San Francisco Conservatory of Music 2019-20 Season

“Music and Nature”

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

SFCM Ensembles Led by Eminent Conductors Including Nicole Paiement, Edwin Outwater, Joseph Young, Steven Schick, Christopher Rountree, and others

Opera Productions Include Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus, David Conte’s Firebird Motel, and a Double Bill of Mozart’s The Impresario and Richard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos

Musical Theatre Selections Include Sondheim’s Into the Woods and a Revue Featuring Works About Women, By Women

GUEST ARTISTS

Guest Artists Include Manuel Barrueco, Del Sol Quartet, Abigail Fischer, Leon Fleisher, Martin Katz, Kronos Quartet, Tessa Lark, Robert McDonald, Patricia Racette, Marcy Rosen, David Russell, Jeffrey Thomas, Jason Vieaux, and others

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- The San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) today announces the details of its 2019-20 season. Under the theme of “Music and Nature,” the 2019-20 season features repertoire, collaborations, and a curricular sequence that connects to nature’s presence in music from multiple stylistic periods.

“Music and Nature” extends beyond the concert hall and into the classroom. Thematically linked courses, including a Proseminar that focuses on musical settings of nature and a class on ecomusicology and acoustic ecology, offer context for works ranging from the romantic era to the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. With performances by composers whose works evoke a natural sensibility, such as John Luther Adams, Toru Takemitsu, and Olivier Messiaen, this season brings the outdoors inside.

“Nature is the origin of all music, and this year we celebrate our relationship between the natural world and art,” says SFCM President David H. Stull. “Composers for thousands of years have been inspired, influenced, and compelled by the soundscape of the living planet. Our first accessories as early humans were bone flutes and we crafted these instruments more than 40,000 years ago. Over the course of this season, I invite you to explore the remarkable canon of work that has emerged from the most fundamental relationship of our existence—it promises to be an exciting and unprecedented journey.”

SPECIAL EVENTS

With every season comes a smattering of special events that bring vibrant crowds to SFCM’s halls. The year’s concerts start with Kick-off Weekend (September 27-29), featuring performances by the SFCM guitar department, Roots, Jazz, and American Music department, Pre-College division, New Music Ensemble, and chamber music, historical performance, and technology and applied composition departments. Two Music for Food events, helping the Bay Area overcome hunger, take place October 11 and February 18 (the first with violinist Tessa Lark). Faculty guitarist Lawrence Ferrara will be honored in a retirement concert on October 19. Techapella, the annual a cappella event for the tech world, takes place again this year at SFCM on November 10. SFCM also hosts the annual Hot Air Music Festival, now in its 11th year, on March 1 in an all-day affair. At the end of the season, SFCM will hold the 12th Biennial Choral Composition Competition on May 4.

RESIDENCIES, MASTER CLASSES, AND GUEST PERFORMANCES

SFCM’s series of master classes and guest artist concerts extends throughout the year. On October 11, SFCM presents a Music for Food event featuring violinist Tessa Lark (another Music for Food event takes place February 18), and, October 14, guitarist Manuel Barrueco gives a master class for guitar students. October 21 sees another guitar master class with Jason Vieaux, and collaborative pianist Martin Katz gives a voice master class on October 25. Deborah Voigt gives master classes on November 15, January 10, and February 7, and Patricia Racette also gives a master class on January 17. SFCM musicians perform side-by-side with the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players and Berkeley Symphony on January 17 and 18, respectively. The Kronos Quartet performs with SFCM and SFUSD students on February 6. Another historical performance master class on February 17, sponsored by American Bach Soloists, is led by conductor Jeffrey Thomas. Leon Fleisher returns to SFCM to give a master class on March 13, and cellist Marcy Rosen performs with SFCM students and faculty on March 19. Guitarist David Russell gives a master class on March 20 and another American Bach Soloists master class with faculty member Elizabeth Blumenstock takes place April 6. Pianist Robert McDonald gives a master class April 9 and a concert on April 11, part of his SFCM residency this season.

LARGE ENSEMBLES

SFCM’s large ensembles present works surrounding the theme “music and nature” this year in several performances. On September 28, as part of Kick-off Weekend, the SFCM New Music Ensemble, conducted by Nicole Paiement, performs Messiaen’s Le merle noir, Takemitsu’s Tree Line, Laura Schwedinger’s Constellations, and John Luther Adams’ In a Treeless Place, Only Snow. On October 18, the SFCM Orchestra, conducted by Edwin Outwater, performs Linda Catlin Smith’s Wilderness, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, and Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. On November 3, the SFCM Baroque Ensemble performs Lully’s Ballet des saisons, Autumn and Winter from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, movements from Rebel’s Les Élémens, as well as arias with texts about nature by Handel and Vivaldi. On December 13, the SFCM Orchestra, under the direction of Joseph Young, conducts Julia Perry’s A Short Piece for Orchestra and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 1. Nicole Paiement returns with the SFCM New Music Ensemble on February 21 to perform Leo Brouwer’s Cuban Landscape with Rain, Alexina Louie’s Winter Music, and Sculthorpe’s Nourlangie. On March 20, Steven Schick conducts the SFCM Chamber Orchestra in Messiaen’s Des canyons aux étoiles.... Christopher Rountree conducts the SFCM Orchestra on April 17 and 19 in a program of Lutosławski and Brahms.

OPERA AND MUSICAL THEATRE

A dynamic year of opera and musical theatre takes place during the 2019-20 season. On November 21-22, SFCM produces a double bill of Mozart’s The Impresario and Richard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos (Prologue), directed by Heather Mathews and conducted by Curt Pajer. On December 6-7, Michael Mohammed directs She Turns the Tide: Musical Theatre About Women, By Women, a far-reaching revue with music direction by Lauren Mayer. The baroque opera, Ottone, by Handel will be performed in a concert version on March 14-15. The spring opera production on April 3 and 5 is Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus, sung in English, directed by Jose Maria Condemi and conducted by Curt Pajer. On April 18 and 19, SFCM presents Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods, with stage direction by Michael Mohammed and musical direction by Michael Horsley. To close out the year, SFCM produces faculty member David Conte’s Firebird Motel on April 30 and May 1, directed by Heather Mathews and conducted by Curt Pajer.

HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE

Historical Performance concerts abound this season. As part of Kick-off Weekend, a special early music vocal concert takes place on September 29. On November 3, the SFCM Baroque Ensemble performs nature-themed and seasonal works by Lully, Vivaldi, Rebel, and Handel. A master classes is given by Jeffrey Thomas on February 17, presented by American Bach Soloists. The year’s baroque opera selection is Handel’s Ottone, performed in a concert version on March 14-15. Another American Bach Soloists master class with faculty violinist Elizabeth Blumenstock takes place April 6 and the Historical Performance faculty join guest artists on April 12 for an early music concert. The SFCM Baroque Ensemble returns April 26 for the annual concerto competition winners concert.

FACULTY ARTIST SERIES

To start off the season, Lauren Mayer gives a cabaret-themed recital on September 8 and Ian Swensen performs a violin recital September 9. Guitarist Judicaël Perroy performs on September 15 and Mario Guarneri gives a trumpet recital September 16. Cellist Bonnie Hampton performs September 22. In October, Pre-College faculty guitarist Ross Thompson performs on the 6th and cellist Jean-Michel Fonteneau performs on the 14th. Clarinetist Jeff Anderle performs on October 21 and the Telegraph Quartet gives a recital on October 23. November sees percussionist Jack Van Geem perform on the 11th. Roots, Jazz, and American Music faculty perform on February 8 and, on February 10, cellist Amos Yang gives a recital. Additionally, in November, violinist Cordula Merks gives a recital on the 24th. Ryan Brown gives a composition recital on March 9 and, on March 18, the Telegraph Quartet returns with visiting mezzo-soprano Abigail Fischer. David Conte’s composition recital on April 7 sees SFCM faculty and alumni join together for several works, including regional and world premieres. Historical Performance faculty members team up on April 12 with guest artists for a recital and, on April 25, new faculty member Simon James gives a violin recital. At the end of the month, Alexander John Stalarow gives a lecture/performance on April 26.

CHRONOLOGICAL LISTING OF EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Dates, performers, and repertoire subject to change. Visit sfcm.edu/performances for the most up-to-date information.

Sunday, September 8, 2019, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Faculty Artist Series

Lauren Mayer, musical theatre

Monday, September 9, 2019, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Faculty Artist Series

Ian Swensen, violin

Sunday, September 15, 2019, 2:00 PM, Recital Hall
Faculty Artist Series

Judicaël Perroy, guitar

Monday, September 16, 2019, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Faculty Artist Series

Mario Guarneri, trumpet

Sunday, September 22, 2019, 2:00 PM, Recital Hall
Faculty Artist Series

Bonnie Hampton, cello

Tuesday, September 24, 2019, 7:30 PM, Concert Hall
Faculty Chamber Music Concert

Cordula Merks, violin
Simon James, violin
Dimitri Murrath, viola
Jean-Michel Fonteneau, cello
Paul Hersh, piano

Friday, September 27, 2019, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Guitar Concert with Del Sol Quartet

Featuring the world premiere of Tomb(er) by Ronald Bruce Smith

Part of Kick-off Weekend

Saturday, September 28, 2019, 2:00 PM, SFJAZZ Center (Miner Auditorium)
Roots, Jazz, and American Music

Part of Kick-off Weekend

Saturday, September 28, 2019, 5:30 PM, Recital Hall
Pre-College Concert

Part of Kick-off Weekend

Saturday, September 28, 2019, 7:30 PM, Concert Hall
New Music Ensemble

Nicole Paiement, conductor

MESSIAEN: Le merle noir
TAKEMITSU: Tree Line
Laura SCHWENDINGER: Constellations
John Luther ADAMS: In a Treeless Place, Only Snow

Part of Kick-off Weekend

Sunday, September 29, 2019, 2:00 PM, Concert Hall
Chamber Music Concert

Part of Kick-off Weekend

Sunday, September 29, 2019, 5:00 PM, Salon
Historical Performance Concert

Part of Kick-off Weekend

Sunday, September 29, 2019, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Technology and Applied Composition Concert

Part of Kick-off Weekend

Monday, September 30, 2019, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Woodwind Chamber Music Side-by-Side

Sunday, October 6, 2019, 2:00 PM, Recital Hall
Faculty Artist Series

Ross Thompson, guitar

Monday, October 7, 2019, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Faculty Artist Series

Dimitri Murrath, viola
with Hyeyeon Park, piano

Works by Bloch, Enescu, and Paul Wiancko

Friday, October 11, 2019, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Special Event

Music for Food

Dimitri Murrath, viola
Jennifer Culp, cello
with special guest Tessa Lark, violin

HAYDN: Piano Trio No. 39 in G major, Hob. XV:25 ("Gypsy")
GRIEG: Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 3 in C minor, Op. 45
BRAHMS: String Sextet No. 2 in G major, Op. 36

Monday, October 14, 2019, 7:00 PM, Salon
Master Class

Manuel Barrueco, guitar

Monday, October 14, 2019, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Faculty Artist Series

Jean-Michel Fonteneau, cello

Friday, October 18, 2019, 7:30 PM, Concert Hall
SFCM Orchestra

Edwin Outwater, conductor

Linda Catlin SMITH: Wilderness
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 5
RACHMANINOFF: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

Saturday, October 19, 2019, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Special Event

Lawrence Ferrara Retirement Concert

Monday, October 21, 2019, 7:00 PM, Salon
Master Class

Jason Vieaux, guitar

Monday, October 21, 2019, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Faculty Artist Series

Jeff Anderle, clarinet

Wednesday, October 23, 2019, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Faculty Artist Series

Telegraph Quartet

Friday, October 25, 2019, 7:00 PM, Recital Hall
Master Class

Martin Katz, collaborative piano

Sunday, November 3, 2019, 2:00 PM, Concert Hall
SFCM Baroque Ensemble

Corey Jamason and Elisabeth Reed, directors

LULLY: Ballet des saisons
VIVALDI: Autumn and Winter from The Four Seasons
REBEL: Les Élémens (select movements)

Additional arias by Handel and Vivaldi

Sunday, November 10, 2019
Special Event

Techapella

12:00 PM Recital Hall
2:00 PM Recital Hall
5:30 PM Concert Hall

Monday, November 11, 2019, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Faculty Artist Series

Jack Van Geem, percussion

Friday, November 15, 2019, 7:30 PM, Concert Hall
Master Class

Deborah Voigt, voice

Saturday, November 16, 2019, 7:00 PM, Concert Hall
SFCM Chorus

Ragnar Bohlin, conductor

Thursday, November 21, 2019, 7:30 PM, Concert Hall
Friday, November 22, 2019, 7:30 PM, Concert Hall

SFCM Opera

MOZART: The Impresario
STRAUSS: Ariadne auf Naxos (Prologue)

Friday, December 6, 2019, 7:30 PM, Concert Hall
Side-by-Side

Roots, Jazz, and American Music

Friday, December 6, 2019, 8:00 PM, Recital Hall
Saturday, December 7, 2019, 8:00 PM, Recital Hall
SFCM Musical Theatre

Michael Mohammed, stage director
Lauren Mayer, musical director

She Turns the Tide: Musical Theatre About Women, By Women

Saturday, December 7, 2019, 5:00 PM, Concert Hall
Pre-College Holiday Showcase

Friday, December 13, 2019, 7:30 PM, Concert Hall
SFCM Orchestra

Joseph Young, conductor

Julia PERRY: A Short Piece for Orchestra
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 1

Friday, January 10, 2020, 5:00 PM, Recital Hall
Master Class

Deborah Voigt, voice

Friday, January 17, 2020, 5:00 PM, Recital Hall
Master Class

Patricia Racette, voice

Friday, January 17, 2020, 7:30 PM, Concert Hall
Side-by-Side

San Francisco Contemporary Music Players with SFCM Musicians

Saturday, January 18, 2020, 7:30 PM, Concert Hall
Berkeley Symphony with SFCM Musicians

Concerto Competition Winners Concert

Friday, January 31, 2020, 7:30 PM, Concert Hall
Sunday, February 2, 2020, 2:00 PM, East Bay Center for the Performing Arts
SFCM Orchestra

Thursday, February 6, 2020, 8:00 PM, Concert Hall
Special Event

Kronos Quartet with SFUSD and SFCM Students

Friday, February 7, 2020, 7:30 PM, Concert Hall
Master Class

Deborah Voigt, voice

Saturday, February 8, 2020, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Faculty Artist Series

Roots, Jazz, and American Music

Monday, February 10, 2020, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Faculty Artist Series

Amos Yang, cello

Tuesday, February 11, 2020, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Woodwind Chamber Music Side-by-Side

Monday, February 17, 2020, 7:30 PM, Salon
Historical Performance Master Class (American Bach Soloists)

Jeffrey Thomas, conductor

Tuesday, February 18, 2020, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Special Event

Music for Food

Friday, February 21, 2020, 7:30 PM, Concert Hall
SFCM New Music Ensemble

Nicole Paiement, conductor

Leo BROUWER: Cuban Landscape with Rain
Alexina LOUIE: Winter Music
SCULTHORPE: Nourlangie

Monday, February 24, 2020, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Faculty Artist Series

Cordula Merks, violin

Sunday, March 1, 2020, All Day, All SFCM Halls
Special Event

Hot Air Music Festival

Monday, March 9, 2020, 7:30 PM, Concert Hall
Faculty Artist Series

Ryan Brown, composition

Wednesday, March 11, 2020, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Faculty Chamber Music Concert

Friday, March 13, 2020, 7:00 PM, Concert Hall
Master Class

Leon Fleisher, piano

Saturday, March 14, 2020, 7:00 PM, Concert Hall
Sunday, March 15, 2020, 2:00 PM, Concert Hall
SFCM Baroque Opera

HANDEL: Ottone (Concert Version)

Wednesday, March 18, 2020, 7:30 PM, Concert Hall
Faculty Artist Series

Telegraph Quartet with mezzo-soprano Abigail Fischer

Thursday, March 19, 2020, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Chamber Music Side-by-Side

Cellist Marcy Rosen with SFCM Students and Faculty

Friday, March 20, 2020, 7:30 PM, Concert Hall
SFCM Chamber Orchestra

Steven Schick, conductor

MESSIAEN: Des canyons aux étoiles...

Friday, March 20, 2020, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Master Class

David Russell, guitar

Friday, April 3, 2020, 7:30 PM, Concert Hall
Sunday, April 5, 2020, 2:00 PM, Concert Hall
SFCM Opera

STRAUSS: Die Fledermaus

Monday, April 6, 2020, 7:30 PM, Salon
Historical Performance Master Class (American Bach Soloists)

Elizabeth Blumenstock, violin

Tuesday, April 7, 2020, 7:30 PM, Concert Hall
Faculty Artist Series

David Conte, composition
Brian Thorsett, tenor
Marnie Breckenridge, soprano
Kevin Rivard, French horn
Kevin Korth, piano
Dawn Harms, conductor
Bay Area Rainbow Symphony

David CONTE: American Death Ballads for tenor and chamber orchestra (American Premiere) 
David CONTE: Sexton Songs for soprano and piano
David CONTE: Sonata for French Horn and Piano (World Premiere)

Thursday, April 9, 2020, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Master Class

Robert McDonald, piano

Saturday, April 11, 2020, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Artist Residency Concert

Chamber Music with pianist Robert McDonald

Sunday, April 12, 2020, 2:00 PM, Recital Hall
Faculty Artist Series

Historical Performance Faculty with Guest Artists

Friday, April 17, 2020, 7:30 PM, Concert Hall
Sunday, April 19, 2020, 2:00 PM, Location TBD
SFCM Orchestra

Christopher Rountree, conductor

LUTOSŁAWSKI: Partita for Violin and Orchestra
John Luther ADAMS: Become Ocean

Saturday, April 18, 2020, 8:00 PM, Recital Hall
Sunday, April 19, 2020, 5:00 PM, Recital Hall
SFCM Musical Theatre

Michael Mohammed, stage director
Michael Horsely, musical director

SONDHEIM: Into the Woods

Friday, April 24, 2020, 7:30 PM, Concert Hall
Side-by-Side

Roots, Jazz, and American Music

Saturday, April 25, 2020, 7:30 PM, Recital Hall
Faculty Artist Series

Simon James, violin

Sunday, April 26, 2020, 2:00 PM, Concert Hall
SFCM Baroque Ensemble

Concerto Competition Winners Concert

Sunday, April 26, 2020, 5:00 PM, Salon
Faculty Artist Series

Lecture/performance with Alexander John Stalarow

Thursday, April 30, 2020, 7:30 PM, Concert Hall
Friday, May 1, 2020, 7:30 PM, Concert Hall
SFCM Opera

David CONTE: Firebird Motel

Monday, May 4, 2020, 7:30 PM, Concert Hall
Special Event

12th Biennial Choral Composition Competition