Eckart Preu and the Spokane Symphony to explore Musical Treasures in 2006-2007

Mar 15, 2006

For Immediate Release

Contact: Annie Matlow 326-3136

SPOKANE- The Spokane Symphony will explore Musical Treasures under the direction of Music Director Eckart Preu in the 2006-07 season in an announcement released today.

We are so proud to note our fabulous treasures -- our Maestros Eckart Preu, Morihiko Nakahara and Guest Conductor Gunther Schuller; the Moldenhauer Archives; our internationally acclaimed guest artists; our wonderful orchestra; and in the very near future our Fox Theater. In every series, Classics, SuperPops, Casual Classics, Soiree, Symphony on the Edge and Coeur d'Alene, there are wonderful artistic treasures, said Executive Director Brenda Nienhouse.

The 10-concert Classics season begins on Sept. 15 with a performance of Khachaturian's dynamic Concerto for Piano by Terrence Wilson, who returns from a highly lauded performance with the Spokane symphony in 1999. A Brahms Blast (Oct. 6) featuring Concerto for Violin by Jennifer Frautschi and Concerto for Piano No. 1 by Arnaldo Cohen will follow the wildly successful Beethoven Bash of 2005. October will climax with a performance of Brahms Requiem (Oct. 20). Violinist Jennifer Koh (Nov. 17) and Saxophonist Tim Ries (Jan. 26)will join the outstanding young Israeli piano duo Silver-Garburg (Feb. 9). One of today's most popular young Classical music stars, Sarah Chang, will play the Sibelius Concerto for Violin(March 9). Gunther Schuller will return as guest conductor with cellist Mark Kosower (March 23). The Spokane Symphony Chorale in collaboration with area university music departments will present Carmina Burana(April 13). Maestro Preu will conclude the season with program of music about Powerful Women (May 11).

The SuperPops season, under the artistic direction of Associate Conductor Morihiko Nakahara, will open with a back-by-popular-demand performance of the music of Duke Ellington by Doc Severinsen on Sept. 30. As part of his American debut tour, Gypsy fiddler Roby Lakatos will bring his own brand of uniquely exciting music (Nov. 11). Nakahara will conduct Holiday Music from Around the World (Dec. 16-17) and the Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber and his Tony Friends (March 17). Preu will conduct By George! the Music of George Gershwin (Feb. 3) The season finale will feature two performances of Bugs Bunny on Broadway (April 21-22), a spectacular fusion of classic Warner Bros. Studios cartoons projected on the screen with their exhilarating scores played live by the Spokane Symphony,

Casual Classics at the Met feature three concerts performing the music of Mozart, Handel, Haydn, Beethoven, and others. For this series, the musicians leave their tuxes at home and the conductor informally tells the stories that make the music come alive. All this is in the fabulous Metropolitan Performing Arts Center.

Coeur d'Alene will again be the site of two concerts where some of the highlights of the Classics season are played again in North Idaho College's Boswell Hall. The Casual Classics program in November will be repeated in Coeur d'Alene and the Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber and His Tony Friends will be repeated in March.
Chamber Soirees in the Marie Antoinette Room have sold out for the last two years. The tradition of exciting chamber music in an up close and personal atmosphere continues with contemporary music interwoven with music of the Masters. Tables for four with wine, fruit and cheese make this a very special musical experience.

Symphony on the Edge a cutting edge concert in a unique location proved to be a huge success since it was introduced in 2004. The rock-music atmosphere at the Big Easy Concert Hall, a popular night club, combined with lighting, video close-ups of the conductor and the orchestra created a new and exciting venue for the Symphony. This year there are two concerts and are being offered as a series. Purchase of the two concert package ensures a ticket at this wildly popular concert.

The Nutcracker dates are Dec. 8, 9, and 10. The Spokane Symphony and the Alberta Ballet bring the holiday spectacular on new dates, just days before Christmas to create a holiday tradition for the whole family. Buy early and receive up to 20% off on all adult tickets purchased before Aug. 1.

The Spokane Symphony has been playing great music in the Inland Northwest for 61 years. As a key regional arts and cultural attraction, the Symphony provides fine entertainment in 60 different concerts to more than 150,000 listeners annually -- in venues as diverse as the Met, neighborhood parks, the Davenport Hotel, places of worship, area colleges, and the Spokane Opera House. A season ticket to one of the Spokane Symphony's outstanding series provides the best entertainment value in the region. Season tickets are available for each series.

For a Season Brochure or more information call 624-1200, or visit www.spokanesymphony.org.