CSO Violinist David Taylor to Join New Philharmonic in Concert Featuring Sarasate’s “Fantasy on Bizet’s ‘Carmen'”
| New Philharmonic, the professional orchestra in residence at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC), continues its 2021-2022 45th Anniversary Season with Dvořák’s New World, featuring his Symphony No. 9 in E-minor on Saturday and Sunday, November 13 & 14, 2021. The program includes Pablo de Sarasate’s (1844-1908) Fantasy on Bizet’s Carmen featuring guest violinist David Taylor, Chicago Symphony Orchestra Assistant Concertmaster. The piece is commonly regarded as one of the most challenging pieces for violin. Antonín Dvořák (1842 – 1904) was one of the first Czech composers to achieve worldwide recognition. He moved to the United States in 1892 and immediately wrote a series of newspaper articles reflecting on the state of American music. Dvořák’ supported the concept that African-American and Native American music should be used as a foundation for the growth of an “American” music. These nonwhite influences of Dvořák’s newly adopted homeland are evident in his Symphony No. 9 in E-minor (New World Symphony), which he composed and premiered in New York City to great acclaim in 1893. Symphony No. 9 in E-minor has been described as one of the most popular of all symphonies. In fact, Astronaut Neil Armstrong took a tape recording of the symphony along during the 1969 Apollo 11 Moon landing, The MAC program will feature Sarasate’s Fantasy on Bizet’s Carmen, considered to be one of the most challenging and technically demanding pieces for the violin. It contains five movements, the last being Moderato, based upon the scene at the beginning of Act II where Carmen and her friends are entertaining Zuniga and other officers. It is the most technically difficult movement of the five, employing fast arpeggios spanning the range of the instrument and a final virtuoso tempo acceleration. Guest violinist, David Taylor, joins New Philharmonic to perform this impressive feat. Taylor will also be paired with guest soprano, Alisa Jordheim, in one the Richard Strauss’s (1864-1949) best known and most widely known works, Morgen! Opus 27, No. 4 in G-minor. David Taylor joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as assistant concertmaster in 1979, and has made numerous solo appearances, including performances with Sir Georg Solti. Over the years, he has also served as the acting concertmaster of both the St. Louis Symphony and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. As a lover of chamber music, Taylor often appears in recital and solo performances in the Chicago area, including at Ravinia and live on WFMT-FM. He frequently performs with the Pressenda Trio with fellow CSO cellist Gary Stucka and pianist Andrea Swan. Taylor teaches privately at the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago and at Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts. As a coach of orchestral violinists, Taylor has trained students in orchestras across the United States and Japan. Event attendees should note that a free, special presentation (a MAC Chat) by Taylor about his latest passion, photography, will immediately follow each performance. The New Philharmonic presents the “Dvořák’s New World” at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd. on the campus of College of DuPage at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13; and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 14. For additional information, visit AtTheMAC.org or call the MAC box office at 630.942.4000. . |
