ARTIS—NAPLES TO LAUNCH THREE-YEAR RESIDENCY
WITH THE VIENNA PHILHARMONIC
The Orchestra Makes Its Florida Debut in March 2016 With Two Concert Programs Conducted by Valery Gergiev
Annual Spring Residency to Comprise Concerts and Outreach Initiatives
March 29, 2015, Naples, FL — Artis—Naples CEO and President Kathleen van Bergen announced today a three-year residency with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, which will consist of six performances over the span of the residency as well as community partnerships and educational initiatives led by members of the orchestra beginning in the 2015-16 season. The residency will bring the venerated orchestra to Florida for the first time for performances at Artis—Naples, home of The Baker Museum and the Naples Philharmonic, on March 1 and 2, 2016.
“Sharing the impeccable musicianship of this celebrated ensemble with our community is one of the greatest partnerships we’ve established for Artis—Naples,” Ms. van Bergen said. “It’s a rare and exciting opportunity to present an orchestra steeped in European tradition and history. This residency will have a lasting impact on our community and reinforce our city as a cultural destination. Hosting an orchestra of such great stature and reputation exemplifies the artistic excellence for which Artis—Naples has become known.”
The Vienna Philharmonic, led by Valery Gergiev, will launch its residency in the spring of 2016 with two concerts. On March 1, the orchestra will perform Richard Wagner’s Overture to The Flying Dutchman, Debussy’s evocative La mer and Ravel’s adaptation of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. The second evening features selections from Wagner’s Parsifal paired with Tchaikovsky’s Manfred, a unique programmatic symphony composed between his fourth and fifth symphonies. Over 100 musicians will be on the Hayes Hall stage.
“It will be our great pleasure to come to Naples, sharing our music, reaching out to audiences, and interacting with the community,” said Harald Krumpöck, managing director of the Vienna Philharmonic. “As our motto, taken from Beethoven, says, ‘from the heart, to the heart’.”
Ms. van Bergen continued, “As Southwest Florida’s premier arts organization, Artis—Naples is committed to presenting the highest quality music performances and art collections. Two years ago we appointed esteemed conductor Andrey Boreyko as Music Director and he is taking the Naples Philharmonic’s level of music-making to new heights, and we currently have on exhibit in the Baker Museum Masterpieces from the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris – the first such exhibition in the U.S. in more than 40 years. The Vienna Philharmonic residency in Naples is yet another step in our effort to bring the best cultural arts of the world to our community.”
During each residency, members of the Vienna Philharmonic will interact with the community in a variety of initiatives ranging from public master classes with members of the Naples Philharmonic Youth Orchestra to lectures on Viennese culture and traditions as part of Artis—Naples’ popular Lifelong Learning continuing education series, which has more than 7,500 participants each year. Further initiatives may include panel discussions and symposia to be announced at a later date.
VIENNA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
There is perhaps no other musical ensemble more closely associated with the history and tradition of European classical music than the Vienna Philharmonic.
Since its inception by Otto Nicolai in 1842, the fascination that the orchestra has held for prominent composers and conductors, as well as for audiences worldwide, is based not only on a homogenous musical style carefully bequeathed from one generation to the next, but also on its unique history and structure. The foremost ruling body of the organization is the orchestra itself.
In accordance with Philharmonic statutes, only a member of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra can become a member of the Vienna Philharmonic. Before joining the Philharmonic, one must first audition for a position with the State Opera Orchestra and then successfully complete a three year period before becoming eligible to submit an application for membership in the association of the Vienna Philharmonic.
The Vienna Philharmonic performs approximately 110 concerts every season at home, presents Vienna Philharmonic Weeks in New York and Japan, and has participated in the Salzburg Festival since 1922. The orchestra makes yearly guest appearances in leading concert halls and festivals worldwide, presents the New Year’s Concert, which is broadcast in over 90 countries, and presents the free Summer Night Concert Schönbrunn, attracting up to 100,000 people annually.
In 2014, the VPO received the coveted Birgit Nilsson Prize for outstanding achievements and major contributions to the field of opera/concert, and the Herbert von Karajan Music Price 2014. For over a decade, the VPO has given benefit concerts supporting humanitarian causes around the world and has served as an official Goodwill Ambassador for IIASA (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis) since 2012.
ARTIS—NAPLES
Home of The Baker Museum and the Naples Philharmonic, Artis—Naples is Southwest Florida’s premier arts and cultural destination with more than 300 concerts, performances, exhibitions and education events for patrons of all ages from September to July each year. Led by CEO and President Kathleen van Bergen and Music Director Andrey Boreyko, the organization’s mission to create and present world-class visual and performing arts provides for a broad array of artistic and educational opportunities for the entire community.
THE NAPLES PHILHARMONIC
The Naples Philharmonic performs more than 140 orchestral and chamber music concerts, as well as opera and ballet, education, community and special event concerts annually in the 1,425-seat Hayes Hall, the 283-seat Daniels Pavilion and around the Southwest Florida region. Founded in 1982 as the Naples-Marco Philharmonic the orchestra performed four concerts in its first season. In 1989 the orchestra moved to its current home in Naples, and since then the ensemble has grown in scope, size and artistic impact.
In his second season as Music Director, Boreyko continues to expand the repertoire and redouble the orchestra’s dedication to world-class performances. In 2009 Jack Everly was named Principal Pops Conductor and continues today in that role bringing pops performances that celebrate music in its many forms.
THE BAKER MUSEUM
The Baker Museum is one of the foremost fine arts museums in Southwest Florida. The museum hosts several traveling exhibitions annually to complement installations of works from its permanent collections. Now celebrating its 15th anniversary, the museum is dedicated to stewardship and scholarship, generating travelling exhibitions from both its permanent collections and outside sources.
