Riverside Symphony To Offer Varied Program Of Mainly Strings

Conductor George Rothman will lead Riverside Symphony in an adventurous program on Saturday evening, January 26, at Alice Tully Hall. The orchestra's principal trombonist, Michael Lormand, will be featured in Romanian-French master Marius Constant's Gli Elementi, a gripping essay for solo trombone presented for the first time on an American stage. A rare performance of Mozart's Divertimento K. 251 for strings, solo oboe and two horns offers up a depth of expression not often associated with the form, while Dvorak student (and eventual son-in-law) Josef Suk's captivating string serenade completes this wide-ranging journey through the centuries.

SATURDAY, January 26, 2019 at 8pm

Featuring Mike Lormand, trombone

MOZART Divertimento No. 11 in D Major, K. 251

CONSTANT Gli Elementi US Premiere*

SUK Serenade for Strings

*featured in our Hear Hear! preview performance, which precedes the concert at 7:15 pm and is free to all ticket holders

Riverside Symphony principal trombonist Mike Lormand is among New York City's most in-demand practitioners of his instrument. A regular performer with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Mostly Mozart, New York City Ballet, and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, he has made a particular specialty in contemporary music circles as a member or guest artist with such groups as the International Contemporary Ensemble, Talea Ensemble, Deviant Septet, WeatherVest, Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, and IRIS Orchestra.

As a soloist, Mike has commissioned new works in an effort to enrich the trombone repertoire, with performances at Lincoln Center Out of Doors, International Trombone Festival, and Ojai Music Festival. As an instructor at St. Ann's School in Brooklyn, Mike encourages the development of lasting personal relationships with music, sharing the insights taught to him by his teachers, Per Brevig, Dave Taylor, Marta Hofacre, and Bob Schmalz. Mike is a graduate of Manhattan School of Music (MM) and University of Southern Mississippi (BM).

George Rothman, Riverside Symphony's founding music director and conductor, has led orchestras throughout the United States, as well as in South America, Asia, and Europe. Praised as "adventurous, committed, [and] energetic" by Musical America, his performances of an unusually diverse repertory are also routinely acclaimed by The New York Times and other leading publications. As an advocate for new music, Mr. Rothman has led well over 150 world and local premieres from both established and emerging composers around the world, while Riverside Symphony's seven CDs of major contemporary orchestral works-mainly world premiere recordings-under his leadership have been lauded by Fanfare for their "awesomely assured performances." Furthermore, Mr. Rothman is active as a pianist and lecturer, regularly participating in workshops and seminars with leading American composers.

He has served on the music faculties of Columbia and Yale Universities and, since 2005, Brooklyn College, where he is currently Conductor of the Conservatory Orchestra and Professor of Music.

Riverside Symphony, co-founded in 1981 by George Rothman and Anthony Korf, has been widely noted for its unique focus on discovery-of young artists, unfamiliar works by the great masters, and important new pieces by living composers from around the world, for which it provides a rare forum at its annual Lincoln Center concert series at Alice Tully Hall. Critically acclaimed for its vibrant performances of music from all periods, the orchestra counts New York's finest instrumentalists among its membership. Riverside Symphony CDs have brought international acclaim, including a Grammy nomination and Editor's Pick from Britain's Gramophone and The New York Times. The orchestra can be heard on Riverside Symphony Records (1401 Constant), Bridge Records (9057 Ruders; 9091 Imbrie; 9112 Davidovsky; 9294 Korf), and New World Records (383 Davidovsky, Korf, Wright).

Tickets range in price from $34 to $65. Subscriptions, group rates, family plan, and student tickets are available. To purchase, please call (212) 864-4197 or visit www.riversidesymphony.org.