Richard Stoltzman's 2008-09 Season

TWO NEW RECORDINGS, TWO NEW YORK CITY PERFORMANCES,

A BIG BAND TOUR, AND COLLABORATIONS WITH OLD FRIENDS MARK RICHARD STOLTZMAN'S 2008-2009 SEASON

After a highly-acclaimed reunion-tour to mark the 35^th anniversary of Tashi, Richard Stoltzman returns for the 2008-2009 season with two new recordings and two New York City performances: at the Metropolitan Museum of Art with pianist Menahem Pressler and the Peoples' Symphony Concerts with the Orion String Quartet.

Richard Stoltzman, the first clarinetist ever to be given a solo recital at Carnegie Hall, and who is one of today's most sought-after and versatile artists, will perform concerts across the United States and Canada during the 2008-2009 season. Stoltzman joins some of the world's finest musicians including Menahem Pressler, Yehudi Wyner and the Takˆ°cs Quartet, in a wide variety of repertoire.

In addition to his recital and chamber music engagements, Richard Stoltzman will tour in Florida with the Florida State University Jazz Band paying tribute to a true 20^th century icon of swing, the legendary Benny Goodman. Stoltzman will also continue his big band swing with a residency and performance at the University of Iowa.

TWO NEW CD RELEASES

PHOENIX IN FLIGHT

This September, Navona Records, the label imprint of audio production house PARMA Recordings LLC, releases Phoenix in Flight, which spotlights Richard Stoltzman in a collection of repertoire masterworks by Debussy, Weber and Tchaikovsky, recorded with the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kirk Trevor. Phoenix in Flight features enhanced content with select scans of the clarinet parts, including Toru Takemitsu's arrangement of Tchaikovsky's "Herbstlied," created for and dedicated to Stoltzman, as well as footage from the recording sessions.

Expected in 2009, Marquis Classics will release the first-ever commercial recording of the Lancaster Festival Orchestra (Ohio). Richard Stoltzman joins conductor Gary Sheldon in recordings of three works by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer William Bolcom including his Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra and two other short works that have never been recorded before, plus Clare Fischer's The Duke, Swee'pea and Me written for Richard Stoltzman.

TWO NEW YORK CITY CONCERTS AND AN INTERVIEW

October finds Richard Stoltzman in New York City for two concert appearances and an interview. On October 10, Richard is joined by pianist Menahem Pressler in a performance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, featuring works by Schubert, Berg, Brahms and Kurtˆ°g. According to Stoltzman, who refers to his colleague as "the indefatigable octogenarian," Pressler is "the ultimate chamber music player. Our choice of music reflects our love of lyricism, our worship of Brahms and our fascination with the challenging."

On October 20, Richard Stoltzman will be the first in a series of stellar interview guests on the Music For All Seasons Conversations Series. This is a rare opportunity to get to know Richard Stoltzman outside of a concert setting as he is interviewed by host Nancy Shear at Steinway Hall at 6:30 p.m.

Richard will join Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society's resident quartet, the Orion String Quartet, on Sunday, November 1, in a performance featuring the famous Brahms Quintet for the Peoples' Symphony Concert Series at Washington Irving High School.

New York Dates:

What: Menahem Pressler, piano Richard Stoltzman, clarinet

Where: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue

Program: Schubert ’Äì Sonatina in D; Schubert - "The Shepherd on the Rock;" Berg- Four Pieces for Clarinet and Piano; Brahms ’Äì Sonata for Clarinet and Piano in F Minor; Kurtˆ°g ’Äì Hommage ˆÝ Schumann

When: Friday, October 10, at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $50 and available at The Metropolitan Museum of Art www.metmuseum.org/tickets or (212) 570-3949

What: The Peoples' Symphony Concerts: The Orion String Quartet with Richard Stoltzman, clarinet

Where: Washington Irving High School, 16th Street and Irving Place (one block east of the Union Square subway station at 14th Street)

Program: Brahms: Quintet for Clarinet and Strings in B Minor; Gershwin Selections

When: Saturday, November 1, 8 p.m.

Tickets are $12 and available at www.pscny.org/tickets.htm

What: Music For All Seasons Conversations Series

Who: Richard Stoltzman interviewed by Nancy Shear

When: Monday, October 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Where: Steinway Hall 109 W. 57^th St. (Between 6^th and 7^th Aves)

Tickets are available at www.musicforallseasons.org

BIG BAND TOUR

In March, 2009, one clarinet master honors another while treating audiences to some of the most popular music ever written. Richard Stoltzman will do a mini-tour with the Florida State University Jazz Band followed by a residency at the University of Iowa, paying tribute to legendary clarinetist, Benny Goodman. These appearances afford Richard the opportunity to join forces with the high-energy young jazz generation while paying tribute to a true clarinet icon.

According to Stoltzman, "I played duets with Benny at his penthouse apartment and he honored me by coming to my first clarinet recital in Carnegie Hall.

"It will be such a blast to launch into 'Sing, Sing, Sing' with these 21^st century whiz kids who weren't even alive when Benny and his band shook the classical walls of Carnegie Hall."

RICHARD STOLTZMAN, CLARINETIST

2008-09 Season Schedule

October 2, 2008

Bloomington, Indiana

Indiana University, Jacobs School of Music

Menahem Pressler, piano

Program: Schubert: Sonatina in D; Brahms: Sonata for Clarinet and Piano in F Minor

October 4, 2008

Los Angeles, California

Da Camera Society

Menahem Pressler, piano

Program: Schubert: Sonatina in D; Berg: Four Pieces for Clarinet and Piano; Brahms: Sonata for Clarinet and Piano in F Minor

October 7, 2008

Vancouver, British Colombia

Vancouver Friends of Chamber Music

Menahem Pressler, piano

Program: Schubert: Sonatina in D; Berg: Four Pieces for Clarinet and Piano; Brahms: Sonata for Clarinet and Piano in F Minor

October 10, 2008

New York, New York

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Menahem Pressler, piano; Heidi Grant Murphy, soprano

Program: Schubert ’Äì Sonatina in D; Schubert - "The Shepherd on the Rock"; Berg- Four Pieces for Clarinet and Piano; Brahms ’Äì Sonata for Clarinet and Piano in F Minor; Kurtˆ°g ’Äì Hommage ˆÝ Schumann

October 20, 2008

New York, New York

Music For All Seasons Conversations Series

Nancy Shear, host

October 23, 2008

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Harvard University's Houghton Library

Yehudi Wyner, piano

Program: Wyner: Commedia for Clarinet and Piano; Brahms: Sonata for Clarinet and Piano in F Minor; Bach: Sonata in D Major; Schubert: Sonatina in D

November 1, 2008

New York, New York

Peoples' Symphony Concerts at Washington Irving High School

Orion String Quartet

Program: Brahms: Quintet for Clarinet and Strings in B Minor

November 7, 8, 2008

Kitchener, Ontario

Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony

Edwin Outwater, conductor

Program: Copland: Concerto for Clarinet; Gershwin: Three Preludes; Jenkins: Goodbye "In Memory of Benny" and other jazz selections

January 25, 2009

Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore Chamber Orchestra

Markand Thakar, conductor

Program: Mozart: Concerto for Clarinet in A Major

February 15, 2009

Berkeley, California

Cal Performances

Takˆ°cs Quartet

Program: Mozart: Clarinet Quintet in A Major K. 581

February 19, 2009

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe Concert Association

Peter John Stoltzman, piano

Program: TBA

March 4, 2009

Palm Beach, Florida

Florida State University Jazz Band

Program: Salute to Benny Goodman

March 8, 2009

Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Florida State University Jazz Band

Program: Salute to Benny Goodman

April 3, 2009

Iowa City, Iowa

University of Iowa

Johnson County Landmark Jazz Band

Residency and Performance: Salute to Benny Goodman

April 25, 2009

Syracuse, New York

Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music

Eliot Fisk, guitar

Program: Schubert: Sonatina; Bartˆ„k: Romanian Folk Dance; Bach; Rossini

May 2, 2009

New Bedford, Massachusetts

New Bedford Symphony Orchestra

David MacKenzie, conductor

Program: Copland: Concerto for Clarinet; Jenkins: Goodbye "In Memory of Benny"

Note: All programs are subject to change.