Symphony in C’s new music director grew up in Bulgaria, studied in Paris, and has lived on both coasts of the U.S. As WRTI’s Susan Lewis reports, he brings enthusiasm and a wealth of experience learning from some of today’s most masterful conductors.
Listen to a broadcast of Stilian Kirov leading Symphony in C on WRTI: Sunday October 4th at 3 pm, in a program featuring music by Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky, as well as a new work by Patrick O’Malley, the 2015 Winner of the Symphony’s Young Composers' Competition. Alexander Kobrin, pianist.
Radio script:
Susan Lewis: Growing up he sang in a choir, and played piano and oboe, and later a little violin. The first orchestral piece Stilian Kirov conducted was Haydn’s 100th Symphony.
Stilian Kirov: I was really fascinated by it. But I love everything I conduct at the moment, and I think as musicians we should put our minds in this state. That we embrace the pieces we are performing.
SL: Pieces like Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 – on the program of Symphony in C’s season opener.
MUSIC: Tchaikovky's Symphony No. 4
SK: It has this rich orchestration. It's music that really comes from the heart.
SL: As associate conductor of the symphonies in Seattle and Memphis, Kirov worked with maestros LudovicMorlot and Mei-Ann Chen. He’s also covered, studied, or worked with conductor Bernard Haitink, StephaneDeneve, and Christoph von Dohnanyi, as well as the late James DePriest and Raphael Fruhbeck de Burgos, among others.
SK: I was very lucky to work with so many wonderful conductors. I believe that being a conductor today, you need to have an open mind, and embrace the opportunities to make music, and make the best you can of every single concert. You will affect people’s lives you will change people’s lives through music. That’s our mission.
SL: Symphony in C, an orchestra of young professionals, this season performs five regular orchestral programs - two geared to young people, and three chamber music programs.
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In his debut as music director, Stilian Kirov and Symphony in C perform Tchaikovsky’s exciting 4th Symphony. Continuing the Russian theme, pianist Alexander Kobrin performs Rachmaninoff’s fiendishly difficult Piano Concerto No. 3. Also on the program is the winning composition in the annual Young Composers Competition, Patrick O'Malley's, Even in Paradise, symphonic poem after Et in Arcadia ego.
PROGRAM for October 4th broadcast at 3 pm:
Stilian Kirov, conductor and music director (debut)
Alexander Kobrin, piano
Patrick O'Malley, 2015 Winner of the Young Composers’ Competition
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4, Op. 36 in F minor
Patrick O'Malley: Even in Paradise, symphonic poem after Et in Arcadia ego
