How have you been preparing for the role of concertmaster at the Des Moines Metro Opera? What specific challenges do you anticipate while leading such a diverse repertoire of operas this summer? “We have started rehearsals already, but in my preparation, I tried to focus a lot on the narratives and backgrounds of operas because there is always a story … Read More
The 2023/24 Season just ended. How do you feel about it? “I’m definitely sad about it. The season went by incredibly fast for me. When you come in, you often have to adjust to what’s happening in the orchestra, the new environment, new colleagues and a new ensemble nucleus where things function in a specific type of way. Becoming a … Read More
What made you gravitate towards Wayne Shorter’s music, and how did you approach the creative process when composing your arrangements of his pieces? “Wayne’s music is very melodic, harmonically rich and different. That’s what drew me in when I started learning more about jazz. A lot of jazz musicians were using standard tunes that likely originated from Broadway musicals or … Read More
Steven B. Libman, President & CEO The 2022/23 season at the Jacksonville Symphony just concluded with the thrilling energy and virtuosity of pianist Conrad Tao as he performed Sergei Prokofiev’s famous Third Piano Concerto. Having also featured Dmitri Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony, this finale marked the perfect exclamation point on a remarkable season. Now, we are turning our sights toward the … Read More
Program Notes: Conrad Tao Plays Prokofiev Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26: World Premiere: December 16, 1921; Chicago, Illinois (27 minutes) Though Sergei Prokofiev was from the Ukraine, his Third Piano Concerto has strong American connections. Prokofiev was the soloist in the first performance with the Chicago Symphony in 1921, under the direction of Frederick Stock. … Read More
Performance Review: Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody The Jacksonville Symphony presented “Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody” this weekend, a luxurious program featuring three of the most important composers of the 19th and 20th centuries. A Game of Cards (Jeu de cartes) by Igor Stravinsky The concert opened with Igor Stravinsky’s A Game of Cards. Of the three works offered on the evening’s program, this was likely … Read More
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