ALBANY — Flanked by Albany’s city mayor and county executive at his sides, David Allen Miller sat before pleasantries were exchanged on the onset of the orchestra’s annual announcement.
For the maestro, the press conference wasn’t unlike any other from year’s past. Except, the coming 2016-17 season is to mark the music director’s 25th year with the orchestra.
“Don’t think of leaving,” said Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy, “we’ll have you arrested.”
The anniversary season will feature recognized artists, including the return of world famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who Miller calls his “idol.”
“I am so excited to share our new season…,” said Miller. “It features my very favorite music, new and old, as well as many of my favorite guest artists, including the magnificent Yo-Yo Ma. At the same time, we have also invited many young and emerging performers and composers, who will be with us for the very first time.”
Additional highlights include Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, an opening night gala, a weekend of Mozart and Bach, and the popular American Music Festival.
“There is so much to be excited about as we embark upon our new season,” said Miller. “We hope to encourage as many people as possible to purchase a subscription and celebrate with us all year long. You won’t want to miss the exciting emerging composers who will join us, as well as those who regularly grace us with their talents, including Michael Torke, George Tsontakis, Christopher Rouse and Joan Tower, whose “Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman, No. 6” will be performed alongside Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.”
The guest artists for the 2016-2017 season are among the most talented in the music world. The gala opening concert will feature soprano Saili Oak and pianist Natasha Paremski. In January, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1 will be performed by the great Russian virtuoso, Ilya Rashkovskiy. Other artists making their first appearance with the Albany Symphony include oboist Kathleen Needleman, violist Richard O’Neill, and guest conductor Karina Canellakis. In addition, there will be soloists from the Bard College Conservatory for the Mozart & Bach weekend. Several outstanding guest artists will participate in the American Music Festival in May, including the radiant violinist Chee-Yun and legendary Indian Folk-Clarinetist Shankar Tucker.
In 2014, the orchestra was made mention in the same audience as Pharrell, Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake at that year’s Grammy Awards, and took home an award for best classical instrumental solo.
And, it’s happened again.
Miller and soprano Talise Trevigne have been co-nominated for a 2016 Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Solo Album for the symphony’s 2015 release of Chris Rouse’s “Kabir Padavali.”
“We want to thank our talented music director for the 25 years he has dedicated to our incredible Albany Symphony,” said Marisa Eisemann, chairperson of the board. “David has brought world-class musicians and renowned composers to the orchestra, and his vision and passion have made so many people fall in love with classical music, old and new. During his tenure, the Albany Symphony has become one of the most vital, exciting, and important orchestras in the country. We look forward to many more years of great leadership and inspiration from Maestro Miller.”
The season will also connect the orchestra and the music it performs to society and community in meaningful ways. For example, the January 7, 2017 concert, featuring John Corigliano’s masterpiece Symphony No. 1, “Of Rage and Remembrance,” will feature part of the AIDS quilt in the lobby of the Palace Theatre.
“A lot has changed during my 25-year tenure with the Albany Symphony,” said Miller. “What hasn’t changed are the incredible quality of our musicians and the sophistication and passionate interest of our listeners. Our goal remains to provide each audience member with unforgettable, one-of-a-kind musical experiences that celebrate the power of music. I feel so fortunate to have lived and worked in our enlightened, artistically vibrant community for these 25 years.”
Since taking reign of the symphony orchestra in 1992, Miller has established a reputation above his peers. From his occasional costumes to his penchant for showcasing contemporary works Miller has drawn attention to himself, and to Albany’s orchestra.
Twice, the orchestra has played before a New York City audience at Carnegie Hall for the annual “Spring for Music” festival — which highlights the country’s most creative orchestras. Over the years, the ASO has earned 30 ASCAP Awards, more than any other orchestra in the nation — for adventurous and innovative programming.
In 2003, Miller earned Columbia University’s Ditson Conductor’s Award, the oldest such accolade honor conductors for commitment to American music. The 2016-17 season runs from October through June. Concerts will be held at the Palace Theatre, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, and EMPAC.
Patrons are encouraged to purchase season subscriptions, which are currently on sale. For those purchasing the full subscription series, the Albany Symphony will provide eight concerts for the price of seven—and subscribers will have priority access to the very best seats for Yo-Yo Ma’s concert on December 8, 2016. Patrons can purchase a season subscription by phone or by visiting the box office (see info below).
2016-2017 Season:
Opening Night Gala- Ravel & Sibelius
Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016: 7:30 p.m.
Palace Theatre
David Alan Miller, Conductor
Saili Oak, Soprano
Natasha Paremski, Piano
Reena Esmail: “Aria” for Soprano and Orchestra
Ravel: Piano Concerto in G
Sibelius: Symphony No. 5
Peer Gynt
Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016: 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016: 3:00 p.m.
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
David Alan Miller, Conductor
Katherine Needleman, Oboe
Reznicek: Donna Diana Overture
Leroy Anderson: Three Pieces
Rouse: Oboe Concerto
Grieg: Peer Gynt, Suite No. 1
Tchaikovsky: Francesca da Rimini
Water Music & Schumann
Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016: 7:30 p.m.
Sunday Nov. 20, 2016: 3:00 p.m.
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
David Alan Miller, Conductor
Richard O’Neill, Viola
Handel: Selections from “The Water Music”
Theofanidis: Viola Concerto
Bermel: “A Shout, A Whisper, and a Trace”
Schumann: Symphony No. 4
An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma
(Non-Subscription Series, best seats and presale access available to season subscribers)
Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016: 7:30 p.m.
Palace Theatre
David Alan Miller, Conductor
Yo-Yo Ma, Cello
Wagner, Prelude to “Die Meistersinger”
Dvorak, Serenade for Strings
Conor Brown, New Work (World Premiere)
Elgar, Cello Concerto
Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto
Saturday, January 7, 2017: 7:30 p.m.
Palace Theatre
David Alan Miller, Conductor
Ilya Rashkovskiy, Piano
Barber: The School for Scandal Overture
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1
Corigliano: Symphony No. 1, “Of Rage and Remembrance”
Brahms’ Fourth
Saturday, February 18, 2017: 7:30 p.m.
Palace Theatre
Karina Canellakis, Guest Conductor
Higdon: Dance Cards
Beethoven: Triple Concerto
Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor
Mozart & Bach
Saturday, March 4, 2017: 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 5, 2017: 3:00 p.m.
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
David Alan Miller, Conductor
Soloists from the Vocal Division of Bard College-Conservatory
Mozart: Symphony No, 40 in G minor
Torke: Three Concertinos for Solo Instruments and Orchestra (World Premiere)
Bach: Cantata No. 78 “Jesu, der du meine Seele”
Beethoven’s 9th
Saturday, April 8, 2017: 7:30PM
Palace Theatre
David Alan Miller, Conductor
Albany Pro Musica
Tower: Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman, No. 6
Tsontakis: 25th Anniversary Commission (World Premiere)
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor (“Choral”)
American Music Festival
Saturday, May 21, 2017: 7:30 p.m.
EMPAC
David Alan Miller Conductor
Chee-Yun, Violin
Shankar Tucker, Clarinet
Harbison: Partita for Orchestra
Theofanidis: Violin Concerto
Reena Esmail: Clarinet Concerto (World Premiere)
Mellon Young Composer: New Work (World Premiere)
Additional Subscriber Specials:
Roscoe: An American Grand Opera, by Evan Mack (Concert Premiere)
Saturday, October 15, 2016: 7:30 p.m.
Palace Theatre
David Alan Miller, Conductor
A new opera composed by Capital Region resident and Skidmore College Professor Evan Mack, based on the novel of the same name by Pulitzer Prize winning author William Kennedy.
Magic of Christmas
December 4, 2016: 3:00 p.m.
Palace Theatre
David Alan Miller, Conductor
American Music Festival
May 18-21, 2017
A weekend of innovative new works by living American composers, artistic happenings, and special events across Troy, including performances by the Albany Symphony and the Dogs of Desire.
To Purchase a Season Subscription: Call 518.694.3300 or visit the Albany Symphony Box Office at 19 Clinton Ave, Albany, NY 12207.
Subscriptions start at $99. Full concert subscriptions available for just $136.
