The Linfield Chamber Orchestra will present the first concert of its 2012-13 Season on Sunday, Dec. 2, at 2 p.m. in the Richard and Lucille Ice Auditorium in Melrose Hall at Linfield College.
The matinee concert will feature baritone Anton Belov, who will perform with the LCO under the direction of music director Michael Gesme in specially selected works by Ibert, Handel and Mozart. Joan Paddock will also be featured on trumpet. The orchestra will perform music by Ravel and de Falla.
Tickets will be offered at the special price of $10, available at the door. Linfield students are admitted free with student ID.
Belov, a Linfield College professor and Juilliard-trained baritone, has been a featured soloist at Carnegie Hall and elsewhere, and has been praised by the New York Times for stealing the show with his “rich, mellifluous voice” and “soulful pathos.” The pathos comes in part from his upbringing. Belov was born in Moscow, Russia, the only child of a poet father who set the stage for Belov’s opera career by infusing him with a love of literature, and a mother whose translation work gave him an ease with language. Belov sang soprano in Moscow choirs before immigrating to the U.S. as a teenager. Belov now sings in five languages and believes that music begins with poetry.
Belov has appeared with opera companies throughout the United States and has earned critical acclaim for his portrayals of characters as diverse as Count di Luna, Don Giovanni, Escamillo, Count Almaviva, Doctor Malatesta and Eugene Onegin. During the upcoming season, Belov is scheduled to appear with the Oregon Symphony, Portland Chamber Orchestra, Tacoma Opera, Portland Opera, Willamette Master Chorus and the Newport and Huntsville Symphony Orchestras. The first-place winner of eight vocal competitions, he holds a bachelor of music degree from the New England Conservatory, an Artist Diploma and master of music degree from the Juilliard School, and a doctorate of music degree from Boston University.
The 2012-13 concert series represents the LCO’s grand finale season, a special celebration of inspiring music, talented musicians and a dedicated classical music audience. Additional LCO performances, held in the Richard and Lucille Ice Auditorium in Melrose Hall, include:
• Friday, Feb. 15, at 8 p.m., the highly acclaimed San Francisco Guitar Quartet will be featured in a guest artist concert with music from a rich background of traditions, including classical, world and improvisation.
• Friday, March 15, at 8 p.m., Linfield student winners of the LCO Concerto Competition will perform with the orchestra. Maestro Gesme will conduct a Mozart overture and the renowned Symphony No. 2 by Beethoven.
Linfield Lively Arts
Since its inception in 1991, the Linfield Chamber Orchestra has provided Linfield students the opportunity to perform alongside seasoned musicians. Although 2012-13 marks the LCO’s final season, this tradition will continue with Linfield Lively Arts, a music series that will offer even greater opportunities for students to work directly with professional musicians. As with the LCO, the new music series will also provide local classical music lovers the opportunity to hear outstanding musicians in live performance.
Beginning in 2013-14, Linfield and the Department of Music will host a new series of classical music concerts featuring performances by a variety of professional musicians who will also serve in residencies with Linfield music students. Each group will be presented in “Meet the Musician” sessions, open rehearsals or master classes.
Ensemble Education, a new curricular initiative paired with the Linfield Lively Arts music series, will put students in control of their groups. Guided by professional music mentors, students will plan and manage chamber music groups in repertoire, rehearsals, performance, publicity and outreach activities for the college and community. Mentor musicians will play alongside select student peer musicians in ensembles that will include string quartets, wind and brass quintets, and chamber music with voice and piano.
For more information, call 503-883-2275 or visit www.linfield.edu/arts.
