2011-2012 Concert Season
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The Palo Alto Philharmonic presents its second annual
preseason Concert of Baroque Music, with select soloists
and small ensembles performing a delightful array of music
from the 17th and 18th centuries. This year, the Baroque
Concert, as well as our popular Chamber Music Series will
take place at the Palo Alto First Baptist Church, while the
Palo Alto Art Center is being renovated.
The Philharmonic hosts three brilliant soloists during
its twenty-fourth season: pianist Péter Tóth,
violinist David Felberg, and clarinetist Michael Corner. Our
opening concert features Franz Liszt's Totentanz (Dance of
the Dead) with Tóth, a three-time winner of the
Franz Liszt International Piano Competition, as soloist.
This symphonic piece combines elements of Gregorian chant
with a diabolic, percussive piano part.
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Péter Tóth,
Pianist
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David Felberg,
Violinist
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Violinist Felberg returns to Palo Alto to perform the
dazzling Paganini Violin Concerto No. 1, a work that demands
virtuoso skills from the soloist. Mr. Felberg, concertmaster
of the Santa Fe Symphony, possesses all the technique,
emotional expressivity, and stamina needed to meet the
challenges of this exciting work.
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In the first concert of 2012 Michael Corner performs
Mozart's beloved Concerto in A Major for Clarinet and
Orchestra. This beautifully melodic work, was composed when
the clarinet was a novel addition to the symphonic world.
Mr. Corner is Principal Clarinet of Symphony Silicon Valley
and held the same post in the former San Jose Symphony. He
has performed widely across the United States and Europe.
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Michael Corner,
Clarinettist
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Thomas Shoebotham,
Conductor
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Musical Director Thomas Shoebotham leads the orchestra in
four famous symphonies this season. The opening concert
presents Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6, "Pathétique,"
a work that may well represent the epitome of the composer's
inimitable Romantic style. In December the orchestra plays
an enduring favorite, the "Unfinished" Symphony No. 8 by
Franz Schubert. At the final concert of the season Mr.
Shoebotham conducts the orchestra in Dmitri Shostakovich's
Symphony No. 5, composed in 1937. Full of profound emotion
and cutting irony, the symphony is notable for its highly
energetic finale.
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In addition to these concerti and symphonies, the season
includes joyful overtures by Bernstein and Berlioz, as well
as intriguing symphonic pieces by Hindemith, Strauss, and
Vaughan Williams. We are also proud to present the world
premiere of a commissioned work by our award-winning
Composer-in-Residence, Lee Actor. The final performance of
the season is our traditional Family Concert, an afternoon
of classical selections chosen to appeal to young listeners.
We look forward to seeing YOU in the audience!
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Lee Actor,
Composer
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Upcoming Concerts
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Orchestra
Concert III
8 PM, Saturday, February 18, 2012
Cubberley Theatre
4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto
Spring
Chamber Concert
8 PM, Saturday, March 10, 2012
First Baptist Church
305 North California Avenue, Palo Alto
Orchestra
Concert IV
8 PM, Saturday, April 14, 2012
Spangenberg Theatre
780 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto
Family
Concert
3 PM, Sunday, May 20, 2012
Cubberley Theatre
4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto
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