Vienna Philharmoic Orchestra in Concert - Back by Popular Demand
UCSB Arts & Lectures presents, back by popular demand, the magnificent, world-renowned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra performing in concert, Wednesday, March 5th, 2014
UPDATE: Lorin Maazel to conduct
SUMMARY FACTS:
- Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Back by popular demand
- UPDATE: Lorin Maazel, conductor (replacing Daniele Gatti)
- Juliane Banse, soprano Program: Schubert’s Symphony No. 8 in B Minor (“Unfinished” Symphony) and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 in G Major Presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures Wed., >March 5 / 8 p.m. / Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St., Santa Barbara General public: $50-$75 / UCSB students: $25 (An Arlington facility fee will be added to each ticket price.)
- Gold Circle: $150 (limited availability), includes VIP seating and post-concert champagne reception with the orchestra Tickets/Info.: (805) 893-3535, www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu or Arlington Theatre at (805) 963-4408, www.ticketmaster.com/venue/73731
“The orchestra seems to be saying: ‘This is our music. We play it better than anyone else on earth.’ And as often as not, they do.” Santa Barbara News-Press
“Not one note sounds dutiful; joy and a sense of discovery are everywhere.” The Times (U.K.)
“His command is breathtaking… world-class, edge-of-the-seat ensemble playing is the result.” The New York Observer (on Lorin Maazel)
UCSB Arts & Lectures presents, back by popular demand, the magnificent, world-renowned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra performing in concert at 8 p.m. Wed., >March 5 at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St.
Experience the very best the world has to offer: the finest strings, the warmest woodwinds, the richest brass – all in one transcendent program. Over its formidable 170-year history, the legendary Vienna Philharmonic has upheld the highest standards of music-making, drawing effusive praise from the greatest composers and conductors of the ages.
Wagner described the orchestra as one of the most outstanding in the world, while Strauss said, “All praise of the Vienna Philharmonic reveals itself as an understatement.” Claimed Previn: “The orchestra is incapable of making an ugly sound.”
Returning after its historic 2011 Santa Barbara debut, the distinguished orchestra performs under the gifted baton of internationally acclaimed conductor Lorin Maazel, with soprano Juliane Banse.
***Please note: Maazel will replace formerly announced conductor Daniele Gatti, whose appearance has been canceled due to health issues.
The program features Schubert’s haunting and monumental Symphony No. 8 in B Minor (“Unfinished” Symphony) and Mahler’s radiant Symphony No. 4 in G Major.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience the world’s preeminent orchestra – the “irresistible” (The New Yorker), storied Vienna Philharmonic.
During its residency in Santa Barbara, the orchestra will conduct master classes for local students.
About Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Since its inception through Otto Nicolai in 1842, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Wiener Philharmoniker) has held a fascination for prominent composers and conductors, as well as audiences all over the world – based not only on a homogenous musical style, carefully bequeathed from one generation to the next, but its unique structure and history. The desire to provide artistically worthy performances of the symphonic works of Mozart and Beethoven in their own city drove Vienna’s court opera musicians to present an independent “philharmonic” concert series, for which they assumed the responsibility and risk. The organizational form chosen for this new enterprise was democracy. Over the course of one and a half centuries, this chosen path of democratic self-administration has experienced slight modifications but has never been substantially altered. The foremost ruling body of the organization is the full orchestra membership itself.
The Vienna Philharmonic has a unique relationship with the Vienna State Opera Orchestra. In accordance with Philharmonic statutes, only members of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra can apply to join the Vienna Philharmonic – and only after proving capable over a three-year period in the former ensemble. This symbiosis is advantageous for both institutions and greatly enriches Vienna’s musical life.
The Vienna Philharmonic has made it its mission to communicate the humanitarian message of music into the daily lives and consciousness of its listeners. In 2005, it was named Goodwill Ambassador of the World Health Organization. Ludwig von Beethoven’s symphonic works served as a catalyst for the creation of the orchestra, and the musicians endeavor to implement the motto that prefaced the great composer’s “Missa Solemnis”: “From the heart, to the heart.”
About Lorin Maazel
Lorin Maazel is one of the world’s most esteemed and sought-after conductors. He assumed the role of music director with the Munich Philharmonic last season and was the widely acclaimed music director of the New York Philharmonic from 2002 to 2009. The “musically brilliant” (The New York Times), multiple Grammy winner has collaborated with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra for more than half a century. (A Scandinavian-American Tour in 2012 celebrated the >50-year anniversary of the conductor’s close association with the orchestra.) His work with the Vienna Philharmonic has included 11 internationally televised New Year’s Concerts from Vienna.
Maazel is also the founder and artistic director of the Castleton Festival, a festival based on his farm in Castleton, Va., and a highly regarded composer, with a wide-ranging catalogue of works, including the opera 1984, based on George Orwell’s literary masterpiece.
The Paris-born American conductor began taking violin lessons at age 5 and conducting lessons >at 7. In 72 years on the podium, he has conducted nearly 200 orchestras in no fewer than 7,000 opera and concert performances. He has made more than 300 recordings, including symphonic cycles/complete orchestral works of Beethoven, Brahms, Debussy, Mahler, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov and Richard Strauss, winning 10 Grands Prix du Disques.
About Juliane Banse
German soprano Juliane Banse has demonstrated her outstanding artistic versatility in roles ranging from the Countess in Figaro and Eva in Wagner’s Meistersinger von Nürnberg to Tatyana in Eugene Onegin and the title role of Snow White (Schneewittchen).
Last season, she sang the role of Vitellia (La Clemenza di Tito) at the Vienna State Opera and Eva in Wagner’s Meistersinger von Nürnberg at the Zurich Opera House. Recently she expanded her repertoire to include Leonore (Fidelio) under Nikolaus Harnoncourt at the Theater an der Wien. She performed Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus) in Chicago in December.
Banse is sought after in a wide variety of roles on the concert stage. She has worked with numerous other conductors of note, including Riccardo Chailly, Bernard Haitink, Franz Welser-Möst and Mariss Jansons.
The Vienna Philharmonic’s performance is presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures. Principal Sponsors: Audrey & Timothy Fisher, Luci & Rich Janssen, Ellen & Peter O. Johnson, Susan & Craig McCaw, Sara Miller McCune. Media Sponsors: CASA Magazine, KDB 93.7 FM, KCBX 89.5 FM Santa Barbara.
Tickets are $50 to $75 for the general public and $25 for UCSB students with a current student ID. (An Arlington facility fee will be added to each ticket price.) Gold Circle tickets are $150 each (limited availability) and include VIP seating and a post-concert champagne reception with the orchestra.
For tickets or more information, call UCSB Arts & Lectures at (805) 893-3535 or purchase online at www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu. Tickets are also available through the Arlington box office at (805) 963-4408 and Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com/venue/73731).
UCSB Arts & Lectures thanks lynda.com for its major support of the 2013-2014 season.
