Leon Botstein Returns to the DAC with Peter Serkin and TŌN
The Orchestra Now will return to campus on Friday, April 1, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. in the
Daniel Arts Center. The Orchestra Now (TŌN), a preprofessional orchestra in residence
at Bard College, will perform an all-Beethoven program under the baton of conductor
Leon Botstein and pianist Peter Serkin. The Bard College Chamber Singers, and the
Bard Festival Chorale will join TŌN for the Choral Fantasy. The orchestra will perform
the 5th symphony – one of the most famous works in all of classical music. There will
be a preconcert discussion with Dr. Botstein at 6:30 p.m.
Founded in 2015 by Bard College, TŌN is a unique training orchestra and master’s degree
program—preparing a new generation of musicians to break down barriers between modern
audiences and noteworthy orchestral music of the past and present. Botstein, the music
director, said, “The musicians of The Orchestra Now represent some of the finest musicians
from around the world. I’m very pleased to return to the Daniel Arts Center with Peter
Serkin.”
Dr. Botstein, described as “peerlessly adventurous” by the New York Times, brings
a renowned career as a conductor, music director, and educator to his role in The
Orchestra Now. The president of Bard College for forty years, Dr. Botstein has been
the music director of the American Symphony Orchestra since 1992, and co-artistic
director of Bard SummerScape and the Bard Music Festival since 1990. Dr. Botstein
also served as the music director of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra from 2003 to
2011. Botstein, a prolific author and music historian, has an active career as a guest
conductor with orchestras around the globe. He has received many honors for his contributions
to the music industry.
Peter Serkin's musical heritage extends back several generations – his grandfather
was the violinist and composer Adolf Busch and his father is pianist Rudolf Serkin.
A dedicated chamber musician, Mr. Serkin, revered by The Daily Telegraph as “one of
America’s finest pianists”, performs with the world's most notable symphony orchestras.
He has collaborated with Alexander Schneider, Pamela Frank, Yo-Yo Ma, the Budapest,
Guarneri, Orion, and Shanghai String Quartets. As a founding member, he also performed
with the Tashi Quartet.
Mr. Serkin’s orchestral appearances for the 2014-2015 season includes concerti by
Mozart, Bartók, and Beethoven with the San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas, and Sydney
Symphonies, and the Florida Orchestra. In April, he gave the world premiere of Pulitzer
Prize– and MacArthur Fellowship-winning composer Charles Wuorinen’s new piano concerto
with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. He gave solo recitals in New York, Sydney,
Brisbane, and at Yale University, New Haven. Additionally, he played with the Orion
String Quartet at the Ravinia, the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and at Toronto
Summer Music Festivals.
Mr. Serkin currently teaches at Bard College Conservatory of Music and the Longy School
of Music.
ABOUT BARD FESTIVAL CHORALE
The Bard Festival Chorale was formed in 2003 as the resident choir of the Bard Music
Festival. It consists of the finest ensemble singers from New York City and surrounding
areas. Many of its members have distinguished careers as soloists and as performers
in a variety of choral groups; all possess a shared enthusiasm for the exploration
of new and unfamiliar music.