Check this out from the Statesman Journal.

November 22, 2009

Oregon Symphony Pops' 'Music from the Movies' a multi-event

Local composer will give a preconcert talk at Mission Mill

By Barbara Curtin
Statesman Journal

Fans of movies and movie music have two reasons to mark their calendars for next week.

On Nov. 30, the Oregon Symphony Pops will play "Music From the Movies!" as part of the Oregon Symphony Association in Salem series. Conductor Jeff Tyzik and host Edmond Stone of allclassical.org will present music from film including "Spiderman," "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Harry Potter."

The evening before, on Nov. 29, Oscar-nominated composer and orchestrator Dave Metzger ("The Lion King") will share a behind-the-scenes look at composing for films. The South Salem resident knows every part of the process, from meeting with top directors to recording scores with a full orchestra.

Besides orchestrating the Broadway hit "The Lion King," Metzger has a long list of film credits, including orchestrations for "August Rush," "The Simpsons Movie," "Kung Fu Panda" and "Ice Age 3."

As a composer, his most recent project was the video game "Modern Warfare 2," released Nov. 10. He's one of several composers who provided what he describes as "cinematic, theatrical, big, sweeping score" on a tight deadline.

Metzger gets listed in the credits, but game players may barely notice his work, he said.

"In a game like this one, there are a lot of explosions, and the music tends to be in the background," he said.

Metzger grew up in Corvallis, graduating from Corvallis High School. The first "Star Wars" movie came out during his teens, launching his love affair with movie music.

He attended college and graduate school in Southern California, then worked there in TV and films for years. Eventually, he and his wife, Laura, moved back to Oregon and settled in Salem to raise their family (Eric, now 18, is a freshman at St. Olaf College in Minnesota, and Jeff, 15, is a freshman at Sprague). Laura is a physician at the Salem Clinic.

Metzger does much of his work in his southeast Salem studio, commuting to Hollywood when necessary.

Although he has a home theater, he still loves to go out for a movie. However, he admits that he sometimes pays more attention to the music than the film.

"There's something about going to theater with a great sound system," he said. "Some movies, the natural tendency is to zero in on the music, but if a score is done correctly, the music sets the mood, it doesn't distract from the story."

bcurtin@statesmanjournal.com or (503) 399-6699
Additional Facts
At a glance

PRE-CONCERT TALK: Featuring Dave Metzger, 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 29, Dye House, Mission Mill Museum, 1313 Mill St. SE. Cost: $5

OREGON SYMPHONY POPS CONCERT: "Music From the Movies!" 8 p.m. Nov. 30, Smith Auditorium, Willamette University. Cost: $26 to $54, tickets available from TicketsWest, (800) 992-8499 or www.TicketsWest.com; $5 student tickets may be available at 7 p.m. on concert night for those with ID.

"MEET ME FOR DINNER": Pre-concert dinner, 5:30 p.m., Nov. 30, Prudence Uncorked, 325 High St. SE. Cost: $25. Contact: (503) 362-0888 for reservations.

OREGON SYMPHONY PRESENTS BEETHOVEN’S FIFTH

The Oregon Symphony will continue its classical season in Salem on Monday,
November 2, 2009 at 8pm under the direction of guest conductor Claus Peter Flor. The concert will feature guest violinist Stefan Jackiw performing Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 4. In addition, the orchestra will perform Le Tombeau de Couperin by Ravel and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5.

While still quite young at just 24 years old, Mr. Jackiw is quite an accomplished musician. Having begun playing violin at the age of four, Mr. Jackiw holds a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University and an Artist Diploma from the New England Conservatory. In 2002, he was awarded the Avery Fisher Career Grant. Well known as a recitalist and chamber musician, Mr. Jackiw has performed with many of the world’s finest orchestras including: The Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony and the London Philharmonic. This will be Jackiw’s second performance with the Oregon Symphony.

Jackiw will be performing Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 4. Written by Mozart when he was a teenager in the service of the Salzberg court and later re-written for violinist Antonio Brunetti, this piece is technically demanding and lauded as the best of Mozart’s five concertos for violin.

Originally written by Ravel between 1914 and 1917 as a six part score for solo piano, four movements of Le Tombeau de Couperin were orchestrated by Ravel in 1919 and first performed in 1920. This has remained one of his most popular works to date.

Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is probably the best known of Beethoven’s works and one of the best known in all of European classical music. The simple four note motif that is signature of the piece has become engrained in popular culture in a variety of medias. This will be the first time the Oregon Symphony has performed this piece in Salem since 1998.

Prior to the concert Dr. Ike Nail will lead the informal yet informative lecture/discussion Take Ten in Cone Chapel. Take Ten will be moderated by David Holton. Dr. Nail is the Director of Bands at West Salem High School and Western Oregon University. He is the 2009 recipient of the Oregon Symphony Association in Salem’s Music Educator of the Year Award. Mr. Holton is a classically trained performing artist from the Salem area. Take Ten begins at 7pm and is free of charge.

Classical Tickets range in price from $25 to $43 and may be purchased at www.TicketsWest.com, by calling TicketsWest at 1-800-992-8499 or by visiting any Safeway TicketsWest outlet (a service fee will apply). Discounted tickets for groups of ten or more are available through the OSAS office at 503-364-0149. In addition, a limited number of general admission seats are available for $20 at the box office and a $5 student ticket fee is offered at the box office, the night of the concert. They are available for any student, any age, with ID. The box office at Smith Auditorium opens at 7 p.m. the night of the concert. Directions to Smith can be obtained at http://www.willamette.edu/wu_directions_print.pdf and attendees may park in any of the permit parking lots after 5:00 p.m

Oregon Symphony Association in Salem Receives Education Program Grants

The Oregon Symphony Association in Salem has recently been awarded two grants for their educational programs. The Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund awarded $3,000.00 and $7,500.00 came from the U.S. Bancorp Foundation. “These are wonderful gifts to the organization.” said Karin Holton, marketing and education director. “In times when school districts are struggling to maintain their music education programs, these gifts will allow the Oregon Symphony Association in Salem to continue to provide area students opportunities to explore, learn and enjoy music of all types. “

These monies will be used to further the music education program of the Oregon Symphony Association in Salem which includes an Annual Youth Concert for elementary and middle school students, the “Why I Like Music” essay contest for elementary through high school students, Master Coaching session for high school bands and orchestras, the Vernon L. Wiscarson Young Musicians’ Competition, and High School Outreach Programs.

Donna Loveland, OSAS board member, expressed her pleasure in receiving the Siletz Tribal grant by saying “OSAS last year implemented a High School Outreach Program to subsidize the cost of tickets and transportation for fifty high school students to attend a Season concert of the Oregon Symphony series performed in Salem (at Willamette University’s Smith Auditorium). The $3000 grant from Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund will allow OSAS to expand and diversify its educational outreach program to more high schools and students.”

In addition to these programs, the Oregon Symphony Association in Salem offers several options for student tickets at a discounted price and a variety of music education programs for adults. For more information about any of these programs contact the Oregon Symphony Association in Salem at (503) 364-0149 or by email at marketing@orsymphonysalem.org

The Oregon Symphony Association in Salem has an Exciting Season Planned

The Oregon Symphony has an exciting season planned for their 2009-2010 concert season with the Oregon Symphony Association in Salem. Whether you are a fan of classical music or the pops there is something for everyone and you won't want to miss a beat.

OREGON SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION IN SALEM 09/10 CLASSICAL SERIES

Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Bach, Beethoven and Bernstein
Guest artist Kirill Gerstein(piano) will join the Oregon Symphony under the direction of Carlos Kalmar in a performance of Bernstein's Symphony No. 2 for Piano and Orchestra "The Age of Anxiety" The Orchestra will also perform Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 4 and Beethoven's Symphony No. 7.

Monday, November 2, 2009
Beethoven's Symphony No. 5
Guest artist Benjamin Schmid (violin) will join guest conductor Claus Peter Flor and the Oregon Symphony orchestra in a performance of Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 4. The orchestra will also perform Ravel's Le Tombeau de Couperin and Beethoven's Symphony No. 5

Monday, February 22, 2010
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23
Guest pianist Angela Hewitt will join the Oregon Symphony under the direction of Gregory Vajda in a performance of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23. Also performed this evening by the orchestra will be Webern's Passacaglia and Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Pinchas Zukerman Plays Brahms
Performing as guest violinist and conductor, Pinchas Zukerman will be joined by his wife, guest cellist Amanda Forsyth performing Brahms' Concerto for Violin and Cello. The orchestra will also perform Jubilee Overture, composed by Malcom Forsyth (Amanda's father) and Beethoven's Symphony No. 1

Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Midori plays Sibelius
Oregon Symphony Music DirectorCarlos Kalmar will return to Salem to conduct the Oregon Symphony and guest violinist Midori as she performs Sibelius' Violin Concerto. Also performed by the orchestra will be Sibelius Canzonetta and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Mahler's Titan
Guest violinst Elina Vahala will join the Oregon Symphony for their season ending concert in Salem, performing Britten's Violin Concerto. The orchestra will also perform Lindberg's Purcell Variation and Mahler's Symphony No. 1, "The Titan."

OREGON SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION IN SALEM 09/10 POPS SERIES

Monday, October 12, 2009
The Great Gershwin
Who doesn't lovethe irresistable rhythms and melodies of the great Geroge Gershwin? The Oregon Symphony is joined by pianist Jon Nakamatsu for Rhapsody in Blue, and tenor Doug LaBrecque for a medley of great show tunes like They Can't Take That Away from Me, I Got Rhythm and Embraceable You.

Monday, November 30, 2009
Music from the Movies!
Follow up your Thanksgiving weekend with our start to the holiday season in a concert for the whole family. Conductor Jeff Tyzik has teamed up with popular radio host Edmund Stone of allclassical.org to create a program of grat movie music, including music from Spiderman, Pirates of the Carribean and Harry Potter.

Monday, April 19, 2010
Fabulous Forties!
Some of the greates American popular music is now over sixty years old-but who's counting? This is music that endures, captivating new generations of music lovers. From Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy to the music of Casablanca and Oklahoma!-by composers like Cole Porter and Leonard Bernstein-this is a program that goes On The Town with style and grace.

Visit www.orsymphonysalem.org for more information and Come Hear What We're Playing.

Joshua Bells WOWS Salem

The Oregon Symphony Association in Salem certainly knows how to end a season on a high note. Not only was it wonderful to have Maestro Carlos Kalmar in Salem, Joshua Bell’s interpretation of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, a piece he has been playing since he was 14, was absolutely sublime. With his facial expression and the beautiful rich tones of his violin he brought the audience into his performance; it truly was as if he was having a conversation through his violin. It is a rare to have the opportunity to watch a genius at work, but this was the one of those experiences for the concert audience.
The sold out house was quick to its feet at the end of the concerto encouraging an encore. Mr. Bell obliged with variations on the American folk song Yankee Doodle. Bell’s humor was apparent as he played through his encore and again had the audience on their feet.
Following the intermission, the Oregon Symphony returned to the stage to perform Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7. While the piece is quite lengthy and the audience was getting a little restless towards the end, it was a wonderful piece on which to end the season as it left the audience wanting to hear more. The orchestra performed the piece with such emotion and technical expertise that it was easy to envision the cathedral that Maestro Kalmar asked the audience to imagine at the beginning of the piece. The principal French horn player was absolutely outstanding in his solo lines and the majesty of the basses and low brass was incomparable.

Joshua Bell to Close Oregon Symphony Association in Salem Season

The Oregon Symphony Association in Salem sure knows how to end a season on a high note. An incredible and varied season of guest musicians will come to an end on May 19^th when the Oregon Symphony takes the stage at Smith Auditorium with Joshua Bell. Known as much for his movie star good looks as his virtuosity with the violin, Joshua Bell has made an indelible mark on the music world.

Bell has gained an entirely new and younger audience as classical music increases in popularity as a result of mp3 players. Once known as a child prodigy, Joshua Bell’s star continues to rise and the Oregon Symphony Association in Salem must be delighted that he will be performing in Salem. I have experienced Joshua Bell in concert in two previous appearances with the Oregon Symphony in Portland and each time I was awed by his remarkable way to speak to the audience through his violin.

I think the thing that impresses me the most about Bell is his ability to make classical music accessible to everyone. Whether a fan of classical music or not, Bell has a way of reaching you with his music. For more information about this concert or the Oregon Symphony Association in Salem visit www.orsymphonysalem.org, for tickets visit www.ticketswest.com. Visit www.artsmartsalem.org for a listing of events for the current month and remember, “There’s Something to do in Salem”.