Eddins and Kulesha conduct invigorating repertoire in Masters Series concerts - Feb. 20 and Feb. 21
Classic Landmarks Masters
William Eddins and Gary Kulesha both at the forefront in virtuosic evening of Bach and Beethoven
Friday, February 20th ’Äì 7:30 pm; Saturday, February 21st ’Äì 8:00 pm
Edmonton, AB ’Ķ In a rare gesture, Canadian composer Gary Kulesha takes the baton to lead the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) in his own composition, Symphony No. 3. William Eddins will also command the role of conductor, but from the harpsichord, in Bach’Äôs Fifth Brandenburg Concerto. Also featured in this treasured Baroque masterpiece are ESO Concertmaster
Ticket prices for this performance range from $20-$69 (agency fees apply). Student and senior $20 rush tickets are on sale, subject to availability, two hours prior to performance time. Afterthoughts, following Friday’Äôs performance, will feature conductors William Eddins and Gary Kulesha. Saturday evening’Äôs 7:15 pm
Special $10 Friday morning ESO/Eddins concert on February 20th ’Äì 10:00 am
In addition to the Friday and Saturday night concert events, the ESO invites you to explore The Shapes and Shades of Music on Friday, February 20th at 10:00 am. During this highly interactive concert, host William Eddins, Gary Kulesha and Jon Kimura Parker will delve deep into live excerpts of musical works, enlightening audience members through discussion of tuneful aspects underlying the music. The excerpts from Bach, Beethoven, and Kulesha to be presented at the morning demonstration will be performed in their entirety both Friday and Saturday evenings. Don’Äôt miss this unique symphonic opportunity! Tickets for The Shapes and Shades of Music are only $10 (agency fee applies) and are available by calling the Winspear Centre Box Office at (780) 428-1414.
The next performance of The Masters takes place on March 7th and 8th, with conductor William Eddins and cellist Pieter Wispelwey in Music that Changed the World, featuring Beethoven’Äôs 5th Symphony, arguably the most well-known composition of classical music.
This series is generously supported by Classic Landmarks Master Builder.
Media Sponsor: CKUA Radio Network and the
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Media contact:
Office: (780) 401-2532; Cell: (780) 952-2532
Pamela.Pecush@winspearcentre.com
Winspear Centre Box Office:
(780) 428-1414 or 1-800-563-5081
Biographies
Bill has been playing piano since he was five when his parents bought a Wurlitzer Grand piano at a garage sale. He started conducting during his sophomore year at the Eastman School of Music, and most of the '80s were spent trying to decide whether to pursue a career in conducting or piano. In 1989, Bill decided to study conducting with Dan Lewis at the
Bill is committed to bringing classical music to the greater public. He has started a podcast ’Äì Classical Connections ’Äì which is dedicated to exploring the history of classical music and highlights live chamber music performances in which Bill has taken part. He has also produced a solo piano CD ’Äì Bad Boys, Volume I ’Äì which features Beethoven's "Hammerklavier" Sonata and Albright's Nightmare Fantasy Rag.
Although principally a composer, Gary Kulesha is active as both a pianist and a conductor, and as a teacher. His music has been commissioned, performed, and recorded by musicians and ensembles all over the world. Mr. Kulesha's first opera, Red Emma, was included in Opera America's book of "Operas which should be performed more often", beside works by Copland, Bernstein, and Weill.
In 1988 to 1992, Gary Kulesha was Composer in Residence with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra. He was Composer in Residence with the Canadian Opera Company from 1993 to 1995. In September 1995, he was appointed Composer-Advisor to The Toronto Symphony Orchestra, where his duties include composing, conducting, and advising on repertoire. In February 1998, the TSO premiered his Symphony for two conductors and orchestra, with Jukka Pekka Saraste and Gary Kulesha conducting. Symphony was awarded a prize at the Winnipeg Symphony New Music Festival in 2001 as Best Canadian Orchestra Composition of the 1990s. In March of 2005, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra premiered Second Symphony. In November of 2006, Shauna Rolston premiered Concerto for Cello and Orchestra with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. In May of 2007, the National Arts Centre Orchestra premiered Third Symphony, the work which the ESO will perform at these concerts.
In 1990, Mr. Kulesha was nominated for a Juno award for his Third Chamber Concerto. He was nominated again in 2000 for The Book of Mirrors. In 1986, he was named Composer of the Year by PROCanada, the youngest composer ever so honoured. His conducting activities are extensive, and he has premiered literally hundreds of works. He has guest conducted frequently with several major orchestras throughout
This is Mr. Kulesha’Äôs debut as a conductor of the ESO. Previous compositions by Mr. Kulesha performed by the ESO are Dreams (October 1989) and Essay for Orchestra No. 2 (April 1986).
Internationally acclaimed concert pianist Jon Kimura Parker's extraordinary career has taken him from Carnegie Hall and
Jon Kimura Parker is Professor of Piano at The Shepherd School of Music at
Mr. Parker last appeared with the ESO in March 2007.
Originally from the
Since arriving in
A native of
Mr. Riseley assisted Dorothy DeLay as a teaching fellow in the Pre-College Division of Juilliard while in
Martin Riseley has been Concertmaster of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra since 1994, and his solo and chamber concerts have appeared on CBC radio. He gave the North American premiere of the violin concerto "The Bulls of
He served as Interim Associate Concertmaster of the National Arts Center Orchestra for the 2002-2003 season, and was guest concertmaster of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra during 2003.
Labels: bach, beethoven, Gary Kulesha, Masters Series Concerts, William Eddins