Nordic Greats Join New England String Ensemble for Season Finale Concerts
Icelandic violinist, Judith Ingolfsson and 4-Time Olympic gold medallist, Johann Olav Koss join New England String Ensemble for the 14th Season Finale “Nordic Landscape” concerts.
Wakefield, MA, April 07, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Icelandic violinist, Judith Ingolfsson and 4-Time Olympic gold medallist in speed skating, Johann Olav Koss, will join Music Director Federico Cortese and New England String Ensemble for a season finale program, “Nordic Landscape” Saturday, April 12th at 7:30pm in Cochran Chapel at Phillips Academy in Andover and Sunday, April 13th at 3:00pm in NEC’s Jordan Hall in Boston. Audience members will have the opportunity to meet Judith Ingolfsson, and Johann Koss 45-minutes prior to each concert at a “Conversation with Cortese” led by Maestro Cortese and at the post-concert Nordic themed receptions. These events are free to ticket holders.
The concert will take listeners on a journey to each of the five Nordic countries. The program will begin with featured artist Judith Ingolfsson performing Finnish great Jean Sibelius’ “Humoresques No. 3 & 4”, next the orchestra will venture to the archipelago of Sweden with Dag Wirén’s “Serenade for Strings”. Ms. Ingolfsson rounds out the first half with Icelandic composer Haflidi Hallgrimsson’s “Poemi”. This piece is based on three allegorical paintings by Marc Chagall, where the Ms. Ingolfsson will be at the center of the ‘musical stage’ throughout, with the orchestra providing constantly changing ‘scenery’. The music progresses from tranquility to dramatic ending in a fast and tense "Combat". The second half begins with “Little Suite” by Danish cultural icon, Carl Nielsen. Maestro Cortese closes the concert on Norway’s fjord carved coastline with Grieg’s “Holberg Suite”.
Judith Ingolfsson has established herself worldwide as an artist of uncompromising musical maturity, extraordinary technical command and charismatic performance style. Ms. Ingolfsson is excited to be part of a Nordic themed program saying, “It is quite special to me to champion the music of an Icelandic composer given my roots. I was born in Iceland to an Icelandic father and a Swiss mother. Even though my family moved to the USA in 1980, I retain my Icelandic citizenship to this day.” Her musical roots began with violin studies there at age 3, performing on Icelandic television at age 5 and with the Icelandic Symphony as soloist at age 8. She has since performed on some of the world’s most notable stages including the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, Konzerthaus Berlin, Tokyo Opera City, the Mann concert Auditorium in Tel Aviv and numerous engagements at Carnegie Hall in New York and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
Ms. Ingolfsson is a great admirer of her fellow Icelander Hallgrimsson’s work performing his “Offerto”, a work for violin solo, quite a bit which she will perform this June at the National Gallery in Washington DC. In addition to international engagements, Judith Ingolfsson has recently released a recording of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Budapest Philharmonic, led by Rico Saccani and has just been appointed professor at one of the top conservatories in Germany; The Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Stuttgart.
The “Nordic Landscape” Honorary Chairman, Johann Koss, is one of the greatest winter athletes of all time. Upon being asked to be the honorary chairman Johann replied “To be able to help with the appreciation of Norwegian music and that of the other Scandinavian countries in Boston will be my pleasure.” Over the course of his speed skating career Koss broke a total of 11 world records, won three World All-Round Championships, numerous World Cups and National championships and most memorably won three gold medals at the 1994 Lillehammer Games in the 1500, 5000, and 10,000 meter events and was named Sports Illustrated magazine's Sportsman of the Year. After his speed skating career, Koss trained as a physician. He became a UNICEF ambassador and a member of the International Olympic Committee (until 2002). Johann’s achievements on the ice have since been eclipsed by his efforts as President and CEO of “Right To Play”, an athlete-driven international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play as a tool for the development of children and youth in the most disadvantaged areas of the world.
Boston’s five Nordic Consuls have offered to be Honorary Patrons for this event; Consulate of Denmark, Boston - Honorary Consul Jacob Friis, Honorary Consulate General of Finland, Boston - Honorary Consul General Leonard Kopelman, Consulate of Iceland, Boston - Honorary Consul Elisha F. Lee, Royal Norwegian Consulate, Boston - Honorary Consul Terje Korsnes, Consulate of Sweden, Boston - Honorary Consul Dr. Allen Counter and Vice Consul, Margareta (Ginga) Sewerin-Olsson. Along with Maestro Cortese, Johann Koss, Judith Ingolfsson and the NESE players, the consuls will attend the Nordic Themed reception following the concert in Boston at Northeastern University's Varsity Club, across the street from Jordan Hall.
Cost: $45, $35, $25 Student discount $10 off. To order call 781-224-1117 or visit http://www.newenglandstringensemble.org/
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The concert will take listeners on a journey to each of the five Nordic countries. The program will begin with featured artist Judith Ingolfsson performing Finnish great Jean Sibelius’ “Humoresques No. 3 & 4”, next the orchestra will venture to the archipelago of Sweden with Dag Wirén’s “Serenade for Strings”. Ms. Ingolfsson rounds out the first half with Icelandic composer Haflidi Hallgrimsson’s “Poemi”. This piece is based on three allegorical paintings by Marc Chagall, where the Ms. Ingolfsson will be at the center of the ‘musical stage’ throughout, with the orchestra providing constantly changing ‘scenery’. The music progresses from tranquility to dramatic ending in a fast and tense "Combat". The second half begins with “Little Suite” by Danish cultural icon, Carl Nielsen. Maestro Cortese closes the concert on Norway’s fjord carved coastline with Grieg’s “Holberg Suite”.
Judith Ingolfsson has established herself worldwide as an artist of uncompromising musical maturity, extraordinary technical command and charismatic performance style. Ms. Ingolfsson is excited to be part of a Nordic themed program saying, “It is quite special to me to champion the music of an Icelandic composer given my roots. I was born in Iceland to an Icelandic father and a Swiss mother. Even though my family moved to the USA in 1980, I retain my Icelandic citizenship to this day.” Her musical roots began with violin studies there at age 3, performing on Icelandic television at age 5 and with the Icelandic Symphony as soloist at age 8. She has since performed on some of the world’s most notable stages including the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, Konzerthaus Berlin, Tokyo Opera City, the Mann concert Auditorium in Tel Aviv and numerous engagements at Carnegie Hall in New York and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
Ms. Ingolfsson is a great admirer of her fellow Icelander Hallgrimsson’s work performing his “Offerto”, a work for violin solo, quite a bit which she will perform this June at the National Gallery in Washington DC. In addition to international engagements, Judith Ingolfsson has recently released a recording of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Budapest Philharmonic, led by Rico Saccani and has just been appointed professor at one of the top conservatories in Germany; The Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Stuttgart.
The “Nordic Landscape” Honorary Chairman, Johann Koss, is one of the greatest winter athletes of all time. Upon being asked to be the honorary chairman Johann replied “To be able to help with the appreciation of Norwegian music and that of the other Scandinavian countries in Boston will be my pleasure.” Over the course of his speed skating career Koss broke a total of 11 world records, won three World All-Round Championships, numerous World Cups and National championships and most memorably won three gold medals at the 1994 Lillehammer Games in the 1500, 5000, and 10,000 meter events and was named Sports Illustrated magazine's Sportsman of the Year. After his speed skating career, Koss trained as a physician. He became a UNICEF ambassador and a member of the International Olympic Committee (until 2002). Johann’s achievements on the ice have since been eclipsed by his efforts as President and CEO of “Right To Play”, an athlete-driven international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play as a tool for the development of children and youth in the most disadvantaged areas of the world.
Boston’s five Nordic Consuls have offered to be Honorary Patrons for this event; Consulate of Denmark, Boston - Honorary Consul Jacob Friis, Honorary Consulate General of Finland, Boston - Honorary Consul General Leonard Kopelman, Consulate of Iceland, Boston - Honorary Consul Elisha F. Lee, Royal Norwegian Consulate, Boston - Honorary Consul Terje Korsnes, Consulate of Sweden, Boston - Honorary Consul Dr. Allen Counter and Vice Consul, Margareta (Ginga) Sewerin-Olsson. Along with Maestro Cortese, Johann Koss, Judith Ingolfsson and the NESE players, the consuls will attend the Nordic Themed reception following the concert in Boston at Northeastern University's Varsity Club, across the street from Jordan Hall.
Cost: $45, $35, $25 Student discount $10 off. To order call 781-224-1117 or visit http://www.newenglandstringensemble.org/
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Contact
New England String Ensemble
Amy Kench
781-224-1117
www.newenglandstringensemble.org
Amy Kench
781-224-1117
www.newenglandstringensemble.org
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