Conductor James DePreist leads the Juilliard Orchestra in works by George Walker, Jolivet, and Beethoven on Monday, December 10 at 8 PM in the Rose Theater

Conductor James DePreist leads the Juilliard Orchestra on Monday, December 10 at 8 PM in Rose Theater in the Frederick P. Rose Hall located at Columbus Circle at 59th Street and Broadway. The program features George Walker’s Sinfonia No. 3; Jolivet’s Concertino for Trumpet (soloist to be announced); and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 55 (“Eroica”).

George Theophilus Walker’s Sinfonia No. 3 was completed in the summer of 2002 and revised in 2003 and again in 2007. It had its premiere in January 2004 with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, with Andrey Boreyko, The work consists of three concise movements constructed from motivic materials that are recognizable upon their recurrence. Mr. Walker received the 1996 Pulitzer Prize in music for his composition Lilacs for Voice and Orchestra. Born in Washington, DC in 1922, he became interested in classical music from his earliest years and began his first piano lessons when he was five years of age. He entered Oberlin Conservatory of Music at 15 and went on to earn an artist diploma from the Curtis Institute, studying piano with Rudolf Serkin and composition with Rosario Scalero, teacher of Samuel Barber. He obtained a second diploma in piano, studying with Robert Casadesus at The American Academy in Fountainebleau, followed by a doctorate in music from Eastman School of Music. He returned to Paris on a Fulbright to study with Nadia Boulanger. Mr. Walker is the only living composer-pianist in the American Classical Music Hall of Fame. He has published over 90 works for virtually every medium, except opera, and his works have been performed by every major orchestra in the United States and by many in England and other countries. His awards include an American Academy of Arts and Letters Award, two Guggenheim Fellowships, McDowell Colony, Yaddo and Bennington Composer Conference Fellowships, among many others.  

French composer André Jolivet (1905-1974) was influenced by the music of Debussy, Ravel, and Dukas and was impressed by works by Arnold Schoenberg and Edgard Varèse. He once described his Trumpet Concertino (performed on this concert) and Second Trumpet Concerto as “my ballets for trumpet,” as both works have been choreographed, and both works are lively. The Concertino was composed in 1948 and is in four sections: Allegro; poco più mosso; Allegro molto; più mosso.

Tickets are FREE and are available beginning November 26 at the Juilliard Box Office, located at 60 Lincoln Center Plaza. Box Office hours are Monday through Friday from 11 AM – 6 PM. The Juilliard Box Office is accessible by elevator, escalator, or stairs located on W. 65th Street near Amsterdam Avenue. For further information, call the Juilliard Box Office at (212) 769-7406 or visit www.juilliard.edu.

James DePreist is director of Conducting and Orchestral Studies at Juilliard. Named permanent conductor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra in 2005, Mr. DePreist has served as music director of L’Orchestre Symphonique de Québec, Sweden’s Malmo Symphony, L’Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo, and the Oregon Symphony; he has toured and recorded extensively during his tenure with each orchestra. As a guest conductor Mr. DePreist has appeared with every major orchestra in North America and has led orchestras throughout Europe, Australia, Israel, and Asia. He appears regularly at the Aspen Music Festival, with the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood, and with The Philadelphia Orchestra at the Mann Music Center. Mr. DePreist’s more than 50 recordings reflect a broad range of repertoire including a celebrated Shostakovich series with the Helsinski Philharmonic. He also has released 15 recordings with the Oregon Symphony. His latest CD features Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 with the London Symphony Orchestra on the Naxos label. Mr. DePreist has been awarded 13 honorary doctorates and is the author of two published books of poetry. He is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Royal Swedish Academy of Music; is a recipient of the Insignia of Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland and the Medal of the City of Québec; and is an Officer of the Order of Cultural Merit of Monaco. In 2005, Mr. DePreist was awarded the National Medal of Arts, the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government.
       
The next appearance of the Juilliard Orchestra will be on Monday, February 18 at 8 PM at Avery Fisher Hall when French conductor Emmanuel Villaume leads the Juilliard Orchestra in R. Strauss’ Don Juan, Op. 20; Rolf Wallin’s percussion concerto, Das war schön!; Berlioz’s Royal Hunt and Storm from Les Troyens, Op. 5; and Debussy’s La mer. Tickets are $20 and $10 and available beginning January 14 at the Avery Fisher Hall Box Office or through CenterCharge at (212) 721-6500. Free tickets for students and seniors are available only at the Box Office.

Juilliard presents more than 700 dance, drama, and music events annually. During ongoing renovations, a full calendar of events is scheduled. For a complete listing of events, as well as construction updates, go to www.juilliard.edu.