Let’s welcome spring tonight at The Paramount! This evening’s program presents two beloved masterworks:  Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony (from the 19th century), Barber’s Violin Concerto (from the 20th century), and by Johanna Doderer, her Ritus (from this century!) heard tonight in its U.S. premiere. It’s a mesmerizing example of the organic and evolving soundscapes of this noted contemporary Austrian composer.   

We are delighted to welcome to the podium Louis Lohraseb, the Italian-Iranian conductor swiftly winning acclaim for opera in the cities of Berlin, Dresden, Hamburg, Los Angeles, and on other international stages. “Lohraseb made an auspicious debut.  Standing tall, he conducted a fine performance that included much colorful orchestral playing and flowed naturally and urgently from scene to scene,” reported Los Angeles Classical Voice. He is also a noted pianist in chamber music and vocal recital.

Performing Samuel Barber’s breathtaking Violin Concerto is Amaryn Olmeda, who turns just 16 next week. The Strad reports that this “young musician shows why she has garnered the word ‘prodigy’.” She currently studies at the New England Conservatory of Music, and previously studied here at the San Francisco Conservatory. Tonight marks her third appearance with the Oakland Symphony though her first on the Paramount stage. She debuted under Michael Morgan’s baton at the age of 10 with the orchestra for students in the OUSD schools and again on the Summer Stage in 2022.

The Oakland Symphony’s 2024-25 season has just been announced. Current subscribers have received their renewal packet.  Tonight is the deadline to renew your subscription if you haven’t done so. You may renew in the lobby at intermission. 

And if you would like to join our subscriber family a brochure on the new season is available in the lobby. There’s a great reason to subscribe before May 17: you’ll receive a FREE bonus concert: Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony!

So please renew, or please subscribe, and please enjoy tonight’s performance by your Oakland Symphony.

Sincerely,

Dr. Mieko Hatano,
Executive Director

THE PASSION OF TCHAIKOVSKY

Friday, March 22, 2024 | 8pm
Paramount Theatre, Oakland

PROGRAM

The 2023-2024 Season of Oakland Symphony is generously funded in part by the East Bay Music Fund at the East Bay Community Foundation; the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; and supported by the Oakland City Council and funded by the City of Oakland’s Cultural Funding Program.