Oregon Symphony News Releases
February 2012
February 21, 2012
The Oregon Symphony In March: Renée Fleming And Garrison Keillor Headline A Delightfully Varied Month Of Concerts! March brims with variety as the Oregon Symphony's slate of concerts features Classical, Pops, and Special Concerts. In addition to superstar soprano Renée Fleming and super-storyteller Garrison Keillor, audiences will also enjoy a special St. Patrick's Day celebration, two extraordinary pianists, Inon Barnatan and Garrick Ohlsson, and an Indian tabla master.
February 17, 2012
Symphony To Resume Recording Schedule With This Weekend's Concerts: The Symphony's February 18th and 19th performances under Music Director Carlos Kalmar will be recorded for two important projects. The program includes pianist Jeffrey Kahane playing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 25, Vaughan Williams' Symphony No. 5 and Elgar's Cockaigne (In London Town.)
January 2012
January 30, 2012
Hugh Laurie Joins The Lineup For One Performance Only: An already extensive season that includes over 70 performances of 40 concerts just got even more exciting with the addition of Hugh Laurie and the Copper Bottom Band. What better way to kickoff the summer entertainment season! Audiences may know him as Dr. House on Fox Network's hit series, House, but the world now knows him as one heck of a blues singer with his recent hit CD release—Let Them Talk!
January 25, 2012
Oregon Symphony And Musicians Agree To New Three-Year Contract: Oregon Symphony Board Chair Terry Pancoast today announced that the symphony and musicians have agreed to a new three-year contract. The contract was ratified by the board of directors at its January 24 meeting and by the musicians of the orchestra on January 20.
January 20, 2012
Soprano Replacement For This Weekend's Concerts: Soprano Elizabeth Keusch will be replacing an indisposed Christine Brandes for this weekend's concerts of Haydn's Creation.
December 2011
December 14, 2011
Program Change: Rock Star Violinist Joshua Bell To Play Brahms' Violin Concerto: When violin virtuoso Joshua Bell and his 1713 Stradivarius take the stage for concerts on January 14th, 15th and 16th, he'll play the popular—and formidable—Brahms' Violin Concerto.
December 13, 2011
Members Of The Oregon Symphony Volunteer Time And Talent To Brighten LivesDuring The Holiday Season: Violins, violas, cellos, basses, bassoons, and trumpets – they’ll all be putting smiles on less fortunate faces at a variety of social service facilities throughout the Metro area during the next few weeks. These volunteering members of the Oregon Symphony believe that music makes everyone’s lives better and they are putting that music where it matters most during this holiday season – at places where people could use a bit of extra cheer.
November 2011
November 7, 2011
The Season Gets Even Better:
Brandi Carlile Makes Her Oregon Symphony Debut,
Zakir Hussain Returns By Popular Demand
An already extensive season that includes over 70 performances of 38 concerts just got even more exciting with the addition of concerts with singer Brandi Carlile and percussion virtuoso Zakir Hussain and his Masters of Percussion.
November 2, 2011
2010/11 Ends in the Black 2010/11 Celebrated As A Milestone Season For The Oregon Symphony. At their meeting last week, the Oregon Symphony's Board of Directors approved audited financial statements for the year ending June 30, 2011. The season produced a net surplus of $192,000, which the Board voted to designate for use in 2011/12.
The financial results mirrored the artistic accomplishments of the 2010/11 season, the eighth under the musical direction of Carlos Kalmar. As President Elaine Calder noted, "The Oregon Symphony finished its 115th season with both an artistic and a financial surplus."
October 2011
October 6, 2011
The Oregon Symphony In November: Mozart, Herbie Hancock, Dvořák And The Von Trapp Children
As if proof were needed about the truth of the Symphony’s new tagline—“Raising the Roof … Week After Week”—the lineup for November should do the trick, providing Portland and the entire metro region an array of concerts that span genres, times and tastes.
October 6, 2011
Inner Ear Infection Sidelines Pianist Bronfman;
Natasha Paremski Set To Return To The Oregon Symphony
Oregon Symphony President Elaine Calder today announced the cancellation of pianist Yefim Bronfman, due to an inner ear infection that prevents him from travelling. Bronfman was scheduled to perform the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 on October 8 & 10.
September 2011
September 26, 2011
The Oregon Symphony In October: Six Concerts Thrill With A Wide Range Of Musical Experiences
From beginning to end, the month of October showcases the wide-ranging offerings of the Oregon Symphony and provides audiences with concerts that span classical, pops and kids genres. On the classical side, two powerhouse guest artists—pianist Yefim Bronfman and violinist Karen Gomyo—return to the Symphony; families will pack the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall for the first of three Kids Concerts; and everyone will slide nostalgically back in time when the New York Voices share the many memorable hit tunes that virtually defined a generation.
September 13, 2011
Dawn Upshaw Concert Cancelled, Community Classical Celebration Set To Replace It
Oregon Symphony President Elaine Calder today announced that Dawn Upshaw has been forced to withdraw from the Symphony performance on October 1. There is no further information at this time.
Ms Calder said, "We deeply regret this cancellation and know that our audience joins us in hoping we will be able to welcome Ms. Upshaw to Portland and the Oregon Symphony at the earliest date. Since we have the orchestra and Music Director Carlos Kalmar scheduled for this concert, it gives us a unique opportunity to present a very special concert for our community."
September 1, 2011
New Additions To The Pink Martini Lineup! NPR's Ari Shapiro To Join Pink Martini And Guest Singer Storm Large For Three Concerts With Oregon Symphony September 11, 12, 13
In the absence of Pink Martini singer China Forbes, as she recovers from vocal surgery, the band will be joined by Portland native and NPR White House Correspondent Ari Shapiro, guest singer Storm Large, and Pacific Youth Choir for three performances with the Oregon Symphony under the direction of Carlos Kalmar.
August 2011
August 31, 2011
Oregon Symphony Renews Carlos Kalmar's Contract
Oregon Symphony Board Chair Terrence R. Pancoast today announced the renewal of Music Director Carlos Kalmar’s contract, through June 2015. “Carlos’s accomplishments with the orchestra since being named Music Director in 2003 are extraordinary,” he said. “He has taken the Oregon Symphony to a new level of performance, as he demonstrated so clearly at Carnegie Hall. It gives us great confidence that our artistic trajectory will continue upward, knowing that Carlos will be at the musical helm through June, 2015.”
August 15, 2011
The Oregon Symphony In September: Season Gets Underway With A Bang!
Back from its summer break following a triumphant spring debut at Carnegie Hall that The New Yorker called “one of the most gripping events of the season,” the Oregon Symphony is ready to celebrate September and open Portland’s classical music season with four exciting concerts. One of the region’s favorite summer events—the free Waterfront Park Concert—kicks things off, followed quickly by Oregon’s jazz trumpet sensation Chris Botti on September 10, Pink Martini on September 11, 12 and 13, and the opening of the classical concert season on September 24, 25, and 26.