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May 13, 2013                                                                             Media Contact: Kathleen Allen 

PRESS RELEASE                                                                   (206) 362-2300

For Immediate Release                                                          [email protected]

 

SEATTLE YOUTH SYMPHONY

PRESENTS 70TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON FINALE

Young Musicians to Tackle Major Orchestral Works

 

Seattle, WA - The 2012-2013 Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra (SYSO) season concludes its celebration of 70 years of high-caliber orchestral music with the final Youth Symphony subscription season performance on Sunday, May 19 at 3 p.m. at Benaroya Hall.  In advance of the concert, Classical KING-FM 98.9 will feature the music and concert information for the May 19th performance on their Northwest Focus program, broadcast weekday nights at 8 p.m.

 
Seattle Youth Symphony concert tickets range from $15 to $40 with discounts available for students, seniors, and rush tickets. They can be purchased at the door or reserved now by calling (206) 362-2300. 

 

Under the baton of Music Director Stephen Rogers Radcliffe, this concert's repertoire balances evocative and descriptive works, pieces which bring forth images of both the sublime and picturesque. The afternoon begins with a canonical work of the 19th century orchestral repertoire; Johann Brahms' Tragic Overture, and is then followed by two major 20th century compositions of contrasting styles - the colorful and cinematic La Mer by Claude Debussy, and the imaginative and expressive Pictures at an Exhibition composed by Modeste Mussorgsky and orchestrated by Maurice Ravel. Both works are highly programmatic. With evocative section titles such as "Play of the Waves" and "Dialogue of the Wind and the Sea", the Debussy employs sensuous tone colors to paint a musical portrait of the ocean. Climaxing with the majestic "Great Gates of Kiev," Mussorgsky's well known Pictures at an Exhibition is a series of orchestral vignettes, each one describing a painting by the Russian artist Victor Hartmann. With extensive solo passages and intricate ensemble work, both pieces are among the most challenging of the symphonic orchestral repertoire. Yet as always, the 120 members of the Seattle Youth Symphony bring their unique energy and expressive vitality to this triumphant year-end performance.


The last subscription season concert, however, is not the last opportunity to hear the talented Youth Symphony musicians play.  They can be seen and heard throughout the region in partnerships with some of Seattle's most prestigious performing arts institutions. On June 14 and 15, 2013 in McCaw Hall, SYSO and the Pacific Northwest Ballet will once again team up to present their fourth annual collaboration when the Seattle Youth Symphony performs as the orchestra for the PNB School Professional Division dancers' and NEXT STEP world premiere choreographers showcase performances.  Friday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. Youth Symphony musicians perform works by L�o Delibes and Gustav Mahler choreographed by PNB's professional dancers. The musicians then also perform music of Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky and Johannes Brahms for the upper level PNB School dancers at the Annual PNB School Performance on Saturday, June 15. This unique partnership program allows for interdisciplinary artistic connections between the pre-professional musicians and dancers.

 
As part of another unique partnership, this time between SYSO and the Seattle Opera, the Youth Symphony performs the world premiere of three new chamber operas commissioned by the Seattle Opera entitled Our Earth. This three-cycle opera written by Eric Banks (composer) and Irene Keliher (librettist) focuses on themes of friendship, hope and the stewardship of our Northwest ecosystem and was developed in conjunction with the Opera's world-renowned mainstage "Green" Ring cycle. The full three-opera cycle will be performed with a youth chorus and professional soloists on August 1st at 7 p.m. as part of the Marrowstone Music Festival at Western Washington University's Performing Arts Center and on August 3rd at Seattle Opera's Make Some Noise! Ring Open House at McCaw Hall, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

About Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras has a tradition of life-changing excellence and innovation. Founded in 1942 the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra is one of the premiere youth orchestras in the nation. Made up of the finest young classical musicians in the region and led by Music Director Stephen Rogers Radcliffe, the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra delivers performances of professional caliber with the unrivaled energy and passion of youthful artistry.
 

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Who: Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Music Director Stephen Rogers Radcliffe.

What: Seattle Youth Symphony performing Brahms' Tragic Overture; Debussy's La Mer
Mussorgski's / Ravel's Pictures at an Exhibition

When:  Sunday, May 19, 2013

Where: Benaroya Hall on 3rd and Union in Seattle, WA unless otherwise noted.

Price: ranges from $15-$40, with student, senior and group discounts also available.

Ticket Purchasing: At the door, online at www.syso.org, or over the phone at (206) 362-2300

 

Other Upcoming Youth Symphony Performances:

 

June 14, 2013, 7:30 p.m. (McCaw Hall, Seattle)

Performance Partnership with Pacific Northwest Ballet
NEXT STEP, new choreography showcase

Tickets available through Pacific Northwest Ballet box office at www.pnb.org

 

June 15, 2013, 1:00pm & 7:00pm (McCaw Hall, Seattle)

Performance Partnership with Pacific Northwest Ballet

PNB School Day of Dance, Annual School Performance.


August 3, 2013, 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. (McCaw Hall, Seattle)

Performance Partnership with Seattle Opera

Banks: Our Earth, Cycle 1, 2, & 3

Free community event

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For more information please call Kathleen Allen at (206) 362-2300

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras

11065 5th Ave NE, Suite A
Seattle, WA 98125
tel: 206.362.2300
fax: 206.361.9254