LATimesBlogs: 'Music Review: a Pasadena Symphony restart'

[Violin soloist Anne Akiko Meyers and Maestro James DePreist with the the Pasadena Symphony.]

John Malveaux of http://www.MusicUNTOLD.com sends AfriClassical this word of the Oct. 23 concert of the Pasadena Symphony: “I attended Pasadena Symphony season opener after attending special community chat with Maestro DePriest. Please see http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2010/10/pasadena-symphony-.html

LATimesBlogs
Culture Monster
October 24, 2010
“The conductor was James DePreist. Former long-time music director of the Portland Symphony, he is director of conducting studies at Juilliard, a post Mester once held. DePreist was born in 1936; Mester 1935. DePreist, who -- like Mester -- has a reputation as an orchestra builder, now serves as artistic advisor of the Pasadenans, but he will not return for the rest of its short season.

“DePreist, who contracted polio in 1962 and conducts from a wheelchair, showed great caution. His tempos were very slow.” “Anne Akiko Meyers was the soloist in Samuel Barber’s romantic, 1939 Violin Concerto. She played her 'Molitor' Stradivarius, which was believed to once have been owned by Napoleon and which she had purchased the previous week in auction for a record $3.6 million.”

“Meyers played aggressively, but might have been more rhapsodic had she not been carefully constrained by DePreist. Her encore, Gershwin’s 'Summertime,' was supple, jazzy and alluring.”
[AfriClassical.com profiles James DePreist (b. 1936). Maestro De Preist has published two volumes of poetry and has his own website, http://www.JamesDePreist.com.]

Los Angeles Times: “Pasadena Symphony's James DePreist keeps eye on 'artistic ball'”

[James DePreist is the new artistic advisor for the Pasadena Symphony. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)]

By David Mermelstein,

Special to the Los Angeles Times

October 23, 2010

“The new advisor, a director of conducting at Juilliard, sees an opportunity to help guide the orchestra through troubled times and 'produce great music.'”

“In June, James DePreist, the director of conducting and orchestral studies at the Juilliard School and an elder statesman in American music, accepted the symphony's offer to be its artistic advisor for the present season, helping shape the orchestra's future and profile. On Saturday he leads his first concerts with the ensemble — the only one of this season's five programs to be conducted by him.

“The repertory — Rossini's Overture to 'The Thieving Magpie,' Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto and Brahms' Symphony No. 2 — is hardly avant-garde, but the soloist, San Diego-born Anne Akiko Meyers, is popular and respected. The program (presented at 2 and 8 p.m.) also marks the orchestra's move from its longtime home, the acoustically disappointing Pasadena Civic Auditorium, to the city's highly regarded but rarely used Ambassador Auditorium.

“DePreist, 73, seems to have no illusions concerning the difficulties of the task before him. 'My job is to keep my eye on the artistic ball no matter what happens,' he said over tea at his hotel on Thursday afternoon.” “As for DePreist's talents on the podium, there seems to be no disputing that. 'He's incredibly true to the music,' Meyers said. 'He's a deeply feeling person and has a gift for lyricism. We've played various violin concertos together, and every time it's a dynamic tour de force but not in-your-face. He's a poet himself, you know, so it's like poetic music-making.'" [AfriClassical.com profiles James DePreist (b. 1936). Maestro De Preist has published two volumes of poetry and has his own website, http://www.JamesDePreist.com.]

Peters' Music News: 'Excitement at Pasadena Symphony Opening Concert: Young Artist, Antique Violin'

[James DePreist and Anne Akiko Meyers]

Peters' Music News

“Talk about enthusiasm. Pasadena Symphony’s got it: plenty of it. With Saturday’s season opener (Oct. 23) with two performances—at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., there is a new venue, the Ambassador Auditorium, a new conductor, Artistic Advisor to the Symphony, James DePreist, and a soloist, Anne Akiko Meyers, the violinist who’s as modern as you can get given that she accepts club dates as well as full-scale classical gigs.

“You probably already know about Pasadena Symphony—that it is starting its 83rd season; and that its professional corps contain first rate classical musicians, many of whom are on the A-list for studio calls. You may or may not remember that Jorge Mester is not conducting this year, but rather a season-long guest conductor list will lead this prestigious band with the lead-off leader James DePreist, currently Director of Conducting and Orchestral studies at the Julliard School in New York.”

“But I want to talk about the music program and especially the violin soloist, Anne Akiko Meyers. She recently gave up her old Stradivarius which hailed from 1730 and acquired, at bid auction, a 1697 Strad for a world-record setting price of $3.6 million. She will bring with her the 313 year-old instrument she says is full of 'power, feel and range of color' to the Ambassador Auditorium to perform Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto, a work composed by the American in 1939. The 22 minute piece with Myers will be a knockout. With that new Stradivarius of hers, it should be dynamite.” [James DePreist (b. 1936) is profiled at http://www.JamesDePreist.com and AfriClassical.com]

Pasadena Star-News: 'James DePreist, Pasadena Symphony's new artistic advisor, makes first visit'

[James DePreist]

By Janette Williams, Staff Writer

Posted: 08/30/2010

“PASADENA - On his first visit to Pasadena since being named artistic advisor to the Pasadena Symphony in June, Maestro James DePreist found his surroundings strangely familiar. 'I think I conducted the Monte Carlo Symphony here a few years ago,' DePreist said, looking around at the orchestra's new Ambassador Auditorium digs. 'I know my aunt, Marian Anderson, sang here.' DePreist may face a less daunting situation than the iconic African-American contralto when she sang from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1939 at Eleanor Roosevelt's invitation.

“But the 73-year-old DePreist said he knows his new job will have its own challenges at a 'fragile' time for orchestras in this country. He gave 'considerable thought' to becoming advisor to the symphony on guest conductors, soloists and orchestral repertoire, he said. More so in light of the publicly unexplained departure of Maestro Jorge Mester in May after 25 years, then last week's sudden resignation of 10-year POPS music director Rachael Worby.

"'It gives one pause,' he said, adding that it suggested not everyone has been 'on the same page.' 'The question is, can you rise above the schisms that exist? I don't underestimate the challenge at all,' DePreist said. 'I know Jorge, we've been friends for a long time,' DePreist said. 'I'm not a replacement for anyone, I'm not rushing in to fill a void ... I agreed to work alongside everyone, in a way that I can use the experience I have. And if I can't, I will be the fastest person leaving Pasadena."

[On March 1, 2010 AfriClassical.com announced a complete revision of its page on James DePreist (b. 1936), the world-famous African American conductor who is Director of Conducting & Orchestral Studies at The Juilliard School in New York City. James De Preist has also published two volumes of poetry and has his own website, http://www.JamesDePreist.com.]

Pasadena Symphony Hosts Meet-and-Greet with Maestro James DePreist Aug. 29

[James DePreist, Fanfare Magazine, November-December 1995]

James DePreist Meet-and-Greet - 4 PM

Sunday, August 29, 2010 from 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM (PT)

Pasadena, CA

The Pasadena Symphony Association invites you to a festive meet-and-greet with Maestro James DePreist

Date: Sunday, August 29th, 2010

Time: Between 4 & 5:30 pm

(Q & A session will begin at 4:30 pm)

Location: The Club Room at Granite Park Place

920 Granite Drive

Pasadena, CA 91101

Parking is available in the underground garage. Please take the central elevator to the main level and follow the signs

Light refreshments will be served

Tours of Granite Park Place will be available

[On March 1, 2010 AfriClassical.com announced a complete revision of its page on James DePreist (b. 1936), the world-famous African American conductor who is Director of Conducting & Orchestral Studies at The Juilliard School in New York City. James De Preist has also published two volumes of poetry and has his own website, http://www.JamesDePreist.com.]

Pasadena Star-News: James DePreist “will conduct the symphony in 'Sonic Sensations' on opening night, Oct. 23”

[Fanfare Magazine; November-December 1995; Conductor James DePreist]

Pasadena Star-News
Pasadena Symphony announces its guest conductor roster for 2010-2011 season
By Janette Williams, Staff Writer
Posted 07/11/2010
“PASADENA - A lineup of five guest conductors for the Pasadena Symphony's 2010-2011 season has been announced, to replace long-time artistic director Jorge Mester at the podium. Mester's contract was terminated in May after 25 years, reportedly when negotiations over a salary cut fell apart; Mester has never commented on the reasons for his sudden departure from the financially strapped orchestra, which he announced at the season's final concert.

“Paul Jan Zdunek, chief executive officer of the Pasadena Symphony and POPS orchestras, said the symphony repertoire had already been set and will not be changed. 'We've been working with (new artistic advisor) James DePreist for the last few weeks and came up with a list of conductors,' Zdunek said Friday.”

“DePreist - a veteran conductor and director of conducting and orchestral studies at the Julliard School in New York City - will conduct the symphony in 'Sonic Sensations' on opening night, Oct. 23, at its new Ambassador Auditorium venue.” “The symphony will continue to use guest conductors 'at this time,' Zdunek said, and they are already working with DePreist on the 2011-2012 lineup. DePreist, who was hired as an independent contractor in early June, is scheduled to arrive in Pasadena on Aug. 27 to meet the orchestra and symphony 'constituents,' Zdunek said.” [Maestro James DePreist (b. 1936) is profiled at AfriClassical.com]

Pasadena Now: 'James DePreist named Artistic Advisor of Pasadena Symphony'

[James De Preist Conducting Oregon Symphony]

PasadenaNow.com

“Maestro DePreist's responsibilities will be to serve as an artistic partner advising on matters regarding guest conductors, soloists and orchestral repertoire”

From STAFF REPORTS

Published: Wednesday, June 2, 2010 | 2:31 PM

“Building on the 25-year legacy of Maestro Jorge Mester, the Pasadena Symphony Association has named Maestro James DePreist - widely esteemed as one of America ’s finest conductors - as its Artistic Advisor. He is respected for his work with some of the most prestigious symphony orchestras in the US, Europe and Asia along with his transformation of the Oregon Symphony from a regional orchestra to an internationally acclaimed ensemble. He has had an ongoing presence at the Aspen Music Festival, appearances over the years at Tanglewood and the Mann Center in Philadelphia and has held a position as Director of Conducting and Orchestral Studies at the Juilliard School.

“Maestro DePreist’s responsibilities will be to serve as an artistic partner advising on matters regarding guest conductors, soloists and orchestral repertoire that will best serve the Pasadena Symphony Association and its community as the Association takes the time it needs to identify its permanent artistic leader. Additionally, DePreist will counsel the Association in its artistic direction as it moves through its transition from being a regional orchestra to an ensemble that becomes a more prominent artistic force in Southern California.

“Maestro DePreist’s appointment as Artistic Advisor allows the Association the breathing room necessary in finding the perfect artistic and philosophical fit for the orchestra, community and organization as it engages a roster of conductors from the incredible depth and breadth of talent that is out there on the national and international scene,” states Paul Jan Zdunek, Chief Executive Officer. Having made an important impact on the life of American music, the President of the United States presented James DePreist with the National Medal of Arts, the nation’s highest honor for artistic excellence.” “Maestro DePreist will lead the Pasadena Symphony at its inaugural concert weekend of the season in its new home at the Ambassador Auditorium - known as the Carnegie Hall of the West –on Saturday October 23, 2010.”

On March 1, 2010 AfriClassical.com announced a complete revision of its page on James DePreist (b. 1936), the world-famous African American conductor who is Director of Conducting & Orchestral Studies at The Juilliard School in New York City. Maestro DePreist made this gracious reply: "I am deeply appreciative of the noting of my career and the excellence of the website." James De Preist, who has also published volumes of poetry, has his own website, http://www.JamesDePreist.com.