The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra Presents CABARET SONGS with Susan Lorette Dunn Tonight

Tonight, March 21, Music Director LARRY RACHLEFF and the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra welcome mezzo-soprano SUSAN LORETTE DUNN back to The VETS for a performance of Kurt Weill's Cabaret Songs. The concert program also features Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances and Dvo?ák's Carnival Overture. Jane S. Nelson is Concert Sponsor. Tickets (starting at $15) are available at tickets.riphil.org, and the RIPO box office at 401.248.7000.

An Open Dress Rehearsal takes place Friday March 20 at 5:30pm.

"We welcome spring with a program that I just love -- not simply because my wife Susan Lorette Dunn is the soloist," saysLARRY RACHLEFF, Music Director. "It has a rich theme of immigrant composers - Dvo?ák, Weill and Rachmaninoff - all of whom spent important time in the United States. Dvo?ák's wonderful Carnival Overture asks great virtuosity of the orchestra. Kurt Weill, whom you may know for Three-Penny Opera and Mack the Knife, wrote many musical theater works and opera, symphonies and concerti. Susie sings a collection of his songs from both his European roots and American life, both beautiful and sultry." Rachleff continues: "Sergei Rachmaninoff died in this country in 1943, and is buried outside New York City.Symphonic Dances calls for a huge 90-piece orchestra to create his gorgeous lush melodies, rhythmic vitality, saxophone solos! It's a work that caps the power of an evening of immigrant composers."

Australian mezzo-soprano SUSAN LORETTE DUNN studied at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Brisbane, Queensland, graduating with both a Bachelor of Music Degree and a Graduate Diploma Degree of Opera. Miss Dunn has performed regularly with both Opera Australia and Opera Queensland, and has performed and recorded as soloist with ABC Australia and with many of Australia's major orchestras. Since moving to the USA in 2002, Miss Dunn has sung concert performances with the Rhode Island Philharmonic, Chicago Philharmonic, Charlotte Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, El Paso Symphony, Dayton Philharmonic, Spokane Symphony, Toledo Symphony, Chautauqua Symphony, Camerata of San Antonio, and the Martinu Philharmonic in the Czech Republic. Miss Dunn has performed regularly as a soloist in many of America's major summer music festivals including the Grand Teton Music Festival, Connecticut's Summer Music Festival, Interlochen Music Festival, Sunflower Music Festival, Cactus Pear Music Festival, the Chautauqua Music Festival, the Sarasota Music Festival and the International Conductor's Workshop in the Czech Republic. Miss Dunn has premiered Australian vocal works in concert both nationally and internationally, and has recorded Australian compositions for EMI/ Jade. Composers -David Heuser, Betty Beath, Stephen Lalor, David Hush and Paul Keelan have written for her. Ms. Dunn currently lives in Houston with her husband, conductor, Larry Rachleff, and son, Sammy.

Season 70 offers symphonies by Beethoven, Prokofiev and Sibelius; concerti by Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Saint-Sa?ns and Tchaikovsky; and popular favorites Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, Ravel's Boléro and Orff's Carmina Burana. Twentieth-century highlights include works by Adams, Orff, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Ravel, Sibelius, Strauss, Stravinsky, and Weill. The season's final concert features the world premiere of a commissioned work by the New England native composer Pierre Jalbert in honor of the Orchestra's 70th Anniversary. Several well-known guest artists perform with the orchestra, including returning violinists Augustin Hadelich and Jennifer Koh, cellist Alban Gerhardt, mezzo-soprano Susan Lorette Dunn, and pianists Ilya Yakushev and Joyce Yang. Pianist Jon Nakamatsu made his debut with the Rhode Island Philharmonic. The Providence Singers, Christine Noel, artistic director, share two performances with the Philharmonic: Handel's Messiah in December and Carmina Burana in May, which also features the Rhode Island Children's Chorus (also directed by Ms. Noel). Capping off this anniversary season, world-renowned violinist Joshua Bell appears with the Philharmonic in a Gala Celebration of Season 70! on Friday March 6 at The VETS.

The Philharmonic's season features eight Classical concerts on Saturday nights at The VETS. Four are preceded by Amica Rush Hour concerts on Friday, and four have Friday Open Rehearsals. The Amica Rush Hour Series offers an early start time - 6:30pm - on remaining Fridays April 10 and May 8. These shorter, informal, accessible concerts feature full performances of select repertoire from the Saturday Classical concerts. Open Rehearsals, on Fridays January 16, February 20 and March 20 at 5:30pm, offer insight into the collaboration between the conductor, guest artists and orchestra musicians as they prepare for the upcoming classical concert. Special events include the perennial holiday favorite Handel's Messiah with The Providence Singers on Saturday, December 20 at 7:00pm at The VETS, conducted by the Singers' former artistic director Andrew Clark, and the Philharmonic Pops showcasing Cirque de la Symphonie on Saturday, January 31 at 7:00pm at The VETS and appearing with the Indigo Girls on Saturday, February 13 at 7:00pm at PPAC, both conducted by Resident Conductor Francisco Noya. Mr. Noya also conducts our Education Concerts and Summer Pops Concerts. Subscriptions and individual concert tickets are on sale now. Call the Philharmonic box office at 401.248.7000, or visit tickets.riphil.org.

Photo Courtesy of Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra

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