New Orchestra of Washington presents The Apotheosis of Dance March 28 & 29

The New Orchestra of Washington presents The Apotheosis of Dance: Piazzolla, Rodrigo, and Beethoven on Saturday, March 28 at 7 pm, at the First Congregational UCC in Washington, DC and on Sunday, March 29 at 7 pm at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington in Rockville, Maryland. Joining the New Orchestra of Washington in this innovative program is Japanese guitarist Soichi Muraji and guest concertmaster Izumi Kamata. The program features two movements from History of Tango by Ástor Piazzolla, Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquin Rodrigo, and Symphony No. 7 by Ludwig van Beethoven.
Written in 1986, Histoire du Tango is one of the most famous compositions by composer Ástor Piazzolla. It was Piazzolla’s life work to bring the tango from the dance halls of Argentina to the concert halls of Europe and America. . Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquin Rodrigo, arguably the most popular guitar concerto in the literature, is his best-known work and established his reputation as one of the most significant Spanish composers of the twentieth century. Written at the pinnacle of his career, Beethoven believed that his Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92, was one of his best works. The symphony is particularly known for its second movement, which was repeated at the premiere and continues to remain popular. Composer Richard Wagner referred to the intoxicating rhythms permeating the symphony as the “apotheosis of the dance,” and it is from Wagner that NOW named this program title.
Soichi Muraji began playing the guitar at the age of three and has won numerous competitions in Japan including the Junior Guitar Competition, Student Guitar Competition, Classical Guitar Competition, as well as the 41st Tokyo International Guitar Competition and the Spanish Guitar Competition. He came to the United States in 1999 and studied in Boston with Eliot Fisk at the New England Conservatory and with David Starobin and David Leisner at the Manhattan School of Music in New York. He was chosen to perform at the US-Japan 150-Year Anniversary Ceremony in Chicago and at New York City’s 2006 commemoration of September 11. He was a soloist with the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra on its Japanese tour as well as the Vienna Chamber Orchestra’s “Toyota Classics 2012 Asia Tours.” In 2014, Soichi released his latest album “Collage de Aranjuez” which includes four guitar concertos including Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez.
Izumi Kamata was born in Tokyo and started playing the violin at the age of four. She won the award for the 55th Japan Music Competition. Izumi received a scholarship to participate in the Aspen Music Festival for four years and the owner’s scholarship to attend the Juilliard School of Music. She won the first place in the Janapese American Association’s New York Japanese American contest and performed at Carnegie Hall. She has also performed in Boston and New York at Lincoln Center. After graduating from the Julliard, Izumi returned to Japan and since, has performed in numerous recitals, often appearing on NHK-FM’s “Saturday recital.” She also received a full scholarship to Kijiana Conservatory’s summer course in Siena, Italy. Izumi has performed at the Kurashiki Music Festival in Japan, with the Saito Kinen Orchestra and Tokyo Forest Opera and has served as guest concertmaster of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra. As a member of the Kioi Sinfonietta Tokyo, she actively performs as a soloist and a chamber musician in Japan.

Directed by Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, the New Orchestra of Washington is dedicated to making music relevant to new generations of audiences through virtuosic performances that combine a diversity of genres with fresh interpretations of classic works. Unconstrained by the structure or repertoire of traditional orchestras, NOW offers its audience the opportunity to get up close and personal with works usually reserved for symphony orchestras in cavernous halls. Founded in 2012 by rising stars of the Washington area’s professional community, NOW is a chamber symphony of extraordinary musicians whose skill embodies mutual respect and admiration for each other’s artistry and a common belief in the importance of revitalizing the role of music in our lives.

S&R Foundation is a non-profit organization created in 2000 to support talented individuals with great potential and high aspirations in the arts, sciences, and social entrepreneurship, especially those who are furthering international cultural collaboration. S&R Foundation presents the Overtures Concert Series which showcases emerging artists from around the world. The spring series runs from March 12-May 16 and features internationally renowned violinists Sayaka Shoji and Ryu Goto, up and coming vocalists Vanessa Vasquez and Michael Adams, and a special collaboration with the Library of Congress. More information can be found on the Overtures website: overturesseries.org

This program is presented in partnership with S&R Foundation and supported in part by the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, Maryland. The Apotheosis of Dance productions are official participants of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Tickets for The Apotheosis of Dance: Piazzolla, Rodrigo, and Beethoven may be purchased by calling 240-235-5088 or online at neworchestraofwashington.org Adult tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door, youth tickets, from ages 13 to 18, are $15, and children under 12 are free.

Saturday, March 28, 2015, at 7 pm
First Congregational UCC
945 G Street, NW Washington, DC 20001

Sunday, March 29, 2015, 7 pm
Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington
6125 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD 20852
This concert will be recorded by Classical WETA 90.0 FM for possible future broadcast.

The Apotheosis of Dance: Piazzolla, Rodrigo, and Beethoven
New Orchestra of Washington
Alejandro Herndandez-Valdez, conductor
Soichi Muraji, guitarist

PIAZZOLLA Two movements from History of Tango
RODRIGO Concierto de Aranjuez
Soichi Muraji, guitar
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7