Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra Launches 2009-2010 Season with "American Landscapes"

PR Log (Press Release) – Nov 04, 2009 – PORTSMOUTH, NH -- The Portsmouth Symphony, under the direction of Christopher Hill, today announced their 2009-2010 season, as well as a new Season Subscription program which allows patrons to pre-order tickets for the entire season directly from the orchestra at a discount. The theme this season is "travel" and includes three Sunday 3 P.M. performances at The Music Hall.

Season Overview

The season launches with American Landscapes, a celebration of American music, November 15, 2009 at 3 P.M at The Music Hall, where the PSO will be joined by acclaimed soloist Mihai Marica.

The American Landscapes journey begins in New York with Leonard Bernstein's "Overture to Candide" before moving to one of the most popular works of the 20th century classical repertoire by an American composer, Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings" of 1936.

After a brief layover, we move to the midwest for "the quintessential American symphony," Roy Harris' Symphony No. 3 composed in 1939. While perhaps not familiar to local audiences, Harris' Symphony No. 3 is an important work in the development of American classical composition. The PSO will present the symphony with an accompanying slideshow featuring "local landscapes," and is soliciting the community to submit their original photographs for use in the slideshow. Up to five photographs will be chosen and the photographers presented with a free ticket to the performance. Full details can be found at http://www.portsmouthsymphony.org/landscapes/.

The American Landscapes journey will conclude with Antonin Dvořák's "Cello Concerto" featuring award-winning guest soloist Mihai Marica. While not an American composer by birth, Dvořák's music was greatly inspired by his time in this country, and his Cello Concerto of 1894-1895 was written in New York while he served as director of the National Conservatory.

The season will continue March 7, 2010 with White Nights, music from Scandinavia and Russia. The PSO will be joined by piano soloist Nicholas Roth in a program including work by Rautavaara, Grieg, and Tchaikovsky.

The season concludes June 6, 2010 with Our World and Beyond, a symphonic multimedia presentation. The performance will feature "The Planets" by Gustav Holst with an original video presentation as well as works by Haydn and Adams.

Season Subscriptions and Tickets

For the first time the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra is offering a Season Subscription option. Patrons can pre-order a subscription to all three concerts directly from the PSO at a savings over individual tickets. Season subscriptions are $50 (adult), $45 (senior) or $24 (student) and can be purchased on-line at http://www.portsmouthsymphony.org/ or by calling 603.686.8133.

The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra is also pleased to announce the return of its popular "Symphony & Dinner" package with Radici, which offers patrons a ticket to the symphony followed by a 3-course prix fixe dinner at Radici for $45 per person. To make a reservation, contact Radici at http://www.radicirestaurant.com/ or call 603.373.6464.

Individual tickets are also available from The Music Hall box office at http://www.themusichall.org/ or by calling 603.436.2400. Tickets are $18 (adult), $16 (senior) or $8 (student).

About the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra

The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra is a 60+ piece symphony orchestra comprised of local professionals, educators, dedicated amateurs and advanced students from New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts. Founded in 1997, the orchestra presents three major performances each season at The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH.

About Music Director Christopher Hill

Known as "a powerful podium presence" and for his "great musicality," award-winning conductor Christopher Hill is quickly becoming one of the most recognized young conductors in the United States. He has mentored with such internationally acclaimed conductors as Kurt Masur, Lorin Maazel, Paavo Jaervi, Marin Alsop, Carl St. Clair, Neal Gittleman, and Gustav Meier in addition to his work assisting conductors Hugh Wolff, Leonard Slatkin, and Mark Gibson. He studied with Kenneth Kiesler and Marianne Ploger at the University of Michigan and with Mark Gibson and Ulrich Nicolai at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Mr. Hill serves as Music Director of the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra as well as Director of Orchestras at the University of New Hampshire. In addition to his love for music and numerous intellectual pursuits, Mr. Hill is an avid runner and enjoys cooking. He makes his home in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Contact

David Young
President
Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra
david.young@portsmouthsymphony.org
(603) 686-8133