­­NEW HAVEN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA TO OPEN SEASON WITH BEETHOVEN, MENDELSSOHN, SHOSTAKOVICH, AND LASH SEPTEMBER 29

Mayor Harp Proclaims September 29 “Women Making Music Day” in New Haven

“School Night at the Symphony” Offers K-12 Students, Families and Teachers Free Concert Tickets

The New Haven Symphony Orchestra (NHSO) will kick off its 2016 – 2017 concert season on Opening Night! September 29, 2016 at 7:30pm in Woolsey Hall. Led by NHSO music director William Boughton, the season will begin with Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 – known as the “Italian” Symphony – and the third installment of the NHSO’s newest commission, the Lash/Voynich Project, written by Yale faculty member and composer Hannah Lash. Concert highlights will also include Russian pianist Ilya Yakushev returning to the stage of Woolsey Hall to perform both of Shostakovich’s Piano Concertos.

The NHSO has commissioned NHSO Composer-In-Residence Hannah Lash to compose a full Symphony over the course of two seasons; the Symphony is inspired by the mysterious Voynich Manuscript, which is housed at Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. The NHSO is premiering each of the four movements separately before the full piece is premiered on May 4 at Woolsey Hall. The NHSO premiered the first and second movements last season. The Opening Night program on September 29 will include the world premiere of the third movement, “Biological,” which is inspired by the Voynich Manuscript’s diagrams of plants and people. To learn more about the Lash/Voynich Project, visit NewHavenSymphony.org/Lash-Voynich-Project.

This concert will be the NHSO’s annual School Night at the Symphony, when the NHSO invites all K-12 students, teachers, staff, and their families to attend free of charge. Those interested must register by Friday, September 27; the registration form can be found at www.NewHavenSymphony.org/School-Night-at-the-Symphony.

The City of New Haven is proclaiming September 29 “Women Making Music Day” in honor of the NHSO’s Composer-in-Residence Hannah Lash and female composer and trailblazer Helen Hagan. Born in New Haven at the turn of the century, Hagan was the organist for the historic Dixwell Congregational Church in New Haven starting at age nine. She was the only female African-American musician sent to perform for the troops in WWI France and was the first African-American woman to graduate from the Yale School of Music; the NHSO premiered Hagan’s Concerto for Piano and Orchestra circa 1912.

Until this month, Hagan’s burial site in New Haven’s Evergreen Cemetery has been unmarked; the Cemetery will be holding a dedication ceremony for her new grave marker on September 29 at 2:00pm. Hannah Lash will be one of the speakers at the dedication and the Mayor’s office will be presenting the day’s official proclamation.

NHSO Executive Director Elaine Carroll says, “Lash is the first woman composition faculty member at Yale University, so there is a wonderful tie-in between the NHSO premiering Hagan’s piece in 1912 and now premiering Lash’s piece in 2016. We look forward to honoring Hagan, Lash and other trailblazing women making music in New Haven at our Opening Night performance.”

Russian pianist Ilya Yakushev has performed in various prestigious venues worldwide, including Glinka Philharmonic Hall (St. Petersburg), Victoria Hall (Singapore), Carnegie Hall, Davies Symphony Hall, and Sejong Performing Arts Center (Seoul, Korea). His performances with orchestra include those with the Boston Pops, Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, and many others. Winner of the 2005 World Piano Competition, Mr. Yakushev received his first award at age 12 as a prizewinner of the Young Artists Concerto Competition in his native St. Petersburg. He has also been the recipient of the Mayor of St. Petersburg’s Young Talents award and The National Award for Excellence in Performance. Mr. Yakushev attended the Rimsky-Korsakov College of Music in his native St. Petersburg, Russia, and subsequently came to New York City to attend Mannes College of Music where he studied with legendary pianist Vladimir Feltsman.

The NHSO will repeat this program (omitting the Lash) on Sunday, October 2 at 4:00pm at The New Morgan School Auditorium in Clinton, CT as part of the George Flynn Classical Concerts Series. For tickets and information, visit GeorgeFlynnClassicalConcerts.com.

Program: Beethoven: Overture to Egmont, Op. 84; Lash: Lash/Voynich Project: Movement 3: Biological (World Premiere);  Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C minor, Op. 35 and Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102; Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90, “Italian”

Tickets: Adult tickets are $15 – $74. College student tickets are $10 and KidTix (children ages 7-17) are free with the purchase of an adult ticket. Blue Star tickets for active military personnel and their immediate family are free. For tickets and information call 203.562.5666 or visit www.NewHavenSymphony.org.

Pre-Concert Activities:
Symphony Supper: Indulge in a delicious Symphony Supper with other music lovers at Union League Cafe prior to the performance; visit NewHavenSymphony.org or call 203.865.0831 x20 and to book your reservation.
Prelude: Join the NHSO for an intriguing free pre-concert discussion with NHSO Violist Yaroslav Kargin from 6:30-7:00pm the night of the concert. The venue will be announced on the NHSO’s website; check back for further information.

Opening Night! is co-sponsored by Town Fair Tire. The Lash/Voynich Project is sponsored by Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Symphony Suppers are sponsored by GSB Wealth Management. The Classics Series media sponsor is the New Haven Register. KidTix and Blue Star Tix are sponsored by Frontier Communications.