Mozart Under Moonlight with the Colorado Symphony at Arvada Center

June 16, 2011 - PRLog -- The Colorado Symphony presents "Mozart Under Moonlight" at the Arvada Center for one-night-only on Thursday, July 7, 2011. Resident conductor Scott O'Neil leads the orchestra, joined by oboist Peter Cooper, in delightful program including the Oboe Concerto in C Major, Overture to "Don Giovanni," "Eine kleine Nachtmusik," and Symphony No. 29 in A Major. Tickets are on sale now.

The great Austrian conductor Karl Bohm is attributed with saying that Mozart's music "has the effect of a fountain of youth." While the accuracy of this quote is uncertain, there can be no doubt that it perfectly captures the feelings that Mozart's music inspires in all listeners. The works featured in "Mozart Under Moonlight" embody this sentiment and without a doubt, will inspire concertgoers to dance in their hearts and minds throughout the evening.

The Oboe Concerto is among the lesser known of Mozart's works, in part because it was lost for more than 170 years. Its serene yet cheerful ambiance highlights the soloist's "operatic" role in the singing quality of the instrument. Since its rediscovery in 1920 in the archives of the Salzburg Mozarteum, the Oboe Concerto has increasingly gained in popularity, affection and esteem.

Completed in 1787 while Mozart was working on "Don Giovanni," "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" has become closely associated with open-air concerts and especially summer evenings. The title is often translated as "a little night music," making it the perfect highlight for "Mozart Under Moonlight." Interestingly, it was not published until long after Mozart's death. Over time, it has become the most instantly recognizable and popular of Mozart's works. If it is not already among each concertgoer's favorites, it certainly will establish itself as a much-loved work by the end of this uplifting concert.

About Peter Cooper
Recognized for his flexible tone and warm, singing style, Peter Cooper is in demand as a soloist and teacher in Asia, Europe and the United States. Principal oboist of the Colorado Symphony since 1993 and faculty member at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Cooper has also held positions as associate principal oboist of the San Francisco Symphony and principal oboist of the Hong Kong Philharmonic.

A strong believer in expanding the solo repertoire for the oboe, Cooper has commissioned and premiered five oboe concertos. In 2000, he premiered David Mullikin's Oboe Concerto with the Colorado Symphony and recorded it in 2001 with Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields in London for Summit Records. This disc also includes Richard Strauss' Oboe Concerto. In its review of this CD, "BBC Music Magazine" praised Cooper as "a first rate soloist."

In addition to this recording, Cooper previously recorded Swiss composer Heinrich Schweizer's Oboe Concerto with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He also premiered concertos by Bill Douglas and Gregory Walker with the Colorado Symphony, and Chen Gang's Oboe Concerto with the Hong Kong Philharmonic. In 2010, the Shanghai Philharmonic invited him to Shanghai to perform Chen Gang's Oboe Concerto as part of the Shanghai International Arts Festival.

In 2000, Summit Records released Cooper's "Whispers of the Past," a collaboration recording with harpist Marcia LaBella that garnered critical acclaim. "Classical London Magazine" lauded the CD as "a well recorded disc with stylish and charming performances," and the "American Record Guide" critic stated "Mr. Cooper has my favorite type of oboe sound: sweet, not too harsh, no sharp edges, just a melting soft pastoral tone." Excerpts from "Whispers of the Past" are frequently heard on National Public Radio.

Invited to perform as guest principal oboist with many noted ensembles, Cooper frequently plays with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and has toured and recorded with them. Other noted ensembles with which he has performed as guest principal oboist include the Boston, Seattle, Atlanta, Houston, Milwaukee and San Diego symphonies, and the Israel Chamber Orchestra.

A prizewinner in the Tokyo International Oboe Competition, he performed as soloist with orchestras in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand and England, as well as with the San Francisco Symphony. He has been a frequent soloist with the Colorado Symphony. In 1988, he played the first performance of the Richard Strauss' Oboe Concerto in China with the Central Philharmonic in Beijing.

He has coached and toured with the Asian Youth Orchestra in the Far East and the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado. Since 2001, he has performed as principal oboist of the Grand Teton Music Festival, and has performed as principal oboist in the Oregon Bach Festival, St. Barth Music Festival, El Paso Chamber Music Festival and Strings in the Mountains.

Cooper plays on oboe made by Marigaux, Paris. Marigaux has sponsored him in a series of master classes and recitals in the United States and overseas in Hong Kong, Japan and China. A 1981 graduate of Northwestern University, Cooper studied with Ray Still and Gladys Elliot.

Artists:
Colorado Symphony - "Mozart Under Moonlight"
Scott O'Neil, conductor
Peter Cooper, oboe

Program:
MOZART: Overture to "Don Giovanni"
MOZART: Oboe Concerto in C Major, K. 314
MOZART: "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" (Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major, K. 525)
MOZART: Symphony No. 29 in A Major, K. 201/186a

Performance:
Thursday, July 7, 2011
The Colorado Symphony will perform at 7:30 p.m.
Outdoor Amphitheater Gates open at 6:00 p.m.

Location:
Arvada Center (6901 Wadsworth Blvd. Arvada, CO). Located 2.5 miles north of the I-70/Wadsworth exit, 20 minutes from downtown Denver.

Tickets: CenterFest tickets are available for sale at The Arvada Center: (720) 898-7200 or www.arvadacenter.org. A limited number of tickets are also available at the Colorado Symphony Box Office, by calling (303) 623-7876 or (877) 292-7979, or in-person in the lobby of Boettcher Concert Hall in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Hours are Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

About the Arvada Center
The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2011, is one of the nation's largest multidisciplinary arts centers. With award-winning theater, fine art exhibitions, an outdoor amphitheater, and classes in the arts and humanities, the Arvada Center is recognized as a premier venue for arts, culture, and education in the Denver metro region. We are supported, in part, by the City of Arvada, the citizens of the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), and individual and institutional donors. For events and activities, visit www.arvadacenter.org or call (720) 898-7200.

Media Contact
Margaret A. Williams
Office: 303.308.2472
Mobile: 808.551.6062
mwilliams@coloradosymphony.org

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Originally established in 1989 as the successor to the Denver Symphony, the Colorado Symphony performs in Boettcher Concert Hall and throughout the Front Range, presenting outstanding education and outreach programs, as well as Masterworks, Pops, Holiday, Family, and the exciting new "Inside the Score" series that has attracted a historic level of first-time concertgoers. By presenting music that is both timeless and inspiring, while taking risks with new musical collaborations and interactive concerts, the Colorado Symphony is attracting more diverse and younger audiences than ever before. To date, 30 percent of the 2010/11 season concertgoers are new patrons. The increasing popularity of Colorado Symphony concerts as well as a strong fund-raising base not only re-affirms the artistic excellence of the orchestra, but also reflects the deep-rooted enthusiasm for symphonic music felt by so many individuals across the region. For more information, visit www.coloradosymphony.org.