Portland Symphony Orchestra Features Concertmaster Charles Dimmick in Performances of Brahms, Berg, and Sibelius, October 27

October 7, 2009 - PORTLAND, Maine ’Äì The Portland Symphony Orchestra (PSO) and Music Director Robert Moody presents a program titled "It Is Enough" on Tuesday, October 27 at Merrill Auditorium with music by Brahms, Berg and Sibelius, and featuring a solo performance by PSO concertmaster Charles Dimmick.

"It Is Enough" opens with Brahms' lively Academic Festival Overture, composed in 1880 as a "thank you" to the University of Breslau for awarding him an honorary doctorate, and based on boisterous student drinking songs of the time. The powerful Violin Concerto by Berg, with PSO Concertmaster Charles Dimmick in the soloist role, is often considered a "double requiem" for the daughter of a close friend as well as for Berg himself, who died shortly after finishing the piece. Sibelius' vivid, fresh and powerful Symphony No. 2, often connected with Finland's struggle for independence, will close the program.

Charles Dimmick joined the Portland Symphony Orchestra as a member of the violin section in 1999, and became Concertmaster of the orchestra in 2002. Dimmick, also Concertmaster of the Boston Modern Orchestra Project and a member of the Rhode Island Philharmonic, began playing the violin at age 5, and has worked with the Tokyo and Juilliard String Quartets. He attended the prestigious Tanglewood Music Center, and performed as a soloist with the University of Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra, Maine Mid-Coast Orchestra, Dayton Philharmonic and Miami Valley Symphony.

Sponsored by Verrill Dana, "It Is Enough" will take place at Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle Street, at 7:30 PM. Tickets range from $20-$70 and are available through PortTix at (207) 842-0800 or www.porttix.com. Phone and internet orders are subject to $6-per-ticket handling fees. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 PM.

A Concert Conversation with Robert Moody and Charles Dimmick precedes the performance at 6:15 PM and the concert will be followed by a PostConcert Q&A with the artists. A live recorded broadcast of the concert can be heard on Maine Public Broadcasting Network on Wednesday, November 11, 2009.

Audience members are also invited to attend Afterglow, a new afterparty at Restaurant Grace immediately following all Tuesday Classical performances. Patrons can mingle with the artists while supporting the PSO, as Restaurant Grace will donate a portion of the evening's proceeds to the PSO.

Students in grades 5 and up are invited to attend the open dress rehearsal on Monday, October 26 at 10:00 AM. Dress rehearsals are free, but space is limited and reservations are required. Email education@portlandsymphony.com or call (207) 773-6128 ext. 308 for more information.

The PSO's 2009-10 season is sponsored by IDEXX Laboratories. For complete season information, including artist biographies; program notes; and Online Insights, provided with support from season Enrichment Sponsor Fairpoint Communications; visit www.portlandsymphony.com.