Upcoming from the Colorado Symphony

Romance, dance, drums come to Boettcher Concert Hall; American Festival launches

DENVER – February 17, 2015 – The Colorado Symphony presents a vibrant selection of programs to bring music lovers into spring. Programs highlight the gorgeous vocal stylings of contemporary songwriter Rufus Wainwright (February 18) and classic crooner Jim Brickman (February 21); explore the intersection between symphonic music and tango (February 20); and celebrate the creative ways hammers, cans, and prepared instruments can be used to create sound (So Percussion, March 20).

On February 28, Music Director Andrew Litton kicks off The American Festival with a Masterworks concert that sees the return of CSO veteran clarinetist Bil Jackson. Running in five unique programs through March, The American Festival celebrates the artistry of America's most accomplished composers, both traditional and modern.

All programs are at Boettcher Concert Hall, home of the Colorado Symphony. Details are available on www.coloradosymphony.org. Tickets for most concerts begin at $25. Students and K-12 teachers with ID may purchase tickets for $10 at the Boettcher Concert Hall box office.

Media are invited to attend rehearsals, typically held the morning of each concert from 10 am-noon. To RSVP for a rehearsal, request and interview or review tickets, please contact Laura Bond, lbond@coloradosymphony.org. Downloadable photos are available at coloradosymphony.org/media.

Rufus Wainwright
Wednesday, February 18, 7:30 pm
Scott O’Neil, conductor

As singer, songwriter, author, composer, and even screen actor (Scorsese’s The Aviator), Rufus Wainwright has carved out his own singular place in the worlds of rock, opera, theater, dance, and film. But he’s best known as the man Elton John referred to as “the greatest songwriter on the planet,” one of the great male vocalists and songwriters of his generation. Rufus Wainwright brings his incomparable voice to Boettcher Hall for a one-night-only performance with your Colorado Symphony.

Ticket info
Video

The Art of the Dance: Tango
Featuring the Pablo Ziegler Trio
Friday, February 20, 7:30 pm
Scott O’Neil, conductor
Pablo Ziegler, Piano 
Hector Del Curto, bandoneon 
Laudio Ragazzi, Electric guitar

Pianist and composer Pablo Ziegler built his astounding reputation in the tango world as the pianist for Astor Piazzola. The rich culture and history of Tango will be brought to life by his trio and the Colorado Symphony. This concert will have you dancing in the aisles!

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An Evening of Romance with Jim Brickman
Saturday, February 21, 7:30 pm
Scott O’Neil, conductor

Two-time Grammy® nominee and multi-platinum recording artist Jim Brickman is America’s piano sensation. Experience the romantic sounds of this hitmaker’s pop-style instrumentals and star-studded vocal collaborations.

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The American Festival: Part I
Saturday, February 28, 7:30 pm & Sunday, March 1, 1:00 pm
Andrew Litton, conductor
Bil Jackson, clarinet
William Wolfram, piano

On February 28, former principal clarinetist Bil Jackson kicks off The American Festival, showcasing masters who have created, perfected, and expanded the American idiom in symphonic music. This program celebrates the work of living composer Kevin Puts as well as Bernstein’s iconic The Age of Anxiety, Symphony No. 2, titled after W.H. Auden’s poem of the same name.

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Symphony at the Movies: West Side Story
Saturday, March 7, 7:30 pm & Sunday, March 8, 1:00 pm              
Scott O’Neil, conductor

Experience Leonard Bernstein’s musical masterpiece and electrifying score live, while the re-mastered film is shown in high definition with original vocals and dialogue.

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The American Festival: Part II
Friday, March 13; Saturday, March 14, 7:30 pm & Sunday, March 15, 1:00 pm
Andrew Litton, conductor
Anne Akiko Meyers, violin

Anne Akiko Meyers brilliantly performs Barber’s Violin Concerto, one of the most frequently performed concertos of the 20th century. Andrew Litton leads Stephen Albert’s RiverRun to close the performance with its lush, dramatic symphonic music.

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So Percussion
Friday, March 20, 7:30 pm & Saturday, March 21, 2:30 pm               
Scott O’Neil, conductor

Since coming together at the Yale School of Music in 1999, So Percussion has been creating music that is by turns raucous and touching, bombastic and heartfelt, incorporating traditional drums as well as pretty much anything that can be banged, hit, or struck. The ensemble is known for its exotic and unusual instruments including bowed marimba, glockenspiel, and hammer. This concert will feature David Lang’s piece, man-made, written for So Percussion. Don’t miss this evening of creative  music that will delight all of the senses.

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ABOUT THE COLORADO SYMPHONY
One of the leading orchestras in the United States, the Colorado Symphony performs more than 150 concerts annually at Boettcher Concert Hall in downtown Denver and across Colorado. Led by internationally renowned Music Director Andrew Litton, the Colorado Symphony is home to eighty full-time musicians, representing more than a dozen nations, and regularly welcomes the most celebrated artists from the world of symphonic music and beyond. Every season, the Colorado Symphony serves more than 250,000 people from all walks of life, performing a range of musical styles, from traditional to contemporary. Recognized as an incubator of innovation, creativity, and excellence, the Colorado Symphony continually expands its reach through education, outreach, and programming. The Colorado Symphony partners with the state’s leading musical artists, cultural organizations, corporations, foundations, sports teams, and individuals to expose diverse audiences to the transformative power of music. To learn more, visit coloradosymphony.org.