The NRO celebrates its 30-year residency in Breckenridge, two world-premiere commissions, and the return of world-renowned violinist, Midori.
The National Repertory Orchestra (NRO) is thrilled to announce the 2023 Summer Music Festival “Music Lives Here!” with Music Director Michael Stern, June 24 through August 12, 2023.
Founded in 1960 in Estes Park, Colorado, by Walter Charles, the NRO will celebrate its 30th year in Breckenridge. This season, the orchestra will welcome 80 young professional musicians along with extraordinary guest conductors JoAnn Falletta, Jeffrey Kahane, Ken-David Masur, Tania Miller, Jason Seber and Carl Topilow, NRO Music Director Laureate.
The programming thread artistically explores The Immigrant Experience and how it has enhanced the nation. “The importance of new and diverse voices in the United States cannot be understated,” said Michael Stern, NRO Music Director. “Composers like Bartók, Stravinsky and Rachmaninoff (who will have a 150th birthday on April 1) left their native countries to seek refuge, creative opportunity and artistic freedom. In turn, they influenced generations of composers, right up to our time, several of whom we will feature this summer at the festival.”
To pay homage to The Immigrant Experience, the NRO will perform the world-premiere commission Transplanted Seeds. “We have the privilege to play a new work by my good friend, composer Chen Yi,” said Stern. “At the request of our Board of Trustees President Pam Piper Yeung, and in honor of her husband, Dr. Kai Yeung, Chen Yi has created a musical journey, especially for the NRO. Transplanted Seeds became the impetus for our 2023 season theme, incorporating the significance of musicians coming to America.”
Other featured living composers include NRO Alumnus David Dzubay, Gabriela Lena Frank, Vivian Fung, Adolphus Hailstork, Timothy Higgins, Gabriel Kahane, Quinn Mason, Ivan Enrique Rodríguez, Roberto Sierra and Christopher Theofanidis.
The festival will also highlight nine Masterworks performances with music by Samuel Barber, Béla Bartók, Ludwig van Beethoven, Paul Dukas, Antonín Dvořák, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Gustav Mahler, Sergei Prokofiev, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Maurice Ravel, Dmitri Shostakovich, Richard Strauss, Igor Stravinsky and more.
The inaugural concert of the season will be “Opening Night – 30 years in Breckenridge.” To commemorate the National Repertory Orchestra’s first historic performance at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge three decades ago, patrons will hear the world-premiere commission Ridgeline by NRO Alumnus David Dzubay, who was a trumpet fellow in 1988 and 1989. Dzubay’s Fanfare for Orchestra was performed at the opening concert in June 1993.
Midori by Nigel Parry
The NRO is especially delighted to announce the return of Midori, one of the most outstanding violinists of our time. Audiences can see the concert “Midori Serenade” at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge and Gates Concert Hall at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts in Denver. Midori will perform Leonard Bernstein’s Serenade (after Plato’s Symposium) with the NRO and conductor Michael Stern.
National Repertory Orchestra musicians will continue to participate in complimentary performances throughout the community. Free full orchestral shows will include “NRO on the Lake – Music from the Movies” at Dillon Amphitheater, the “Fourth of July Spectacular” at Rainbow Park in Silverthorne, and the “Free Family and Kids Concert” at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge.
In addition to a robust orchestral schedule, the NRO will offer over 40 free interactive education and community engagement performances throughout Summit County and beyond. Most NRO rehearsals will also be open to the public. All are welcome!
Other notable concerts are “Topilow Pops!” and “Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ in Concert” with Hans Zimmer’s Oscar®-winning musical score performed live to the film.
See the Season at A Glance here.
[fusion_fontawesome icon=”fa-file-download fas” size=”” flip=”” rotate=”” spin=”no” link=”https://nromusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/NRO-2023-SEASON-ANNOUNCEMENT.pdf” linktarget=”_self” alignment_medium=”” alignment_small=”” alignment=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” sticky_display=”normal,sticky” class=”” id=”” margin_top=”” margin_right=”” margin_bottom=”” margin_left=”” iconcolor=”” hue=”” saturation=”” lightness=”” alpha=”” iconcolor_hover=”” circle=”” bg_size=”-1″ circlecolor=”” circlecolor_hover=”” circlebordersize=”” circlebordercolor=”” circlebordercolor_hover=”” border_radius_top_left=”” border_radius_top_right=”” border_radius_bottom_right=”” border_radius_bottom_left=”” icon_hover_type=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_color=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_delay=”0″ animation_offset=””][/fusion_fontawesome] Download the Press Release with the complete schedule.
Photo: Allison Taylor, NRO 2021 (left) and Midori (center) with Music Director Michael Stern by Elaine Collins