ProMusica approaches new season with no theme in mind, but exciting plans
The ProMusica Chamber Orchestra did not program the concerts in its upcoming season with a single theme, group of composers or time period in mind.
“We didn’t go for an overarching theme,” said music director David Danzmayr.
Instead, the organization looked to book sought-after guest artists, schedule significant pieces and leave certain things strictly to chance.
For example, steel-pan player and composer Andy Akiho, who performed with the orchestra last year, was not originally scheduled to return this year. But, he is to be back with the orchestra for concerts Dec. 14-15 in the Southern Theatre (where the orchestra performs all of its subscription concerts).
“He had such a good feeling with ProMusica, so just on the spot, we said, ‘Why don’t you come back next year?’” Danzmayr said.
Two of Akiho’s works are to be performed: the first is “Fantasy for Steel Pans and Orchestra,” featuring Akiho himself as the soloist; and the second is “Cello Concerto,” a world-premiere work that ProMusica co-commissioned.
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The spirit of spontaneity continues throughout the rest of the season. For example, the season-opening program ? set for Sept. 28-29 ? came about in part because of the availability of its guest vocalist, Storm Large.
“Lo and behold, the one week was empty in her calendar,” Danzmayr said.
With backing from the orchestra, Large is to perform Kurt Weill’s satirical work for voices, “The Seven Deadly Sins.”
“I love Weill,” Danzmayr said. “I think the piece is so incredibly funny... Weill has such a sense for psychology in his music.”
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The Hudson Shad Quartet is also to be heard as part of the performance. On Nov. 9-10, pianist Yeol Eum Son is to join the orchestra for concerts featuring Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 5,” and on Jan. 25-26, 2025, the Capital University Chapel Choir and three vocal soloists are to team for Felix Mendelssohn’s “Symphony No. 2.”
“It’s half a symphony or half an oratorio,” Danzmayr said of Mendelssohn’s masterpiece, which has religious and sacred elements. “(The piece is) three normal movements and then a 40-minute Mass. It’s extremely beautiful and touching.”
The latter concert represents the orchestra’s first collaboration with the acclaimed area choir. On March 1-2, 2025, ProMusica’s creative partner and principal guest artist Vadim Gluzman is to lead a concert highlighted by Franz Schubert’s “Death and the Maiden”; that same work by Schubert will be analyzed by host Paul Rissmann for one of the orchestra’s annual “Naked Classics” educational presentations Feb. 28, 2025.
On May 10-11, 2025, the subscription season is to close with pianist and Columbus native Aaron Diehl. Like Large, Diehl ? who, as a young man, performed with the Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra ? has been someone the orchestra has long wanted to collaborate with.
“You know, there is kind of a season theme: it’s things that we wanted to do for a long time,” Danzmayr said. “Aaron Diehl was somebody that (the orchestra) had wanted to work with for so long.”
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With the orchestra, Diehl is to perform Michael Schachter’s newly commissioned “Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra,” as well as William Grant Still’s “Darker America”? the latter of which debuted in the same year as a certain famous work celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
“It was written in the same year, and very similar in style, to (George) Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue,’” Danzmayr said.
“Grant Still is a known composer, but of course not as famous as Gershwin, so we want to highlight it.”
At a glance
Subscriptions for the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra’s 2024-25 season are on sale now.
Additional nonsubscription concerts are to be announced later. For more information, visit promusicacolumbus.org.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Sought-after guest artists to be part of ProMusica's 2024-25 season
