Spectacular
The amazing Colin Currie returns to play Jennifer Higdon’s GRAMMY-winning Percussion Concerto, along with the amazing Shchedrine adaptation of the Carmen Suite by Georges Bizet for strings and percussion.

Feb 5 – 7, 2011 – Yuja Wang plays Rachmaninoff
Yuja Wang is often mentioned in the same breath as her more famous colleague Lang Lang.  In my opinion she has all the virtuosity of Lang, but combines it with a more subdued stage persona and perhaps a bit more substance.  It will be great to see how their Rachmaninoff traversals compare.  A chance to learn Nielson’s 6th Symphony “Sinfonia semplice” is also exciting.

Feb 20 & 21, 2011 – Jennifer Koh plays Barber
Jennifer Koh has quickly become one of my favorite guest artists, and to have her coming back in one of my favorite violin concertos, the beautiful and rhapsodic concerto by Samuel Barber, is a dream pairing.  Also on the program, a new piece by Resident conductor Gregory Vajda, and my favorite Dvorak Symphony, No. 7.

Feb 26 – 28, 2011 – Lauderdale plays Grieg
Having Thomas Lauderdale back to solo with the orchestra is a treat, of course, but the real story is the guest conductor.  She is Alondra de la Parra, and her name drew some appreciative applause from members of the orchestra who know her from Youth Orchestra of the Americas tours in the past.  She has real buzz right now, and it will be great to see what she’s like.  And it’s great to finally have a woman on the podium, too.

This post has gotten really long, so I’ll just list the remaining highlights that I’m looking forward to:

• Violinist James Ehnes playing Shostakovich’s First Violin Concerto
• Violinist Baiba Skride playing the Khachaturian Violin Concerto
• Cellist Yo-yo Ma playing Shostakovich’s First Cello Concerto
• Martinu’s Sixth Symphony
• Debussy’s La Mer
• John Adams’ The Wound-Dresser, with baritone Sanford Sylvan

It’s going to be a spectacular season, and though I’m enjoying this season quite a bit, next year will be epic.  Hope you’ll get your tickets soon!