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STAVANGER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Fabio Biondi, Conductor and Violin Soloist
North American
Debut Tour -
March 16 – 22,
2011
Orchestra of 55 |
Music
In MP3 Format
Haydn Sym. 104,
Menuet & Trio
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Norway’s innovative orchestra, with its
Artistic Director for Classical & Baroque music at the helm, makes its first
North American tour offering offering Mozart’s “Linz” symphony, Haydn’s 2nd
Violin Concerto, Bach’s Suite No. 4, and Vivaldi’s Concerto for Dresden
Orchestra.. The orchestra is at the forefront in renewing the goals, vision and
profile for orchestras in the 21st century - with co-artistic directors,
satellite concerts of smaller ensembles promoted alongside the symphonic series,
and a new concert hall to be ready in 2012. Next season the orchestra adds nine
new full time positions – definitely on the upswing!
Fabio Biondi, Artistic Director for
Classical and Baroque Programming, has a busy, multi-faceted career as a violin
soloist, leader of his own Europa Galante chamber orchestra, and as a conductor
on symphony stages in the opera pit. Mr. Biondi appears at major halls around
the world including La Scala in Milan, Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, Disney
Hall in Los Angeles and Tokyo’s Suntory Hall.
Biography
Stavanger Symphony Orchestra (SSO) has gained an
international reputation for its quality and interesting profile in addition to
its creative programming. The combination of a commitment to early and
contemporary music, together with unusual cross-over projects and an extensive
programme of CD-recordings of Norwegian 20th century music, has contributed to
the orchestra’s development and reputation.
The SSO is adopting a satellite model for its
operations, i.e. promoting concerts with smaller ensembles alongside series of
symphonic concerts.
The orchestra played an important role as
Stavanger held its position as European Capital of Culture in 2008. In two years
it will move into a brand new concert hall in Stavanger, specially designed for
acoustic, symphonic music. The SSO appointed the American conductor Steven
Sloane as Chief Conductor to lead the orchestra through these events and to
further develop the orchestra’s artistic standard and international reputation.
Simultaneously, the Italian violinist and conductor Fabio Biondi will be
responsible for the orchestras specializing in early music interpretation.
By, in 1990, sharing the repertoire between two
different artistic leaders, the SSO was at the forefront of establishing what
was then a new model for artistic leadership. Conductors such as Frans Brüggen
and Alexander Dmitriev in the 90s, followed by Philippe Herreweghe and Susanna
Mälkki, raised the standard to an international level.
The orchestra tours regularly within Norway.
Internationally the orchestra has performed in Scandinavia, The Baltic states,
Spain, The Netherlands, Belgium, UK, Germany, Ireland, Czech Republic, Slovakia,
Poland and Japan. It has participated at the Edinburgh Festival,
Schleswig-Holstein Festival and the Prague Autumn Festival.
The orchestra has released over 30 recordings the
last 20 years, receiving excellent reviews in international music magazines.
Complete series of the orchestral music of Norwegian 20th century composers
Harald Sæverud, Geirr Tveitt and Fartein Valen have been released on the highly
profiled Swedish company, BIS Records.
The Norwegian Oil Company Statoil has been the
SSO’s main sponsor since 1990.
Stavanger Symphony Orchestra is under the Royal
Patronage of HRH Crown Prince Haakon.
Program
Vivaldi Concerto for the Dresden orchestra
Bach Suite no 4
--intermission--
Haydn Violin Concerto no 2 for Violin and Strings in G major
Mozart Symphony no 36, “Linz”
Reviews
From Musikk
med vidd og vits (Music with wit and witticism)
By Arnfinn Bø-Rygg,
Stavanger Aftenblad February 2nd, 2009
Concert in Stavanger Concert Hall
(…) It is a rare
occurrence when we see Fabio Biondi without a violin
in hand, but this happened during the opening
number, Haydn’s last symphony (nr. 104). It was an
exceptionally fine performance. Biondi senses the
elements of surprise, brilliance, wit, humour, and
yes – witticism - in Haydn’s music. These are
qualities that are embedded in the music itself,
objectives of the structural design. Contact with
the listener is inevitable, composed into the music.
I would have preferred a sharper and more vivid
timbre in the opening chords of the first movement.
These chords should shine like rays of light, in
contrast to the mystical atmosphere that
characterizes the rest of the adagio section.
However, the andante was performed with exquisite
sensitivity, the minuet played with gusto, and the
finale was right on target.
(…)
Translation:
E. Maine |
From Forrykende
presist (Tremendously precise) by Magnus Andersson
Morgenbladet, March 3rd, 2007
Concert in Oslo Concert Hall
(...) The orchestra
played with fervour and intensity that was the
result of more than just goodwill or a desire to
express something. They played with a precision
which lifted the music up to a level that is usually
only attained by the Oslo Philharmonic in Norway.
The use of vibrato was tasteful; many of the
exceedingly soft sections would have lost their
transparency with a ‘standard’ vibrato. This magic,
gentle sound, free of vibrato, was the precondition
that enabled Biondi to avoid conjuring up a more
bombastic sound in order to build a climax.
The orchestra was
exquisitely balanced. The lead instruments were
always audible, while at the same time the
accompanying voices were never insignificant but
present in the music with another own integrity.
(...) The sum of
all this is not only a good performance – the
orchestra has, together with its leader, a unique
narrative, a secret, and a distinctive
characteristic to share with us listeners.
(...) Biondi also
appeared as soloist, and from the standpoint that
musical gesture is important his music should be
given note. One could criticize him for exaggerating
(gesture) and letting it affect the musical pulse
and drive, bit I rather regard his playing as a
tremendously creative frolic with form.
(…) The Stavanger
Symphony Orchestra delivered one of the most
memorable concerts that I have ever heard with a
Norwegian Orchestra.
M.A.
Translation: E.
Maine |
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