Press Release: Susanna Perry Gilmore and Members of the Omaha Symphony Shine in Bach and Vivaldi

Final Orchestral Concerts of the Fall Feature Works from Baroque Giants
Works from Martinů and Arvo Pärt Round Out Program

OMAHA, Neb., Nov. 16, 2020—Audiences are in for a treat as core members of the Omaha Symphony take the stage at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Holland Performing Arts Center Peter Kiewit Concert Hall to perform the works of baroque composers Bach and Vivaldi. Unlike the sweeping walls of sound one hears when the symphony performs Brahms or Bruckner or Mahler, this performance will showcase a fraction of the Omaha Symphony as they perform small, virtuosic works as “an ensemble of soloists.”

The pillars of the program are, as one might guess, major works from two composers who saw the transition from the baroque period into the classical: J.S. Bach and Antonio Vivaldi. Bach’s majestic Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major for nine solo strings and continuo and Vivaldi’s Concerto No. 4 in F minor, “Winter,” bookend the program. Audiences will also enjoy Bach’s Trio Sonata in C minor for Flute, Violin, Cello, & Harpsichord, as well as works from the Neoclassical Czech composer Bohuslav Martinů and the trailblazing Estonian composer Arvo Pärt.

Omaha Symphony concertmaster Susanna Perry Gilmore will appear as the featured soloist on Vivaldi’s Concerto No. 4 in F minor, “Winter.” Joining her on the program for this work and others will be Omaha Symphony musicians Ann Beebe, Keith Plenert, and Kevin Tompkins (violin), Thomas Kluge, Brian Sherwood, and Bozhidar Shopov (viola), Paul Ledwon, Greg Clinton, and Sam Pierce Ruhland (cello), Nate Olson (bass), Maria Harding (flute), and Christi Zuniga (harpsichord).

Program:
BACH: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3

MARTINŮ: Promenades for Violin, Flute, & Harpsichord

ARVO PÄRT: Da pacem Domine

BACH: Trio Sonata in C minor for Flute, Violin, Cello, & Harpsichord

VIVALDI: Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, "Winter"

During a visit to Brandenburg, Johann Sebastian Bach met the Margrave of Brandenburg, who demanded that Bach compose a set of instrumental music for his players. It is said that the virtuosic writing of the Brandenburg Concerti that Bach returned two years later was never performed at Brandenburg, as it was beyond the ability of the court’s ensemble. Audiences will notice that the piece employs each player as a soloist and an ensemble member, as the work vacillates between ripieno (full ensemble) and concertino (smaller group of soloist) sections.

Vivaldi’s famous of concerti collectively known as The Four Seasons remain some of the most popular of the more than four hundred he wrote. Inspired by a set of anonymous sonnets, Vivaldi translated poetry into descriptive, programmatic music. These concerti are more similar to what modern-day audiences will recognize as a concerto than Bach’s Brandenburg set – Vivaldi’s feature solo violin, while the preceding work from Bach is the perfect example of the “Concerto Grosso,” which was popular during the Baroque period. Susanna Perry Gilmore will both lead the ensemble and be featured as its soloist for Vivaldi’s Concerto No. 4 in F minor, “Winter.”

Tickets for Bach and Vivaldi are $25. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.omahasymphony.org, through the Ticket Omaha app, or by calling Ticket Omaha at 402.345.0606. Performance dates are subject to change. In the event of performance changes or cancellations, the Omaha Symphony will email ticket holders to inform them of new dates and ticketing options. Patrons with questions may email ticketomaha@o-pa.org. The Omaha Symphony also regularly posts performance updates at omahasymphony.org, along with the Omaha Symphony’s Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages. Patrons can sign up for the latest updates at omahasymphony.org.

Response to COVID-19: Health and Safety Precautions

Performances at the Holland Performing Arts Center feature physically distanced seating and will only be seated at a maximum of 30 percent capacity. Masks are required at indoor Omaha Symphony performances. The following changes have been implemented within the venue:

Enhanced Cleaning & Sanitation - Electrostatic technology disinfecting large common areas, enhanced sanitizing of high touch surfaces with hospital grade disinfectant and hand sanitizing stations throughout the venue
Heating and Cooling System – Upgrades to air handling units includes bipolar ionization filtering out viruses through ventilation
Staff Precautions – Staff and volunteers are required to wear face masks and receive temperature checks. Anyone with a temperature above 100° or experiencing symptoms will not be permitted onsite.
Touchless Experience - Faster and more efficient entry into the venues with touchless security checks, ticket scanning and cashless transactions

Find the most up to date public health information at omahasymphony.org/public-health.

The Omaha Symphony is a non-profit organization that presents more than 100 live orchestral performances from September through June. In addition to Masterworks, Symphony Pops, Symphony Rocks, Movies, Symphony Joslyn, and Family series concerts, the Omaha Symphony’s nationally recognized education and community engagement programs touch the lives of more than 40,000 people each year. For tickets or information regarding the Omaha Symphony, call 402-345-0606 or visit omahasymphony.org. Programs, artists, dates, times, prices, and availability are subject to change.

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