Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Announces 2018-2019 Season

Now in its 46th year of innovative concerts in New York, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra today announces programming for its 2018-19 season, driven by the concept of "Now Hear This," canonical repertoire "reimagined" in the context of here and now. Orpheus reimagines the past, present, and future of the chamber orchestra with three concerts presented in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall and two concerts presented by the 92nd Street Y. Orpheus is joined this season by an illustrious group of international soloists including pianists Nobuyuki Tsujii and Javier Perianes and the Avi Avital and Ksenija Sidorova Duo at Carnegie Hall, as well as cellist Steven Isserlis and harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani at 92nd Street Y. As part of Orpheus' ongoing American Notes commissioning initiative, two new pieces - Benjamin Wallfisch's Concerto for Mandolin and Accordion and a work by James Matheson - receive their world premieres next season.

Artistic Director James Wilson articulates, "I'm excited and proud to see Orpheus so dramatically expand its musical impact throughout our hometown of New York. It's a testament to the flexibility of our wonderful ensemble that in one season we can bring our acclaimed artistry and skill to the renowned Carnegie Hall, the innovative and creative stage at the 92nd Street Y, and the intimate showroom at Tarisio Fine Instruments & Bows. The inclusion of these venues has inspired us to stretch our wings musically and offer a season of impressive variety and excitement."

Orpheus kicks off its 2018-19 season on Thursday, September 20, 2018 at 8:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall with Gentle Giants, featuring 2009 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition-winning Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii in Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 21. The program also explores the spiritual ecstasy of Arvo Pärt's Fratres and the sensitive artistry of Tchaikovsky's String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op. 11, arranged and reimagined for string orchestra by Christopher Theofanidis.

On Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. at Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, Orpheus explores how film music figures prominently in America's collective imagination and cultural heritage with Stars Aligned, a program by composers with deep cinematic roots - Nino Rota, Miklós Rósza, and Franz Waxman. The unconventional duo of Israeli mandolinist Avi Avital and Latvian accordionist Ksenija Sidorova joins Orpheus in the New York premiere of Golden Globe, GRAMMY, and Emmy nominated composer Benjamin Wallfisch's Concerto for Mandolin and Accordion, commissioned by Orpheus as part of its American Notes initiative, and Bach's Concerto for Violin and Oboe in C Minor, BWV 1060R, arranged for mandolin and accordion by acclaimed Hollywood composer Paul Chihara. The premiere will be paired with Rózsa's Hungarian Serenade, Op. 25 (1945); Rota's Canzona (1935); and Waxman's Sinfonietta for Strings and Timpani.

As part of a new partnership with 92nd Street Y, Orpheus performs at Kaufmann Concert Hall on Sunday, December 9, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. with 2017 Grammy-nominated British cellist Steven Isserlis in C.P.E. Bach's Cello Concerto in A Major, H. 439. The program, titled Bleeding Hearts, also features Hans Rott's Symphony for String Orchestra in A-Flat Major and Mahler's arrangement of Schubert's highly emotional Death and the Maiden.

On Saturday, January 12, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. at Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, Orpheus performs Homeward Sound, a program delving into the sounds of Mozart and Dvo?ák's rich lives in Salzburg, Vienna, and Prague. The concert features the New York premiere of Dvo?ák's Bagatelles, Op. 47 arranged for chamber orchestra by conductor/arranger Dennis Russell Davies, as well as Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 27 with Spanish pianist Javier Perianes, and Mozart's Symphony No. 33 in B flat Major, K. 319. These works will provide a springboard for New York composer James Matheson's American Notes commission, which opens this program and reflects contemporary American sensibilities.

Merry Pranks on Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. at 92nd Street Y, includes Strauss' rendering of a fabled trickster, Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks, arranged by Brett Dean. Acclaimed Iranian harpsichord virtuoso Mahan Esfahani juggles tradition and disruption in Manuel De Falla's neoclassical Concerto for Harpsichord and Five Instruments and Martin?'s Harpsichord Concerto G. 71 while Mozart's beloved Quintet for Piano and Winds (K. 452) wears the garb of a chamber symphony in a reworking by Jean Françaix.

Orpheus' 2018-19 New York City season ends with their free, annual summer performance presented by Naumburg Orchestral Concerts in Central Park's historic Naumburg Bandshell.

In addition to its Carnegie Hall and 92nd Street Y concerts, Orpheus will continue its Twilight at Tarisio series, presenting intimate salon concerts featuring musicians performing on rare instruments in the elegant showroom at Tarisio Fine Instruments & Bows in midtown Manhattan.

Program Information
ORPHEUS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall

"Gentle Giants"
Thursday, September 20, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
Nobuyuki Tsujii, piano
Pa?rt: Fratres
Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21 for Piano & Strings
Tchaikovsky: Chamber Symphony No. 1 in D Major (after String Quartet Op. 11) arr. Christopher Theofanidis (NY Premiere - Orpheus Commission)

"Stars Aligned"
Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.
Avi Avital, mandolin; Ksenija Sidorova, accordion
Waxman: Sinfonietta for Strings and Timpani (1955)
Bach: Double Concerto in C Minor, BWV 1060R (arr. Paul Chihara)
Benjamin Wallfisch: Concerto for Mandolin and Accordion (NY Premiere - Orpheus Commission)
Rota: Canzona (1935)
Rósza: Hungarian Serenade Op. 25 (1945)

"Homeward Sound"
Saturday, January 12, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
Javier Perianes, piano
James Matheson: New Work (NY Premiere - Orpheus Commission)
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-flat Major, K. 595
Dvor?a?k: Bagatelles, Op. 47 (arr. Dennis Russell Davies) (NY Premiere)
Mozart: Symphony No. 33 in B-flat Major, K. 319

ORPHEUS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
92nd Street Y, Kaufmann Concert Hall

"Bleeding Hearts"
Sunday, December 9, 2018 at 3:00 p.m.
Steven Isserlis, cello
Rott: Symphony for String Orchestra in A-Flat Major
CPE Bach: Cello Concerto in A Major, H. 439
Schubert: String Quartet No. 14 in D Minor, D. 810 "Death and the Maiden" (arr. Gustav Mahler)

"Merry Pranks"
Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at 7:30pm
Mahan Esfahani, harpsichord
Falla: Concerto for Harpsichord and Five Instruments
Mozart: Nonet after Quintet K. 452 (arr. Jean Franc?aix)
Martin?: Harpsichord Concerto G. 71
Strauss: Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks (arr. Brett Dean)

Ticket Information
Subscriptions are available at orpheusnyc.org or by calling (212) 896-1704 beginning January 22, 2018. Single tickets for Carnegie Hall concerts can be purchased at carnegiehall.org or by calling CarnegieCharge at (212) 247-7800, beginning mid-August. 92Y single tickets can be purchased at 92Y.org or by calling (212) 415-5500.

About Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra creates extraordinary musical experiences that enrich lives and empower individuals through collaboration, innovation, education and a passion for artistic excellence. Orpheus strives to be the world's premier chamber orchestra by performing music at the highest level without a conductor, challenging artistic boundaries, inspiring the public to think and work with new perspectives, and building a broad and active audience in New York City and around the world.

A standard-bearer of innovation and artistic excellence, Orpheus was founded in 1972 by a group of like-minded young musicians determined to combine the intimacy and warmth of a chamber ensemble with the richness of an orchestra. Orpheus performs without a conductor, rotating musical leadership roles for each work, and striving to perform diverse repertoire through collaboration and open dialogue. The ensemble has commissioned and premiered over 48 original works. Orpheus's recordings include the Grammy Award-winning Shadow Dances: Stravinsky Miniatures for Deutsche Grammophon, and over 70 other recordings for DG, Sony Classical, EMI Classics, BMG/RCA Red Seal, Decca, and others, including its own label, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Records.

Orpheus presents an annual concert series in New York City featuring performances at Carnegie Hall and the 92nd Street Y, as well as an intimate Twilight chamber series in the elegant instrument showroom at Tarisio Fine Instruments & Bows in midtown Manhattan. The orchestra also tours extensively to major national and international venues. The 2017-18 Orpheus series in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall features pianist André Watts; Norwegian cellist Truls Mørk in his first appearance with Orpheus; classical trumpet soloist Tine Thing Helseth in her Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage debut; and violinist Lisa Batiashvili in her first appearance with Orpheus. As part of Orpheus' ongoing American Notes commissioning initiative, two new pieces-by Indian-American jazz pianist and composer Vijay Iyer, and award-winning Chinese composer Shuying Li-are additionally featured in the 2017-18 season.

About Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Educational Initiatives
Orpheus has trademarked its signature mode of operation, the Orpheus Process, an original method that places democracy at the center of artistic execution. It has been the focus of studies at Harvard University and of leadership seminars at IBM, Morgan Stanley, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital, among others. Orpheus aims to bring this unique approach to students of all ages through its worldwide education and engagement programs: Access Orpheus-NYC, Orpheus Music Academy, and Orpheus Leadership Institute.

Access Orpheus-NYC shares the orchestra's collaborative music-making process with K-12 public school students from all five boroughs in New York City. While New York is among the cultural capitals of the world, many schoolchildren are underserved in arts participation. Access Orpheus-NYC helps to bridge this gap with in-class visits, invitations to working rehearsals, Instrument Discovery Days, public masterclasses, and free tickets for performances at Carnegie Hall.

The Orpheus Music Academy encompasses Orpheus' programs for intermediate and advanced music students. Orpheus musicians share their artistry, expertise, and collaborative approach to music-making through masterclasses with Orpheus musicians and guest artists, side-by-side workshops, and residencies on tour.

The Orpheus Leadership Institute brings the Orpheus Process to the private and nonprofit sectors and educational institutions to empower the leaders of tomorrow through collaborative management training. Teams of all kinds participate in customizable programs to gain insight from Orpheus' democratic process and develop essential skills in communication, collective ownership, and creative problem solving.

For more information about Orpheus please visit www.OrpheusNYC.org or call 212.896.1700.