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2009-2010 Season Preview
Stella Boyle Smith Masterworks | ACXIOM Pops LIVE! | River Rhapsodies Chamber Series | Special Events | Conductor Finalists
Stella Boyle Smith Masterworks Series
Join us for the 2009-2010 season to celebrate Maestro David Itkin’s remarkable legacy with the ASO and his 16 years of artistic leadership, inspiration, and passion. He leads the final Stella Boyle Smith Masterworks concert—Mahler’s powerful Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection."
And as one door closes, another opens. So in 2009-2010 we throw open the portals to our final five music director candidates—one of whom will be chosen to usher in a new era with the Orchestra. As a Masterworks subscriber, you’ll have a role to play in the selection process: you’re invited to cast a vote for your favorite!
OPENING NIGHT & TCHAIKOVSKY
September 12 & 13, 2009
Arthur Post, conductor
Karen Gomyo, violin
NIELSEN Saga Dream
TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto
SIBELIUS Symphony No. 2
Our exciting season begins with a grand, romantic gesture: the beloved Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, whose ravishing beauty, graceful melodies, and dizzying virtuosity have thrilled generations of adoring audiences, and which Karen Gomyo performs it brilliantly on her rare Stradivarius violin. Arthur Post also conducts Sibelius’s most popular symphony, filled with dark-hued sonorities and expansive brass chorales.
“Ms. Gomyo is a disciplined, poised player with a commanding technique.” New York Times
“Gomyo’s big sound, excellent tone, rich lyricism and, above all, compelling authority made her performance very pleasurable.” Houston Chronicle
 THE MAJESTY OF BEETHOVENOct. 17 & 18, 2009
Philip Mann, conductor
Andrew von Oeyen, piano
GLINKA Overture to Ruslan and Ludmilla
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor”
PETER ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 5
Without a doubt, Beethoven’s “Emperor” is one of the most imaginative, compelling, and difficult of piano concertos; but it electrifies with its majesty and grandeur. Our superstar-pianist, Andrew von Oeyen, brings elegance, muscular technique, and sheer exuberance to his performance of this iconic masterpiece. Philip Mann’s interpretation of a rousing Russian curtain raiser and Tchaikovsky’s Fifth is are sure to have you on your feet and cheering!
“Indisputable gifts [and] an extravagantly thorough and effortless technique” Los Angeles Times
 BEETHOVEN’S FIFTH! November 7 & 8, 2009
George Hanson, conductor
Joshua Roman, cello
BRAHMS Tragic Overture
SCHUMANN Cello Concerto
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5
The legendary Pablo Casals declared that in Schumann’s deeply poetic and technically demanding Cello Concerto “the music is sublime.” Joshua Roman performs it with an absolute commitment to communicating the essence of the music. George Hanson leads Beethoven’s instantly recognizable Fifth, which rises from its famous four-note motif, sweeping you along its dramatic path from darkness into the light.
“A cellist of bold character and poetic grace…a masterful player who brings curiosity and electrical energy to every note.” Cleveland Plain Dealer
 GRIEG’S ROMANTIC PIANO CONCERTOJan. 16 & 17, 2010
Fusao Kajima, conductor
Valentina Lisitsa, piano
VILLA-LOBOS Sinfonietta No. 1 (A memória de Mozart)
GRIEG Piano Concerto
DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 8
Though Grieg’s romantic concerto was written in a cold climate, its beautiful melding of virtuosity and lyricism—and echoes of Norwegian folk music—will not only melt your heart, but dazzle you, too. . . especially when it’s in the hands of our stunning soloist who has garnered raves around the world. Fusao Kajima and the ASO then present Dvořák’s beloved score, inspired by nature and overflowing with joyful melodies.
“To put it simply, Lisitsa is a gigantic talent. She has infallible fingers, imagination and a control of dynamics—from the softest to the loudest sounds—little short of electrifying. Baltimore Sun
“The technique glitters like cut glass.” Chicago Tribune
 SIBELIUS’S NORDIC SPLENDORFeb. 27 & 28, 2010
Andre Raphel Smith, conductor
Philippe Quint, violin
BEETHOVEN Overture to King Stephan
SIBELIUS Violin Concerto
BRAHMS Symphony No. 1
An audience favorite for more than a century, Sibelius’s Violin Concerto is a beautiful combination of lyricism and virtuosity—perfect for displaying the fiery talents of our soloist. As the Daily Telegraph raved, “From the moment he takes the stage, Grammy Award-nominee violinist Philippe Quint captivates audiences with his charismatic presence.” André Raphel Smith leads Brahms’s gripping First Symphony, which begins with a dramatic pulse in the timpani and ends with bright and brilliant horn calls.
“He looked like a modern day Paganini—and he played like one, too.” The Cincinnati Enquirer
 FAREWELL, MAESTRO!April 10 & 11, 2010
David Itkin, conductor
Marie Plette, soprano
Genie Grunewald, mezzo-soprano
MAHLER Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection”
A magnificent way to crown Maestro Itkin’s tenure at the ASO: Mahler’s glorious “Resurrection Symphony.” Its grand theme and range of emotions call for the joining together of extraordinary musical forces. In the stirring final movement, a hushed chorus intones the resurrection ode and solo voices soar, singing of forgiveness, divine compassion, and eternal life, promising: “You shall rise again, my heart, in an instant. And all you strived for shall carry you up to God!”
 MOTOWN GOLD with JEANS ‘N CLASSICSSeptember 18 & 19, 2009
Geoffrey Robson, conductor
From Smokey Robinson and The Supremes to Gladys Knight and Marvin Gaye, this music is the soundtrack of your life; and on this concert Jeans ’n Classics celebrates the Golden Anniversary of Motown and the unique sound of its legendary stars! Some of the Top 40 hits you’ll love hearing again include “My Girl,” “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,” and “Reach Out, I’ll Be There.” You be there, too, on this soul-filled journey down memory lane!
 A LEAHY FAMILY CHRISTMAS December 18 & 19, 2009
Geoffrey Robson, conductor
It’s an all-new Christmas celebration for Little Rock and the ASO Pops! A musical powerhouse, Leahy—the 8-member brother-and-sister act (and their children, too!)—takes you on an exhilarating Christmas adventure, featuring holiday classics and carols, hymns and airs, fiery tunes and dances, and stories of the season. And the audience is invited to join in the fun of this unique holiday gathering.
 THE HEART OF BROADWAY February 12 & 13, 2010
Geoffrey Robson, conductor
Christiane Noll, soprano
Doug LaBrecque, tenor
The perfect concert for Valentine’s Day: a celebration of love, Broadway-style! You and your special someone are invited to start your romantic evening at the ASO Pops with love songs from movies and musicals: from the sophisticated (Cole Porter‘s “Begin the Beguine”) to the classics (a West Side Story medley) and mega-hits (“Music of the Night” from Phantom of the Opera).
 PORGY AND BESS IN CONCERTMarch 12 & 13, 2010 Geoffrey Robson, conductor with massed chorus and soloists TBA George and Ira Gershwin's Porgy and Bess comes to life at the first-ever ASO presentation of highlights from this quintessential American classic. The denizens of Catfish Row in Charleston, South Carolina—Porgy, Bess, Clara, and Sportin' Life—sing their unforgettable songs: the gorgeous "Summertime," the romantic "Bess You is My Woman Now," the upbeat "I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'," the seductive "It Ain't Necessarily So," and the chorus intoning complex harmonies during a raging hurricane.
 SPOTLIGHT ON HOLLYWOODMay 7 & 8, 2010
Carl Topilow, conductor
Break out the buttered popcorn and settle into your stadium seats. It’s time for music from the movies at the Pops! You’ll hear selections from your favorite movie classics, past and present … including The Wizard of Oz, The Empire Strikes Back, Psycho, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Lord of the Rings. For extra fun and entertainment, our affable guest maestro and clarinetist, Carl Topilow, will test your movie knowledge with a trivia quiz.
River Rhapsodies Chamber Music Series
 PASSIONATE PAIRINGS
September 15, 2009
Sturgis Quartet
Beth Wheeler, oboe
John Dahlstrand, bass
Carl Anthony, harpsichord
Melita Hunsinger, cello
David Belcher, piano
Mary Ann Robinson, soprano
BACH Cantata No. 202, “Weichet nur, betrübte Schatten” (“Depart, Sad Shadows”), BWV 202, “Wedding Cantata”
RACHMANINOFF Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 19
No matter what the season, the time is always ripe for love. Bach’s festive “Wedding Cantata” celebrates the joys of spring and the pleasures of a young couple newly united. Rachmaninoff pairs two instruments in an impassioned sonata featuring the cello in its most eloquent range, the piano intoning exquisitely melancholy themes.
A CENTURY OF MASTERPIECES
October 20, 2009
Quapaw Quartet
Sturgis Quartet
Andrew von Oeyen, piano
HAYDN String Quartet No. 30, “The Joke”
MENDELSSOHN Streichquartett Nr. 4 e-moll Op. 44 No. 2
FRANCK Piano Quintet
Savor music that encompasses a century of creative genius—from Haydn’s “Joke” Quartet, nicknamed for its playful finale, to the music of Mendelssohn, to Franck’s stormy quintet for piano and strings, whose bold harmonies and emotional sweep propel it to near-symphonic dimensions.
 RAVISHING RAVELDecember 1, 2009
Rockefeller Quartet
David Renfro, horn
Robin Dauer, horn
Brent Shires, horn
Scott Milichamp, horn
BEETHOVEN Sextet for Two Horns and String Quartet
HINDEMITH Sonata for Four Horns
RAVEL String Quartet
Rich, resonant sound and the spectacle of gleaming horns, front and center, make the first half of this gorgeous program a stunner! Then, the glow of strings lights up the stage with one of the masterpieces of the repertoire—Ravel’s sensuous quartet, shimmering with colors, rhythms, and haunting beauty.
 DARK EMOTIONSJanuary 19, 2010
Quapaw Quartet
SHOSTAKOVICH String Quartet No. 3
BRAHMS String Quartet No.1
The range of Shostakovich’s expression in his Third Quartet—from sweet and playful to dark and intense—inspires the virtuosity of the performers and grips the listener. Ever the perfectionist, Brahms may have burned some 20 string quartets before letting this masterpiece—cast in the same compelling key as his First Symphony—see the light of day.
 THE 4 Bs: BACH, BARTOK, BRITTEN & BEETHOVENMarch 2, 2010
Rockefeller Quartet
Sturgis Quartet
Gerry Gibson, oboe
J. C. BACH Quartet in B-Flat for Oboe and Strings
BARTOK String Quartet No. 3
BRITTEN Phantasy Quartet
BEETHOVEN String Quartet Op. 18, No. 1
Our principal oboist and the Rockefeller Quartet blend wind and string sonorities in this appealing mix of music that’s graceful, romantic, and imaginative. Concluding the concert is the first of Beethoven’s 16 string quartets—already a tour de force that foreshadows his mastery of the form.
 BRILLIANT BRASS…STIRRING STRINGSApril 13, 2010
ASO Brass Quintet
Rockefeller Quartet
Sturgis Quartet
Kiril Laskarov, violin
Drew Irvin, violin
Carl Anthony, harpsichord
EWALD Brass Quintet No. 1
J. S. BACH Double Violin Concerto
SCHOENBERG String Quartet No. 1, Op. 7
Enjoy the dazzle of the ASO Brass Quintet in a work by an illustrious Tchaikovsky contemporary and pioneer of the genre. Step back two centuries for Bach’s Double Violin Concerto, in which the two soloists weave an intricate tapestry of sound. Schoenberg’s dramatic musical canvas is unique in conception and exciting to hear.
 SuperPOPS! The Beach BoysOctober 4, 2009 at 7:00 PM
Robinson Center Music Hall
Hop in your “Little Deuce Coup” for some “Fun Fun Fun” with The Beach Boys! With their sunny vocal harmonies, and often referred to as "America's Band," the California quintet places second only to The Beatles in terms of their impact on the music scene of the 1960s. Hear your favorite tunes - like “Good Vibrations,” “Barbara Ann,” “California Girls,” “Surfin' U.S.A.” and many more - complete with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra...a musical treat not to be missed.
 JINGLE BELL (LITTLE) ROCKDecember 19, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Robinson Center Music Hall
Geoffrey Robson, conductor
The whole family will enjoy the enchanting sights and sounds of this kid-size holiday concert. It’s an hour of seasonal tunes and carols, made magical with exciting staging and lighting effects.
Come early and enjoy the “Deck the Halls” Children’s Fair!
 ASO & ASYO SIDE BY SIDEJanuary 30, 2010 at 7:00 PM
Robinson Center Music Hall
Geoffrey Robson, conductor
This one-of-a-kind event continues to delight audiences year after year. Join us as we spotlight the student-musicians of the Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestras.
The Search is On!
Nearly a year after ASO Music Director David Itkin announced he would be leaving the orchestra, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s Board of Directors is pleased to name the five conductors selected as finalists in the search for the ASO’s next Music Director.
The candidates are:
 Arthur Post· Currently Music Director of San Juan Symphony in Durango, Colorado (serving the four corners region)
· Past Assistant Conductor and Resident Conductor of Pittsburgh Symphony, Associate Conductor of Israel Philharmonic, and Resident Conductor of New World Symphony
· Has a reputation for groundbreaking programming that combines the masterworks of the orchestral repertoire with music reflecting local cultures and concerns
· Has conducted tours with popular artists James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt, and performed in the PBS Pittsburgh Pops television specials with Marvin Hamlisch
· Studied at Yale University and The Juilliard School, Tanglewood Music Center and Salzburg Mozarteum
· Began his studies on the double bass, and is also fluent in a variety of musical styles, including jazz and popular music
· “I believe the music we play is just as engaging now as when it was written. It is the way we present it that needs to keep pace with the changes in modern life.”
 Philip Mann· American Conducting Fellow and Assistant Conductor of San Diego Symphony
· Served as cover conductor for the Cleveland Orchestra and as the Schmidt Conducting Fellow of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
· Active in both symphonic and operatic repertory
· Trained as violinist and has appeared as a soloist, concertmaster and chamber player in the U.S. and abroad
· Elected a Rhodes Scholar, he taught at Oxford, and won the annual competition to become principal conductor of the Oxford University Philharmonia.
· Hailed by the BBC as a “talent to watch out for, who conveys a mature command of his forces”
· “I believe music-making must be the core of every orchestra’s mission, where the quality of art is a priority second to none. My standards and expectations of musicians are only exceeded by those I place on myself.”
 George Hanson· Currently Music Director and Conductor of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra
· Has appeared with nearly 90 symphony orchestras and opera companies in 19 countries
· Previously served as Associate Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony, assisted Kurt Masur at the New York Philharmonic and was Music Director of the Anchorage Symphony
· Also served as General Music Director of the Wuppertal Symphony in Germany for seven years, where critics praised him as a “Shostakovich expert” and “Mahler specialist.”
· Received the Echo Klassik award for his recording of music of Anton Rubinstein, joining conductors Nicholaus Harnoncourt and Simon Rattle as recipients of this prestigious honor, second only to the Grammy in international importance
· Trained at the Vienna Academy of Music, The Curtis Institute, Indiana University and Concordia College
· “Perhaps my strongest achievement in Tucson has been to bring this regional orchestra to a point artistically where a major international recording company entrusted us with a major CD.”
 Fusao Kajima· Music Director of the Bellevue Philharmonic in Bellevue, Washington
· Previously Music Director of Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra, Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra and Papagena Opera Company; Assistant Conductor of Greater Lansing Symphony Orchestra, Freiburger Theater, Staatstheater Darmstadt and Opera Company of Mid-Michigan
· Has received high honors at some of the most prestigious international conducting competitions in the world, including the 1995 "Antonio Pedrotti," the 1988 "Masterplayers," and the 1985 Austrian Broadcasting Corporation Young Conductor’s Prize Competition
· Began his piano studies at age four and his conducting studies at fourteen
· Studied at Salzburg Mozarteum, New England Conservatory, Tanglewood Music Center, University of Michigan and Academia Musicale di Chigiana
· "(Kajima) touches the minds and hearts of audiences" -- Chicago Tribune
· “Not only do I have a great passion for well-known works of Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th Century and Contemporary periods, I have an enthusiasm in introducing unusual or unfamiliar pieces.”
 André Raphel Smith· Currently Music Director of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra in Wheeling, West Virginia
· Has established a distinguished career through innovative programming, a strong commitment to American music and performances acclaimed by audiences and critics alike
· Has appeared as Guest Conductor with most of America’s major orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Boston, Chicago and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras and The Cleveland, Minnesota and Philadelphia Orchestras
· Previously served as an Assistant Conductor to Kurt Masur at the New York Philharmonic, Assistant Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra, Assistant Conductor of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
· Has a strong and active interest in audience development and arts education
· Studied at University of Miami, Yale University, The Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School
· “Through innovative programming, festivals and premieres, we have stimulated great interest in [Wheeling Symphony’s] offerings. These are attributes I would hope to bring to the position in Little Rock.
 
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