Syracuse Symphony Orchestra to present Brahms & Dvorak in SU’s Setnor Auditorium on Feb. 6

Syracuse Symphony Orchestra to present Brahms & Dvorak in SU’s Setnor Auditorium on Feb. 6February 03, 2003Cheryl Abramscabrams@syracusesymphony.org

The acclaimed 22-year-old cellist Alisa Weilerstein will perform Antonin Dvorak’s tour de force, “Concerto in B Minor for Cello and Orchestra,” Op. 104, when the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra presents “Brahms & Dvorak” in SU’s Rose and Jules R. Setnor Auditorium in Crouse College at 8 p.m. Feb. 6. The concert, presented by SU’s Arts Adventure, is free and open to the public.

The SSO, under the direction of Daniel Hege, will also feature the world premiere of Joseph Downing’s “Morning at Ten-Mile Point.” Downing is the director of the Rose, Jules R. and Stanford S. Setnor School of Music, College of Visual and Performing Arts. Downing’s compositions have received numerous awards and he has participated in several “Meet the Composer” projects. “Morning at Ten-Mile Point” was written following a summer stay in a cottage at Ten-Mile Point on the east side of Skaneateles Lake. The composer originally conceived it as the inner movement of a larger work, which was never written.

The concert will also feature Johannes Brahms’ spirited “Symphony No. 3 in F Major,” Op. 90, considered to be one of the composer’s most popular works.

Weilerstein began playing the cello at age four and performed her first public concert six months later. Since then, she has won increasing recognition for playing that combines natural virtuosity with impassioned musicianship. She received an Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2000, and was selected for two prestigious young artists programs-the ECHO (European Concert Hall Organization) Rising Stars recital series and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Chamber Music Society Two. She has also released a recording on EMI Classics’ Debut series.

The Dvorak “Cello Concerto” is perhaps the most popular work in the classical cello repertoire. Written during the composer’s second visit to the United States, the work reveals a longing for his homeland.

The Syracuse Symphony’s 75-member Orchestra, led by internationally acclaimed Music Director Daniel Hege, performs more than 200 full-orchestra and chamber ensemble concerts throughout Central and Northern New York, reaching more than 225,000 audience members during its 38-week season. The SSO will perform in Carnegie Hall on April 5, 2003. For more information about the SSO visit SyracuseSymphony.org.