The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Presents Heavenly Life with Soprano, Andriana Chuchman

    KALAMAZOO, MI, January 28, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- For the fourth concert of the 2014-2015 Symphonic Series, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra presents Heavenly Life. Soprano Andriana Chuchman joins the Orchestra for four of Richard Strauss' Six Songs, Op. 68 and Mahler's Symphony No. 4 in G Major, the most joyful of his symphonies, which culminates in a serene vocal movement that lays out a childlike vision of heaven.

Strauss' Six Songs is set to six poems by Clemens Bretano, an early Romantic writer whose poetry was also inspiration for the musical settings of the second work on this program. While Strauss' career as a composer spans both orchestra and opera, it also expands well into "art songs". Four of those six (Nos. 1-4) will be performed by the KSO and Ms. Chuchman. Each song evoking a different emotion, the entire work ranges from playfulness to pathos to passion.

With its generously sunny disposition and numerous references to nature, Symphony No. 4 has often been referred to as Mahler's own Pastoral Symphony. The piece was completed in sections over a number of years, from 1892 to 1900. The first three movements are performed by orchestra alone and were written expressly to complement the fourth movement, which Mahler completed first, in 1892. The core fourth movement, Das himmlische Leben (The Heavenly Life), invites soprano Andriana Chuchman to sing the transcendentally beautiful depiction of Heaven through a child's innocent eyes - from friendly saints to enormous feasts. With its welcome, but uncommonly joyful disposition, the entire symphony itself can be considered a peaceful interlude in all of Mahler's music.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Raymond Harvey
With an immediately noticeable style that has been described as "elegant, but suffused with energy," Raymond Harvey (conductor) has garnered critical acclaim on symphonic podiums throughout the United States. Maestro Raymond Harvey has served as Music Director of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, and recently renewed his commitment to the KSO for an additional four years. Mr. Harvey was previously Music Director of the Springfield Symphony in Massachusetts and the Fresno Philharmonic in California.

Equally at home in the world of opera, Mr. Harvey served as Artistic Director of the El Paso Opera in Texas. Among the many productions he has conducted are Carmen, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, La Boheme, Turandot, Aida, La Traviata, The Tales of Hoffman, The Marriage of Figaro, and Cosi Fan Tutte.

Recognized as an outstanding pianist, choral conductor and teacher, Raymond Harvey holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree from Oberlin Conservatory of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Yale School of Music. He has been a frequent guest teacher for the Conductors Institute at Bard College, and for the American Symphony Orchestra League's Conducting Workshops. He also serves as adjunct faculty conductor with the University of Houston's opera department.

Andriana Chuchman, soprano
This season, soprano Andriana Chuchman sang the title role in Hansel und Gretel on the Glyndebourne Opera Tour, and made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera as Adina in L'Elisir d'Amore and Miranda in The Enchanted Island. Next season, she returns to the Lyric Opera of Chicago as Zerlina in Don Giovanni and to the Metropolitan Opera as Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, and makes her debut at Opera Omaha in John Adams' A Flowering Tree.

A recent graduate of the Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Ms. Chuchman has also appeared at the Washington National Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Spoletto Festival USA, the Glimmerglass Festival, and the Bard Music Festival. In concert she has appeared with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, Winnipeg Symphony, and at the Ravinia Festival.

In her native Canada, Ms. Chuchman recently made her debut at the Canadian Opera Company as Olympia in Les Contes d'Hoffmann. She has also appeared at the Edmonton Opera as Yum-Yum and Marie in La Fille du Regiment, and at the Manitoba Opera as Pamina in Die Zauberflote. Concert performances have included engagements with the Toronto Symphony, Prince George Symphony, and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

Born in Winnipeg, Ms. Chuchman received her Bachelor's Degree in Voice Performance from the School of Music at the University of Manitoba. She was also a member of the San Francisco Opera's Merola Program.

CALENDAR LISTING
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra presents: Heavenly Life
KSO Symphonic Series

Raymond Harvey, conductor
Andriana Chuchman, soprano

With its generously sunny disposition and numerous references to nature, Symphony No. 4 has often been referred to as Mahler's own Pastoral Symphony. The last movement of this transcendentally beautiful work is a quiet lullaby describing Heaven through the innocent eyes of a child.

Saturday, February 21, 2015 at 8pm
Miller Auditorium, Kalamazoo, MI

Tickets: $60 - $24

For tickets, visit www.kalamazoosymphony.com.

Visit www.kalamazoosymphony.com for up-to-date information, details and schedules. Prices, artists, dates, time and program are subject to change without notice.

The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra receives major support from the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra also receives generous support from other local, state and national foundations, as well as private and corporate support. For more information, visit www.kalamazoosymphony.com.

About the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1921, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra is Southwest Michigan's premier musical organization, providing musical enrichment to over 80,000 adults and youth per year. The third-largest professional orchestra in the state, the KSO has won numerous awards and grants, including the Met Life Award for Arts Access in Underserved Communities, the National Endowment for the Arts for its extensive education programs, and a major Ford Foundation grant to found its innovative Artist-in-Residence program.

# # #