by Mark G. Auerbach
Julian Schwarz to perform with Springfield Symphony.
The Springfield Symphony Performs “Viva America” on November 4
If you’re one of those people who turns away when you think about classical music, The Springfield Symphony’s upcoming “Viva America” concert on November 4 at Symphony Hall would certainly qualify as classical by definition, but it’s more of a Pops program, or a Broadway program with plenty of panache. Maestro Kevin Rhodes conducts and Julian Schwarz is the cello soloist, and The Westfield News Group is one of the concert sponsors..
The program opens with George Gershwin’s Cuban Overture, a piece that appeared in snippet form in the Broadway hits An American in Paris, My One and Only, and Crazy For You. The program ends with Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, the landmark Broadway musical. Decades ago, when I worked at the Springfield Symphony, the Orchestra toured New England, and Bernstein’s showstopper got the ensemble standing ovations from Burlington to Storrs to Orono..
Aaron Copland’s El Salón México is a colorful piece of the American Southwest and Mexico. Schwarz performs Lowell Liebermann’s Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 132. The composer is best known for his 2016 ballet Frankenstein, a co-production between The Royal Ballet and San Francisco Ballet, and his 1995 opera The Picture of Dorian Gray. Supposedly, this is the second time that Liebermann’s work has been performed.
For details: 413-733-2291 or www.springfieldsymphony.org
Longmeadow Chamber Music Society Partners With Springfield Symphony
The Longmeadow Chamber Music Society, founded in 1983 by Dr. William and Marsha Harbison and Dr. Thomas and Margot Rowland, all of Longmeadow, has announced a new partnership with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, who will take over programming, management, and production details for the highly regarded chamber music program. Kevin Rhodes will become Artistic Director of the series.
In a letter to subscribers, donors, and sponsors, including The Westfield News Group, which has sponsored the program, Drs. Harbison and Rowland said “It’s a “win-win-win” for Longmeadow to keep chamber music in town and for the Springfield Symphony, which is excited about new outreach opportunities.” They said the series would not have a fall concert this year, but would resume performances in the winter, most likely at Longmeadow High School’s Auditorium.
Kevin Rhodes, Music Director of the Springfield Symphony as well as Boston’s Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra and the Traverse Symphony in Michigan, said “I’m very much looking forward to interacting with the public in the more intimate forum of chamber music in Longmeadow.”
Sean Pomposello, new marketing director at Hartford Stage.
Newsmakers
Sean Pomposello is the new director of marketing and communications at the award-winning Hartford Stage. Pomposello previously held the position of Director of Editorial Strategy for A & E Networks, where he was responsible for overseeing the network’s brand; providing creative oversight for on-air promotions, off-channel television and digital/social campaigns and internal marketing communications; and managing episodic promotions for all scripted and unscripted series, original movies, and specials.
Joshua Burrage made his Broadway debut as a swing in Cats earlier this month. The Westfield native went directly from Westfield High School to the national tour of Disney’s Newsies. Cats continues on Broadway through December 30 His older brother Nick, who went from Westfield High School to college and a dance career in New York, is currently touring the nation in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. For details: https://www.catsthemusical.com/broadway/cast/
Opportunity…
The Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative will present two one-day workshops at Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield. How to Shoot A Video On Your iPhone meets October 21. This course will cover: basic storyboarding, camera techniques, editing, audio considerations, and how to share your video. Editing Basics meets November 18. This introductory course will introduce students to the art of film editing. Students are welcome to bring their own footage. The instructor for both courses is Erica Spizz. For details: 413-528-4223 or www.berkshirefilm.,org.
Keep In Mind…
Matt Pugliese, Connecticut Repertory Theatre.
That Poor Girl and How He Killed Her, up-and-coming playwright Jen Silverman’s new play, gets a Connecticut Repertory Theatre production, October 26 – November 5, in the Studio Theatre on the UConn campus in Storrs. Matthew J. Pugliese directs. He describes the production: “Where is Alyssa Long? Last seen with a mysterious diplomat’s son, the disappearance of college student Alyssa Long leads her friends to start a social media campaign demanding justice. But justice for what exactly? As the social media bandwagon rolls on, discovering the truth about what happened to Alyssa becomes less important than who has posted the most recent video condemning her murder. Tthe play offers a darkly comedic exploration of justice and activism in the age of social media.”. For details: 860-486-2113 or https://crt.uconn.edu
Brooklyn Rider heads to the Fine Arts Center.
Brooklyn Rider, the adventurous, genre-defying string quartet performs on October 29, at the UMass Fine Arts Centerl. Brooklyn Rider is comprised of Johnny Gandelsman on violin, Nicholas Cords on viola, Colin Jacobsen on violin and Michael Nicolas on cello. Known for its gripping performance style and eclectic repertoire, the quartet will present a program highlighted by some new work from their forthcoming recording Spontaneous Symbols, available October 20 on Johnny Gandelsman’s In A Circle Records label.
The program will include “BTT” written by Colin Jacobsen and “Qi” written for the quartet by Evan Ziporyn (founder of Bang on a Can All-Stars). The program also includes Mozart’s Quartet in G Major, K. 387 and Beethoven’s Quartet No. 11 in F minor, Op. 95. For details: 413-545-2511, 800-999-UMAS, or www.fineartscenter.com.
The Diary of Anne Frank next at Playhouse on Park.
The Diary of Anne Frank, by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hacke (based upon “Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl”, newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman), is next at West Hartford’s Playhouse on Park, October 25-November 19. Ezra Banks directs. For details: 860-523-5900 x10 or www.playhouseonpark.org
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Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at American University and the Yale School of Drama. He’s worked for arts organizations and reported on theatre for newspapers and radio. He produces and hosts ArtsBeat Radio on 89.5fm/WSKB.
