Concert to feature world premiere

DOWNEY - Spring may be known as the period of fresh starts, but autumn too can be a time of great beginnings and important first-ever events.Case in point: on Saturday evening, Oct. 24, the Downey Symphony, a perennial of 52 years, presents its first concert of the new season, and on the program is a world premiere performance titled "Generations: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra," by 27-year-old composer Daniel Chan. Our music director, Sharon Lavery, hopes to present a new work each year with the symphony, and audiences recall with pleasure last season's premiere of Robert Litton's atmospheric "Mendocino," for harp and orchestra. Now, there is an interesting story that links "Mendocino" and Daniel Chan's "Generations." Sharon Lavery tells about it. "I cam across Chan's work through my friend, harpist JoAnn Turovsky (we all remember her spectacular performance with the Downey Symphony this past January when she played the first performance or Robert Litton's piece). "Well, last spring JoAnn was working with Daniel Chan in the film studios on what she called 'a wonderful new violin concerto.' When she told me about the piece, I asked her to bring me the score, and as soon as I laid eyes on it I knew we had a winner. "Daniel and concert violinist Roger Wilkie had already put together a recording of 'Generations' with a group of talented studio musicians, so I was fortunate enough to be able to listen to the piece before I chose to program it - an opportunity quite uncommon when dealing with premiere works. "I immediately asked the Downey Symphony Board of Directors if we could go ahead with another 'world premiere' and, as I often am, was greeted with overwhelming support. "So here we are, once again," Lavery continues, "on the verge of giving life to another brand new work that has yet to be heard by the public. Am I excited about this? You bet I am. This is exactly the kind of event I want to bring to our loyal Downey Symphony community, season after season." Soloist in this first-ever concert performance of "Generations" will be, of course, Roger Wilkie, who has appeared memorably with the Downey Symphony Orchestra twice in the last several years. Included on the program are Dvorak's "Carnival Overture" and works by Aaron Copland, "Appalachian Spring" and two movements from "Rodeo." This Oct. 24 concert begins at 8 p.m. in Downey's Civic Theatre, 8435 Firestone Blvd. at the corner of Brookshire Avenue, with a preview discussion at 7:15 p.m., which is free to ticket holders. Parking is also free. Tickets at $30 and $25, $10 for students, can be purchased at the theater box office on Wednesday, Oct. 21, between noon and 4 p.m., and before performance time. You may also call the symphony office for information or to reserve tickets: (562) 403-2944. The orchestra's website is www.downeysymphony.org. ********** Published: October 16, 2009 - Volume 8 - Issue 26