A Message from the Music Director
2009-2010

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the 71st season of the Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, and thank you for attending these concerts of great music by our 150 instrumentalists and singers, joined by superb soloists, composers and dancers in a glorious series of performances.

This season our offerings include opera, oratorio, choral, and symphonic music ranging from the early 1700s to the present.

For years, we have discussed presenting opera in concert and I am delighted that we will finally do so with an opening-season performance of one of the most beautiful works of all time—Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata, sung by a brilliant cast of singers led by soprano Diana McVey in the title role of Violetta.

In December, as a first, the Amherst Ballet will collaborate with us in a delightful holiday concert—“Holiday Magic”—featuring Christmas and Hanukkah music, scenes from Tchaikovsky’s beloved Nutcracker, selections from a new ballet—“Emily of Amherst,” and a “romantic reverie” ballet by Frederic Chopin.

Following an outreach performance—“Classical Countdown”—for over a thousand fourth- and fifth-graders in February, in March the Pioneer Valley Symphony and Chorus will take the stage for Johann Sebastian Bach’s magnificent Saint John Passion to celebrate the 325th anniversary of the composer’s birth, with the renowned young tenor Matthew Garrett featured as the Evangelist.

In May, we will conclude our season with “Musical Twins”, a program featuring the music of 20th Century composer William Schuman and 19th Century composer Robert Schumann, along with the dazzling chamber musicians Ambra and Fiona Albek of Switzerland, who will perform the world première of the Gemini Concerto, a new work composed especially for them by William Perry.

While the past year has presented challenges to organizations and individuals throughout our country, the Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra & Chorus remains committed to keeping “On Stage” for all its audiences. In light of the financial pressures of the past year, PVS is extraordinarily grateful to all of the corporate and individual contributors who have continued to provide extremely generous support to this organization.

By your strong backing and attendance at our concerts, you, our audience members, have shown that PVS continues to be a vital arts and cultural presenter in our communities. The excitement of live music truly remains one of life’s great joys. Please encourage your family and friends to attend PVS concerts. As long as you keep coming, we’ll keep playing!

Enjoy the music!

Paul Phillips