New England String Ensemble Announces 2007-2008 Season

Highlights of the season include performances by Irina Muresanu, Coro Allegro and Judith Ingolfsson

Boston, MA, July 12, 2007 --(PR.com)-- New England String Ensemble and music director Federico Cortese announces the 2007-2008 Season, celebrating the history, spirit and emotions of the string repertoire. From the rich Magyar history of Hungary to the evocative Nordic Landscape, this season promises repertoire that is elegant, ethereal, robust, and dramatic.

During NESE's 14th season Federico Cortese will conduct four subscription programs in Boston's Jordan Hall and the Rogers Center for the Arts in North Andover. 45-Minutes prior to each concert and open to all ticket holders will be a "Conversation with Cortese". Led by Maestro Cortese and joined by featured artists and special guests these interactive discussions will give audience members insight into the programs, composers and historical context.

The season kicks off with "Hungarian Dance" (Sept. 20 & 23) where the elegance of Western Europe and traditional folk styles share the stage as New England String Ensemble performs works of Hungarian composers Hubay, Bartok and Kurtag. International award winning violinist Irina Muresanu, whose performances have been cited in the Boston Globe’s "Best of Classical Music" list, joins the orchestra for both the Hubay “Csardas” and Sarasate's “Zigeunerweisen”. Brahms opens and closes the program celebrating the great influence the traditional music of this region had on his life. Joining NESE as Honorary Patrons for the evening will be Consul Gábor Garai, Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Hungary for New England as well as Andres Cser, President of the Hungarian Society of Massachusetts.

Brahms: Hungarian Dances
Hubay: Csardas
Irina Muresanu, violin
Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen
Irina Muresanu, violin
Bartok: Divertimento
Kurtag: Ligatura
Brahms: Sextet in Bb

Cortese and the orchestra embrace the holidays with "Sacred and Profane" (Dec. 1 & 2) presenting great works by Haydn, Pärt, Debussy and Strauss. The music of Joseph Haydn and Arvo Pärt invoke spiritual and mystical atmospheres, while the Debussy voyages from earthy to otherworldly. Featured artists for the evening include the 2007-2008 NESE Flute Competition winner, Boston's acclaimed LGBT chorus Coro Allegro and harpist Krysten Keches. The Strauss Metamorphosen, a mesmerizing work born in the ashes of World War II, closes the concert with a yearning for a better world.

Debussy: Danses sacre et profane
Flute Competition Showcase
Haydn: Little Organ Mass
Coro Allegro
Pärt: Festina Lente
Strauss: Metamorphosen for 23 solo strings

"Winter Contrast" (Feb. 8 & 9) will take the audience on a thrilling winter ride filled with drama and excitement. The program is a story of contrasts beginning with Mozart's fresh and optimistic Divertimento contrasted by a Lutoslawski masterpiece filled with tension and mystery. Featured artist will be the 2007-08 NESE String Competition winner. The performance will conclude with Schubert's dramatically powerful yet achingly beautiful "Death and the Maiden".

Mozart: Divertimento in D
Lutoslawski: Preludes and Fugue for solo strings
String Competition showcase
Schubert: Death and the Maiden

The season culminates with an emotional journey through the "Nordic Landscape" (April 12 &13) beginning on the picturesque coastline of Norway with Grieg’s “Holberg Suite”, journeying through each country of the Nordic region and ending in the splendor of the archipelago in Sweden with Wirén’s “Serenade for Strings”. Charismatic Icelandic violinist Judith Ingolfsson joins the orchestra for Haflidi Hallgrimsson’s “Poemi”. Honorary Chairman for the 14th Season finale will be Norwegian 4-time gold medal Olympic speed skater, Johann Olav Koss. Honorary Patrons for the evening will be each of the five Nordic Consuls.

Grieg: Holberg Suite
Haflioî Hallgr¡msson: Poemi
Judith Ingolfsson, violin
Sibelius: Humoresque
Nielsen: Little Suite
Wirén: Serenade for Strings

NESE Ticket Information

Subscriptions and individual tickets are now on sale through New England String Ensemble’s website www.newenglandstringensemble.org and through the NESE box office at 781-224-1117. Tickets are $45, $35, $25 and student tickets are always $10 off.

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New England String Ensemble
Amy Kench
781-224-1117
www.newenglandstringensemble.org
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