Conductor Adrian Bryttan to bring youth symphony to Morristown

MORRISTOWN, N.J. - Continuing to unite some of the most difficult orchestral showpieces with more unusual compositions, Ukrainian American Adrian Bryttan will conduct the 90-member New Jersey Youth Symphony at the Morristown Community Theater at 3 p.m. on February 6, in a program that includes Richard Strauss' "Death and Transfiguration" and the U.S. premiere of Robert Milano's Concertino for Piano and String Orchestra.

In their third concert this season, the NJYS will also perform a suite from Handel's popular "Water Music," which was orchestrated by Hamilton Harty in the 1920s. It was this colorful arrangement that made Handel's suite such an enormous favorite with audiences the world over.

An orchestral tour de force, "Death and Transfiguration" was composed by Mr. Strauss over 100 years ago in 1889. Indeed, it is astonishing that the young 25-year-old composer conceived and created this most challenging work of grandeur and drama, so brilliantly organized and scored.

Mr. Strauss was inspired by the greatest drama of all: death, its meaning and what lies beyond. The composer himself said the idea came to him "to depict the hour of death of someone who had sought the highest ideals: an artist, in fact."

The atmospheric opening portrays the faltering heartbeat of a dying man in the pulsating muted strings and hushed timpani. After a dramatic interplay between his delirious imaginings and beautiful childhood memories, the majestic final pages crown this work with an exalted "transfiguration."

One of today's leading composers, musicians and educators, Mr. Milano of Puerto Rico, will be honored at the concert for his accomplishments. During his stay, he will offer masterclasses and media interviews about his music. His compositions are eagerly commissioned for every medium, from chamber to choral, religious and symphonic, operas, plays and television.

His highly individualized style, evident in the Concertino, established a Latin American character through driving rhythms that contrast meditative and lyrical melodies. Mr. Milano's compositions have been performed throughout the world, including the United States, Canada, France, Italy, England, Austria, Mexico, Australia and Venezuela. His operas, "The Hired Hand" and "Four Motets," were premiered at Carnegie Hall, with additional performances at Town Hall and at the Guggenhein.

The young award-winning pianist Luis Rodriguez, from San Juan, Puerto Rico, is the featured guest soloist for the Milano performances. A graduate student with Prof. Marisa Garcia at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, Mr. Rodriguez has already been a first prize-winner in numerous competitions, and has performed with the Festival Youth Symphony during the Casals Festival. He was invited to take part in the International Christmas Festival in Vienna on November 1999, and in March of this year he will perform Schumann's piano concerto with the Conservatory Symphony Orchestra.

For ticket information for Sunday's concert call (908) 771-5544. The Community Theater is located at 100 South St. in Morristown.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, January 30, 2000, No. 5, Vol. LXVIII

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