(Boston, MA July 10, 2007) - New England String Ensemble and music director Federico Cortese announce the 2007-2008 Season, celebrating the history, spirit and emotions of the string repertoire. From the rich Magyar history of Hungary to the evocative Nordic Landscape, this season promises repertoire that is elegant, ethereal, robust, and dramatic.
During NESE's 14th season Federico Cortese will conduct four subscription programs in Boston's Jordan Hall and the Rogers Center for the Arts in North Andover. 45-Minutes prior to each concert and open to all ticket holders will be a "Conversation with Cortese". Led by Maestro Cortese and joined by featured artists and special guests these interactive discussions will give audience members insight into the programs, composers and historical context.
The season kicks off with "Hungarian Dance" (Sept. 20 & 23) where the elegance of Western Europe and traditional folk styles share the stage as New England String Ensemble performs works of Hungarian composers Hubay, Bartok and Kurtag. International award winning violinist Irina Muresanu, whose performances have been cited in the Boston Globe’s "Best of Classical Music" list, joins the orchestra for both the Hubay “Csardas” and Sarasate's “Zigeunerweisen”
Brahms:
Hubay:
Irina Muresanu, violin
Sarasate:
Irina Muresanu, violin
Bartok:
Kurtag:
Brahms:
Cortese and the orchestra embrace the holidays with "Sacred and Profane" (Dec. 1 & 2) presenting great works by Haydn, Pärt, Debussy and Strauss. The music of Joseph Haydn and Arvo Pärt invoke spiritual and mystical atmospheres, while the Debussy voyages from earthy to otherworldly. Featured artists for the evening include the 2007-2008 NESE Flute Competition winner, Boston's acclaimed LGBT chorus Coro Allegro and harpist Krysten Keches. The Strauss Metamorphosen, a mesmerizing work born in the ashes of World War II, closes the concert with a yearning for a better world.
Debussy:
Flute Competition Showcase
Haydn: Little Organ Mass
Coro Allegro
Pärt: Festina Lente
Strauss: Metamorphosen for 23 solo strings
"Winter Contrast" (Feb. 8 & 9) will take the audience on a thrilling winter ride filled with drama and excitement. The program is a story of contrasts beginning with Mozart's fresh and optimistic Divertimento contrasted by a Lutoslawski masterpiece filled with tension and mystery. Featured artist will be the 2007-08 NESE String Competition winner. The performance will conclude with Schubert's dramatically powerful yet achingly beautiful "Death and the Maiden".
Mozart:
Lutoslawski:
String Competition showcase
Schubert:
The season culminates with an emotional journey through the "Nordic Landscape" (April 12 &13) beginning on the picturesque coastline of Norway with Grieg’s “Holberg Suite”, journeying through each country of the Nordic region and ending in the splendor of the archipelago in Sweden with Wirén’s “Serenade for Strings”. Charismatic Icelandic violinist Judith Ingolfsson joins the orchestra for Haflidi Hallgrimsson’
Grieg: Holberg Suite
Haflioî Hallgr¡msson:
Judith Ingolfsson, violin
Sibelius: Humoresque
Nielsen: Little Suite
Wirén: Serenade for Strings
NESE TICKET INFORMATION
Subscriptions and individual tickets are now on sale through New England String Ensemble’s website http://www.newenglandstringensemble.org and through the NESE box office at 781-224-1117. Tickets are $45, $35, $25 and student tickets are always $10 off.
