Santa Rosa Symphony Opens 78th Season With Music Director Candidate Federico Cortese And Cellist Hai-Ye Ni

News Release Contact: Sara Obuchowski, (707) 546-7097 ext 218

September 16, 2005

(SANTA ROSA, CA) ö Santa Rosa Symphonyâs ãA Choice Season,ä the 78th in the orchestraâs history, opens October 15, 16 and 17 at the Luther Burbank Center, and features Federico Cortese, the first of five music director candidates to be introduced over the next several months. Cortese will conduct a high-spirited program that begins with Haydnâs Surprise symphony and concludes with Dvorakâs sunny Symphony No. 8. He will be joined by cellist Hai-Ye Ni, the featured soloist in Tchaikovskyâs Rococo Variations. The program is rounded out by MCMXC Tanglewood, a gem from American master and Pulitzer Prize-winner William Bolcom.

The 42-year-old Cortese was born in Italy and studied conducting in Rome and Vienna, and also earned a degree in law. He was assistant conductor of the Boston Symphony from 1998 to 2002 and has been music director of the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras since 1999. He was music director and associate conductor of the Spoleto Festival in Italy and a conducting fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center. The Boston Globe has written of Cortese, ã·the orchestra played its heart out for him.ä Audiences will have the opportunity to meet the maestro through an informal interview and Q&A session taking place one hour before each concert.

Hai-Ye Ni is the associate principal cellist for the New York Philharmonic. She collaborated with Bobby McFerrin and the New York Philharmonic in a special performance of the Vivaldi Concerto for Two Cellos and made her recital debut at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2001. Yo-Yo Ma has said of Hai-Ye Ni, ãThat girl plays with spirit, searching and personal strength.ä

These opening performances of the 2005-2006 SRS Classical Series are sponsored by Quivira Estate Vineyards and Winery. Guest artist Hai Ye-Niâs performance is underwritten by Anderson, Zeigler, Disharoon, Gallagher & Gray.

Santa Rosa Symphony concerts are Saturday and Monday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa. Concert Conversations with Federico Cortese begin in the concert hall one hour prior to the performances, and are made possible by Quivira Estate Vineyards and Winery.

The popular Discovery Series of open rehearsals continues at 2 p.m. on October 15. These concerts, priced at $10 for adults, $6 for youth, offer a sneak peek into the final rehearsal process before each concert set. Audiences for Discovery concerts enjoy free Krispy Kreme donuts at intermission.

Call (707) 546-8742 for tickets or visit the Symphony Box Office on the first floor of the North Coast Bank building at 50 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased at the door 1¸ hours before each performance on a space-available basis. Single tickets are $27-49, with senior discounts available. $7 Student Rush tickets (to students showing school I.D) can be purchased a half hour prior to curtain.

Heading
Classical

Who
Santa Rosa Symphony 

Dates and Times
Sat., October 15, at 8 p.m.
(Discovery Rehearsal, Sat. October 15 at 2 p.m.)
Sun., October 16 at 3 p.m.
Mon. October 17 at 8 p.m.

What
Federico Cortese, conductor and music director candidate
Hai-Ye Ni, cello
Pre-concert talk featuring Federico Cortese, one hour before each performance.

Program
Haydn: Symphony No. 84, Surprise
Bolcom: MCMXC Tanglewood
Tchaikovsky: Rococo Variations
Dvorak: Symphony No. 8

Venue
Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
50 Mark West Springs Road
Santa Rosa, CA

Cost
Single tickets $27-49

Tickets
(707) 54-MUSIC [546-8742]