Portland Symphony Orchestra’Äôs First Concert of 2010 Focuses on ’ÄúHead and Heart’Äù Sunday, January 24

January 5, 2010

PORTLAND, Maine ’Äì New Year’Äôs resolutions often focus on change, a desire to open up to new experiences, gain knowledge. The Portland Symphony Orchestra’Äôs first concert of 2010 is a perfect example, as conductor Robert Moody takes the audience on an inspirational and moving journey of ’ÄúHead and Heart.’Äù This emotionally charged concert pairs the heartfelt poignancy of Ravel's exquisite musical lament Pavane pour une enfante defunte (’ÄúPavane for a Dead Princess’Äù) with the frenetic and brilliant genius of Mozart’Äôs Symphony No. 29 in G minor (the opening music in Milo‰° Forman’Äôs film Amadeus). Apropos of both ’Äúhead’Äù and ’Äúheart,’Äù the centerpiece of the program is Headcase, a multimedia musical exploration of living composer Brett Dietz's struggle to regain clarity after a suffering a stroke at the age of 29. The Pittsburgh Tribute Review called Headcase ’Äúhaunting and powerful - a remarkably sophisticated score that blends words, music and visual displays to touch the heart and mind.’Äù

Sponsored by New England Rehabilitation Hospital of Portland (NERHP), ’ÄúHead and Heart’Äù takes place on Sunday, January 24 at 2:30 p.m. in Merrill Auditorium. Please note that Headcase does contain some potentially disturbing language and imagery and may not be suitable for younger audiences.

Tickets range from $17-$56 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 p.m.

Related activities:

’Ä¢ Composer Symposium by Brett Dietz on Friday, January 22 at 5:30 p.m. at the Dana Center on the Maine Medical Center campus. A joint presentation of the PSO, NERHP and Maine Medical Center. $5 suggested donation to benefit the PSO’Äôs Community Connections program, RSVP to education@portlandsymphony.com

’Ä¢ Open Dress Rehearsal for high school and college students on Sunday, January 24 at 10:00 a.m. Email education@portlandsymphony.com for reservations. ’Ä¢ Work by artist and brain-injury survivor Hilary Zayed will be on display in the lobby of Merrill Auditorium at the concert. ’Ä¢ Concert Conversation with Robert Moody and Brett Dietz at 1:15 p.m. prior to the concert. ’Ä¢ PostConcert Q&A with the artists immediately following the concert. ’Ä¢ MaineStage broadcast of this concert on MPBN, Wednesday, February 10 at 8:00 p.m. The PSO’Äôs 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.