DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Cecile Cooper newspaper clippings, 1966-1987 | 1973-06-03 Article: ""Russians Dominate Symphony's 1973-74 Season""

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Cecile Cooper newspaper clippings, 1966-1987

1973-06-03 Article: ""Russians Dominate Symphony's 1973-74 Season""

10 The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Sunday, June 3, 1973
Russians Dominate Symphony's 1973-74 Season
"The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!" was a successful movie comedy of few years back, but the cry might be revived as a fitting omen for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra's 1973-74 season.
The programs set up by Vincent de Frank, the orchestra's music director and conductor, for its 22nd season have a strong dash of Russian dressing. Five Russian composers are represented by six works on the programs for the subscription season of seven pairs of concerts, with Tschaikovsky credited with the double. 
The only nationality which can match that total is the combined German-Austrian wing, also with six compositions from five composers. The double is the group goes to Beethoven. In the virtually complete programming, five other nationalities are included, with two British composers, two French, two Spanish, one Hungarian and one American. His is Samuel Barber whose "Knoxville: Summer of 1915" will be performed by the orchestra Nov. 18-19, with soprano Leontyne Price as soloist.

THE RUSSIAN representation includes Tschaikovsky's score for "The Nutcracker," to be presented Dec. 8-9 in conjunction with the Memphis Ballet Company.
But while its over all total is high, the Russian music does not include the centerpiece compositions which next season's soloists will perform. Lilit Gampel, the 13-year-old violin prodigy who will be the season's first soloist on Oct. 3-14, will play Max Brunch's Concerto in G Minor, Op. 26.
Miss Price will be sing some operatic arias, yet to be specified, in addition to the Barber work. Pianist Leonard Pennario will play Ravel's Concerto in G. Major on Jan. 12-13. Guitarist Christopher Parkening's Feb. 9-10 choices are Rodrigo's Concerto de Aranjuez for Guitar and Orchestra, and a group of unaccompanied solos yet to be announced.
The March 16-17 concerts will draw soloists from the orchestra's own first-chair ranks, with violinist Jown Brown Wiener, violist John Wehlan and tuba player Charles Schulz featured. The string duo will play Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante in E-Flat Major for violin and Viola, K. 364. The Vaughan Williams Concerto in F Minor for Bass Tuba will spotlight brass virtuoso Schulz.
THE SEASON'S finale on April 2021 will be Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, with soloist to be soprano Veronica Tyler, contralto Lili Chookasian, tenor Jerry Jennings and bass-baritone Simon Estes. The Memphis Symphony Chorus, directed by Sara Beth Causey, will also be featured.
De Frank will conduct the complete season, subscriptions for which are now being sold at Memphis Orchestra Society at 1503 Monroe. 
Tickets for individuals concerts will be available later, although their number and location will be restricted, judging from last season's subscription sale. Including some 600 student subscriptions, the season ticket sale for 1972-73 was 3,530. The pace of renewals and sales to new subscribers indicates the coming season could easily match that.

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10 The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Sunday, June 3, 1973 Russians Dominate Symphony's 1973-74 Season "The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!" was a successful movie comedy of few years back, but the cry might be revived as a fitting omen for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra's 1973-74 season. The programs set up by Vincent de Frank, the orchestra's music director and conductor, for its 22nd season have a strong dash of Russian dressing. Five Russian composers are represented by six works on the programs for the subscription season of seven pairs of concerts, with Tschaikovsky credited with the double. The only nationality which can match that total is the combined German-Austrian wing, also with six compositions from five composers. The double is the group goes to Beethoven. In the virtually complete programming, five other nationalities are included, with two British composers, two French, two Spanish, one Hungarian and one American. His is Samuel Barber whose "Knoxville: Summer of 1915" will be performed by the orchestra Nov. 18-19, with soprano Leontyne Price as soloist. THE RUSSIAN representation includes Tschaikovsky's score for "The Nutcracker," to be presented Dec. 8-9 in conjunction with the Memphis Ballet Company. But while its over all total is high, the Russian music does not include the centerpiece compositions which next season's soloists will perform. Lilit Gampel, the 13-year-old violin prodigy who will be the season's first soloist on Oct. 3-14, will play Max Brunch's Concerto in G Minor, Op. 26. Miss Price will be sing some operatic arias, yet to be specified, in addition to the Barber work. Pianist Leonard Pennario will play Ravel's Concerto in G. Major on Jan. 12-13. Guitarist Christopher Parkening's Feb. 9-10 choices are Rodrigo's Concerto de Aranjuez for Guitar and Orchestra, and a group of unaccompanied solos yet to be announced. The March 16-17 concerts will draw soloists from the orchestra's own first-chair ranks, with violinist Jown Brown Wiener, violist John Wehlan and tuba player Charles Schulz featured. The string duo will play Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante in E-Flat Major for violin and Viola, K. 364. The Vaughan Williams Concerto in F Minor for Bass Tuba will spotlight brass virtuoso Schulz. THE SEASON'S finale on April 2021 will be Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, with soloist to be soprano Veronica Tyler, contralto Lili Chookasian, tenor Jerry Jennings and bass-baritone Simon Estes. The Memphis Symphony Chorus, directed by Sara Beth Causey, will also be featured. De Frank will conduct the complete season, subscriptions for which are now being sold at Memphis Orchestra Society at 1503 Monroe. Tickets for individuals concerts will be available later, although their number and location will be restricted, judging from last season's subscription sale. Including some 600 student subscriptions, the season ticket sale for 1972-73 was 3,530. The pace of renewals and sales to new subscribers indicates the coming season could easily match that.