The Beatles 50th Anniversary of U.S. Debut, and WQXR's Timeline "The Beatles Meet Classical Music"

From our Music Director, Salvatore Di Vittorio:

9, February 2014 - New York

WQXR 105.9FM, New York's leading classical music radio station, has published a very interesting timeline surrounding The Beatles' 50th anniversary of their U.S. debut (on February 9th).

WQXR "The Beatles Meet Classical Music"

I felt compelled to write about this event since, as a composer, I am often confronted by friends, family and colleagues especially about the nature of (and even the debate over musical quality) in composition - including songwriting.

Why are The Beatles still alive and a part of our musical culture? Posterity (for the most part) excludes mediocrity. If John Lennon and Paul McCartney were born during the Renaissance period, they would have been great polyphonic composers. If you study music history you can actually trace and make connections between their music and English Renaissance music. I was therefore not at all surprised to see Paul McCartney move into classical music later on in life. (This comes from a composer who began his first few years in composition as a songwriter.)

Finally, The Beatles' sound and overall production was enhanced by the vision and the orchestral arrangements of their brilliant producer George Martin, a classical composer. No George Martin, no Beatles - at least as we know and appreciate the group today.

I hope that we continue to remind young students and musicians alike (including professional musicians) about this sort of thing when they hear silly comments about the possible death of classical music.

Speaking of English music: Chamber Orchestra of New York will feature a program of English music entitled "To English Masters" on Thursday, May 29, 2014 at 7:30pm at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. The program will include first printed editions by Oxford University Press of rediscovered early works of Ralph Vaughan Williams (in collaboration with the Vaughan Williams Trust in London) alongside rare works of William Walton (in collaboration with the Walton Trust) and Benjamin Britten's Simple Symphony in honor of the Britten centennial anniversary.

To English Masters at Weill/Carnegie Hall on May 29th

Our next concert is Thursday, February 13th at Weill Hall/Carnegie Hall:
The Italian Baroque at Weill/Carnegie Hall on February 13th

For more information, please visit our Concert Season webpage:
2013/2014 Concert Season

2013 End of Year Giving - Show Your Support!

2013 End of Year Giving: Show Your Support for the
Chamber Orchestra of New York and its Musicians!

To our concert attendees who have experienced the excitement and innovative programming of the Chamber Orchestra of New York, we appreciate your support and ask you to consider a year end gift.  

Read More

 

Vote for Respighi on WQXR's 2013 Classical Countdown!

Vote for Respighi on WQXR's 2013 Classical Countdown!

Vote Now! Your favorite classical music! Until December 22nd, WQXR 105.9 Classical Radio in New York is asking for votes of people's favorite classical music works and their composers. Cast your vote here: http://www.wqxr.org/#!/story/wqxrs-2013-classical-countdown/

We have posted some of our own favorite Ottorino Respighi pieces, and hope you do as well:

Pines of Rome
Fountains of Rome
The Birds
Trittico Botticelliano (Botticelli Pictures)
Rossiniana Suite
Violin Concerto (in A Major) 

Happy Holidays!
Chamber Orchestra of New York

Christmas Concert at St. Agnes Church (near Grand Central), December 12, 2013 at 6pm

Christmas Concert at Church of St. Agnes (near Grand Central) on Thursday, December 12, 2013 at 6pm.  

Chamber Orchestra of New York and Schola Cantorum of St. Agnes Church

For more information and to purchase tickets: 
http://www.chamberorchestraofnewyork.org/concert_season_Christmas_Benefit_Saint_Agnes.html

PROGRAM:
Mozart - Ave Verum Corpus, K. 618
Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on Greensleeves
Adam - Cantique de Noel (O Holy Night)
Corelli - Concerto Grosso in G Minor, Op. 6, No. 8 "Christmas"
Handel - Messiah, H.W.V. 56 (Selections)

plus festive works by William Byrd, Herbert Howells and Christmas carols

GUEST ARTISTS:
Schola Cantorum of St. Agnes Church
James D. Wetzel, Organist & Choirmaster

Church of St. Agnes (across from Grand Central Terminal)
143 E. 43rd Street (between Lexington & Third Avenues)
New York, NY 10017

All proceeds benefit the Church of St. Agnes.

Tickets include the Concert & Reception

General Admission:
Single Tickets, $40
Pairs of Tickets, $70 ($35/each)
*Tickets purchased in advance will be held at will-call.
*Tickets may also be purchased at the door.

Program Notes:
Join us for a festive Christmas Concert at St. Agnes Church featuring some of your favorite holiday music for orchestra, chorus and chorus with orchestra. Schola Cantorum of St. Agnes Church and Organist/Choirmaster James D. Wetzel join forces with the Chamber Orchestra of New York in a delightful program including Mozart's Ave Verum Corpus, Corelli's Christmas Concerto, Vaughan Williams's Fantasia on Greensleeves and selections from Handel's Messiah. The evening will conclude with Christmas Carols such as O Holy Night and Silent Night.

A post-concert reception will follow the musical program. 

For more information, please contact us at info@chamberorchestraofnewyork.org.

Happy Birthday to our Maestro Salvatore Di Vittorio (October 22nd)

Happy Birthday to our Music Director/Conductor, Italian composer Salvatore Di Vittorio, born in Palermo, Italy on October 22, 1967.

We honor his tireless leadership of the Chamber Orchestra of New York, and his achievements as a composer following commissions from the Respighi family archive and leading orchestras in Italy.

Here is his latest symphony, Sinfonia No. 3 "Templi di Sicilia", world premiered under his baton with Palermo Philharmonic's Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana on November 2012 at the Teatro Politeama Garibaldi of Palermo: 

http://bit.ly/16uxjgw

Columbus Day Weekend in New York - Carnegie Hall concert with Chamber Orchestra of New York, October 12, 2013

Looking for something to do this Columbus Day weekend? 

Come see a concert at Carnegie Hall with the Chamber Orchestra of New York tomorrow night, October 12th at 7:30pm.

"From Austrian, American Voices" featuring the famous Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber, Mountain Suite (World Premiere) by Ezra Donner, Italian Serenade by Hugo Wolf, and Piano Concerto No. 12 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. 

The concert features our guest artists as the Winners of the first annual Respighi Prize competition: Brazilian pianist Victor Cayres de Mendonca (Soloist) and American composer Ezra Donner (Composition).

Click Here to Buy Tickets!

A Mother's Day Gift

Happy Mother's Day! Treat Mom with tickets to a concert at Weill Hall/Carnegie Hall on Thursday, May 16th at 7:30pm, and enjoy a glass of champagne with us!

"Petite Gems", our final concert of the season includes Respighi's Trittico Botticelliano, Haydn's Cello Concerto in C Major, Verdi's La Traviata Prelude to Act III, and Wagner's Siegfried Idyll. Tickets selling fast! Purchase here: http://bit.ly/128c3vF