Beverly Hills, March 3, 2010— The Young Musicians Foundation and its Debut Orchestra, led by music director and conductor, Maestro Case Scaglione, present “Cultural Warfare,” a concert performance and what promises to be a lively roundtable dialogue. The Debut Orchestra’s first performance takes place Sunday, March 14 at the Broad Stage, 1310 11th Street, Santa Monica, 4:00 p.m. This will be followed by a performance on Monday, March 15 at Hollywood’s Helen Bernstein High School, 1309 N Wilton Place, Los Angeles, CA 90028 at 1:30 p.m.

As part of its Outreach Concert Series the Young Musicians Foundation (YMF) along with its world-famous Debut Orchestra, has set out to revolutionize the way music is presented to young people by bringing together classical scores and an interactive presentation that includes provocative visuals and spirited conversations about pop culture, art, and current events, infused with music history and appreciation, literature.

To provide more than just an extraordinary listening experience, Maestro Scaglione and YMF Artistic Administrator Dr. Mieko Di Sano will use innovative slides, videos, and music examples to get across the imagery. Students will discuss how the current societal norms compare to the events and culture that produced pieces like  Pärt’s Fratres for Violin & Strings in the late 20^th century (Sunday) and Brahms’ Symphony No. 4 in E minor in the late 19^th century (Monday).

“We have a moral obligation as classical musicians in the modern era to bring our splendid art form to tomorrow’s generation,” said Maestro Scaglione. “If the young people in our cities and towns are not tirelessly sought out we cannot expect them to understand the magnitude and importance of what we do. I can think of no better introduction to Western Art Music than an open, interactive discussion with the youth of Los Angeles. This will be a wonderful opportunity not only for our young audience as a learning experience, but for us to rediscover why we fell in love with classical music to start with.”

The concert series is underwritten with generous funding from State Farm Insurance, and partners with Teach for America.

YMF’s concerts not only prepare young players for their life as professional musicians, but also allow YMF to bring great music to the people of Southern California for free. With the generosity of corporate underwriting, YMF continues to expand that tradition so that every child, regardless of race or socio-economic standing, can be taken to those magical places visited only through great music.

Othalie Graham

On January 31st, 2010, the Young Musicians Foundation will be staging Act II of Richard Wagner's opera, Tristan und Isolde. The Debut Orchestra, led by Maestro Case Scaglione, will be showcasing the talents of 5 rising wagnerian stars.

For one night only, concert goers will be treated to each singer’s debut performances in their roles as the Young Musicians Foundation continues its dedication to providing world class training and opportunities for tomorrow’s classical music professionals. Starring in the role of Isolde, Othalie Graham was recently awarded both a grant from the New York Wagner Society and top prize in the Liederkranz Society’s Wagner Division competition. She has also been added to the prestigious roster of the “Emerging Singers Program” sponsored by the Wagner Society of Washington D.C. who will sponsor her in learning and performing the works of Richard Wagner under the personal tutelage of Evelyn Lear. Opposite Ms. Graham, starring as Tristan, is tenor Jeffrey Springer, who was also honored as being one of this generation’s Emerging Wagner Artists by the famous duo, Thomas Stewart and Evelyn Lear, and the Washington DC Wagner Society. In addition, he is the winner of the Concours International de Chant de Festival Atlantique in Nantes, France, the José Carreras Prize in Pamplona, Spain, and the Third Prize in the Concours International de Chant in Toulouse, France. A recent operatic engagement includes Tristan in Tristan und Isolde at the Lyric Opera of Chicago under Sir Andrew Davis. The role of Brangaene is more than filled by mezzo-soprano Erica Brookhyser who is in residence with the Los Angeles Opera as a Domingo-Thornton Young Artist, where she will be performing in the up-coming productions of Die Gezeichneten and Die Walküre. Bassist Pawel Izdebski was recently praised by the German magazine Das Opernglas for his ‘noble Hagen sung with elegance – a singer on his way to a great career.’ Recently, he has covered all the bass roles in Valencia’s Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in the Fura dels Baus production of the RING with Placido Domingo as Sigmund, under the baton of Zubin Mehta. There, he undertook Hagen in Götterdämmerung; Fasolt and Fafner in Das Rheingold; Hunding in Die Walküre; and Fafner again in Siegfried.

Erica Brookhyser

Pawel Izdebski

Jeffrey Springer

This new production of Tristan will be directed by Stephanie Vlahos. Stephanie is also the theater and stage director for the Domingo-Thornton Young Artist’s Program and was among 30 other artists nationwide to be nominated for the prestigious United States Artists Grant in directing.

The story of Tristan und Isolde is a tale of longing. United only in death, the two lovers seek only to consummate their love.

Join YMF at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica, CA on January 31st, 2010 at 4pm for this limited performance.

View Tristan Event Page

Arvo Pärt – A Season Long Retrospective

Wenn Bach Bienen Gezuchtet Hatte
Sunday, November 1st 2009 1pm

Fratres for Violin & Strings
Sunday, March 14th 2010 4pm

Festina lente
Saturday, April 17th 2010 4pm

Venue:
The Broad Stage in Santa Monica
1310 11th Street, Santa Monica CA 90401

Trisan und Isolde, Act II
Sunday, January 31st 2010
4pm Performance

Venue:
The Broad Stage in Santa Monica
1310 11th Street, Santa Monica CA 90401

Meet the Cast click photo for bio

Isolde – Othalie Graham, Soprano	Tristan – Jeffrey Springer,   tenor	Brangaene – Erica Brookhyser, mezzo-soprano	King Marke – Pawel Izdebski, bass	Melot – Andrew Scott Carter, tenor

Production

Stephanie Vlahos, stage director
Jared A. Sayeg, lighting designer
Nicolas Kostner, stage designer

Synopsis

Act 1

Isolde sadly tells her handmaid, Brangäne of how, following the death of her fiancé, Morold, a stranger called Tantris was brought to her. Tantris was found mortally wounded in a boat, and Isolde used her healing powers to restore him to health. She discovered during Tantris’ recovery, however, that he was actually Tristan, the murderer of her fiancé. Isolde attempted to kill the man with his own sword as he lay helpless before her but Tristan had looked not at the sword that would kill him, but into her eyes. His action pierced her heart and she was unable to slay him. Tristan was allowed to leave, but later returned with the intention of marrying Isolde to his uncle, King Marke. Isolde, furious at Tristan’s betrayal, insists that he drink atonement to her, and from her medicine-chest produces a vial to make the drink. Brangäne is shocked to see that it is a lethal poison.

Kurwenal appears in the women’s quarters and announces that Tristan has agreed to see Isolde after all. When Tristan arrives, Isolde tells him that she now knows that he was Tantris, and that he owes her his life. Tristan agrees to drink the potion, now prepared by Brangäne, even though he knows it may kill him. As he drinks, Isolde tears the remainder of the potion from him and drinks it herself. At this moment, each believing that their lives are about to end, the two declare their love for each other. Kurwenal, who announces the imminent arrival on board of King Marke, interrupts their rapture. Isolde asks Brangäne which potion she prepared and Brangäne replies, as the sailors hail the arrival of King Marke, that it was not a poisonous drink, but rather a love-potion.

Act 2

King Marke leads a hunting party out into the night, leaving the castle empty, save for Isolde and Brangäne, who stand beside a burning brazier. Isolde, listening to the hunting horns, believes several times that the hunting party is far enough away to warrant the extinguishing of the brazier — the prearranged signal for Tristan to join her. Brangäne warns Isolde that Melot, one of King Marke’s knights, has seen the amorous looks exchanged between Tristan and Isolde and suspects their passion. Isolde, however, believes Melot to be Tristan’s most loyal friend, and, in a frenzy of desire, extinguishes the flames. Brangäne retires to the ramparts to keep watch as Tristan arrives.

The lovers, at last alone and freed from the constraints of courtly life, declare their passion for each other. Tristan decries the realm of daylight, which is false, unreal, and keeps them apart. It is only in night, he claims, that they can truly be together and only in the long night of death can they be eternally united. During their long tryst, Brangäne calls a warning several times that the night is ending, but her cries fall upon deaf ears. The day breaks in on the lovers as Melot leads King Marke and his men to find Tristan and Isolde in each other’s arms. Marke is heart-broken, not only because of his adopted son Tristan’s betrayal but also because Marke, too, has come to love Isolde. The love duet in Act II is regarded as the most rapturous in all of western music.

Tristan turns to Isolde, who agrees to follow him again into the realm of night. Melot and Tristan fight, but, at the crucial moment, Tristan throws his sword aside and Melot mortally wounds him.

Act 3

Kurwenal has brought Tristan home to his castle at Kareol in Brittany. A shepherd pipes a mournful tune and asks if Tristan is awake. Kurwenal replies that only Isolde’s arrival can save Tristan. Tristan’s mourning ends when Kurwenal tells him that Isolde is on her way. Tristan, overjoyed, asks if her ship is in sight.

Tristan collapses in delirium. After his collapse, the shepherd is heard piping the arrival of Isolde’s ship, and, as Kurwenal rushes to meet her, Tristan tears the bandages from his wounds in his excitement. As Isolde arrives at his side, Tristan dies with her name on his lips.

Isolde collapses beside her deceased lover just as the appearance of another ship is announced. Kurwenal spies Melot, Marke and Brangäne arriving and, in an attempt to avenge Tristan, furiously attacks Melot. Both Melot and Kurwenal, however, are killed in the fight. Marke and Brangäne finally reach Tristan and Isolde. Marke, grieving over the body of his “truest friend,” explains that he learned of the love-potion from Brangäne and has come not to part the lovers, but to unite them. Isolde appears to wake at this, but instead, in a final aria describing her vision of Tristan risen again (the “Liebestod”, “love death”), dies of grief.

For fifty-five years, the YMF National Debut Competition has provided talented musicians with solo performances with the Debut Orchestra and the National Orchestra Camp, along with a significant cash prize to further their studies.

For more information and to download an application click here.

Sunday, March 14th 2010 at 4pm

The Broad Stage – 1310 11th Street, Santa Monica CA 90401 map

Free Concert. No ticket needed.

Program:

Pärt Fratres for Violin & Strings

Caitlin Kelley, Violin

Arutunian Trumpet Concerto

Adam Bhatia, Trumpet

*Debut Competition Winner 2009

Brahms Symphony No. 4 in E minor

Case Scaglione, Conductor

Caitlin Kelley, violin	Adam Bhatia, trumpet	Case Scaglione, conductor

Outreach Concert Series – click here

Generously Sponsored By

Program Notes

ARVO PÄRT

(11 SEPTEMBER 1935 – )

Fratres for Violin, Strings and Percussion

Duration: 12 min

Arvo Pärt is an Estonian composer who immigrated to Austria in 1980 in order to escape struggles with Soviet officials. Since the late 1970s, Pärt has worked in a minimalist style that employs a self-made compositional technique called tintinnabulation. Pärt has said that tintinnabuli is a word “which evokes the pealing of bells, the bells’ complex but rich sonorous mass of overtones, the gradual unfolding of patterns implicit in the sound itself, and the idea of a sound that is simultaneously static and in flux.” More specifically, it is characterized by simple harmonies that are often single, unadorned notes or triads in various inversions and are rhythmically simple and do not change tempo.

Fratres was first composed in 1977 as a string quintet. Six further versions were written, including for violin, strings and percussion (1980), until 1992 and exemplifies Pärt’s Tintinnabuli style. Structurally, it consists of a set of nine chord sequences, separated by a recurring percussion motif. The chord sequences themselves follow a clear pattern while the progression explores a rich harmonic space.

In this piece, Pärt enters into “an area I sometimes wander into when I am searching for answers – in my life, my music, my work. In my dark hours, I have the certain feeling that everything outside this one thing has no meaning. The complex and many-faceted only confuses me and I must search for unity. What is it, this one thing, and how do I find my way to it? Traces of this perfect thing appear many guises – and everything that is unimportant falls away.”

ALEXANDER ARUTUNIAN

(23 SEPTEMBER 1920 – )

Trumpet Concerto in A-flat major

Duration: 17 min

Widely known particularly for his Trumpet Concerto, Alexander Arutunian is an Armenian composer and pianist. In 1948 he was awarded the USSR State Prize for the Motherland cantata, a graduation piece he wrote as a student at the Moscow Conservatory.

In 1950, he wrote his Trumpet Concerto in A-flat major. While not divided into formal movements, the work consists of 5 attacca sections: Andante—Allegro energico / Meno mosso / Tempo I / Meno Mosso / Tempo I – Cadenza Coda. The melodic and rhythmic characteristics of Armenian folk music are strong in this work. He expresses his nationality by incorporating the flavor of “ashughner”, or folk minstrel, improvisations.

JOHANNES BRAHMS

(7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897)

Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98

Duration: 39 min

A German composer, Johannes Brahms was a leading musician and towering figure of the Romantic period. His music is firmly rooted in the structures and compositional techniques of the Baroque and Classical masters. A master of counterpoint and development, Brahms aimed to honor the purity of these German structures and advance them into a Romantic idiom. While many contemporaries found his music too academic, his process of creating bold new approaches to harmony and melody has been admired by subsequent generations of composers.

Completed in 1885, Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98 is the last of his symphonies and is arguably his magnum opus. They symphony is in four movements. The first movement, Allegro non troppo (E minor), is dramatic and passionate, while the second movement, Andante moderato (E minor/E major), has an air of requiem. The third movement, Allegro giocoso (C major), is joyful with the resonance of triangles. The finale, Allegro energico e passionate (E minor) is a rare example of a symphonic chaconne. The repeating theme was adapted Passacaglia theme from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cantata No. 150 Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich. The symphony is rich in allusions, most notably to various Beethoven compositions.

Featuring a New Work by YMF/BMI Composer in Residence, Charles Fox

Case Scaglione, Conductor

Saturday April 17, 2010  4pm

The Broad Stage in Santa Monica
1310 11th Street, Santa Monica CA 90401
Free Concert. No ticket required.

Program

Weber Der   Freischutz Overture

Charles Fox BMI World Premiere TBA

Pärt Festina lente

Golijov “She Was Here”

Beethoven Symphony No. 5

Dolores Stevens, Artistic Director

An Afternoon of LA’s best young chamber musicians.

The Edye Space at the Broad Stage
1310 11th Street, Santa Monica CA 90401
Free Concert. No ticket required.

June 5th 2010  8pm

Royce Concert Hall @ UCLA

Tickets: $12, $5 UCLA faculty, staff and students (with ID)

Concert Featuring:

The Debut Orchestra & UCLA Chorale

Program

Beethoven   Missa Solemnis

Sunday, June 6th 2010  6pm

Bing Theater @ Los Angeles County Museum of Art

An evening of unforgettable music by LA’s best young chamber musicians.

Attend the concert for free or listen live at:

KCSN 88.5 FM “Live From LACMA”