ROCHESTER, NY — The Rite of Spring, Igor Stravinsky’s revolutionary musical masterpiece, will be the featured work in a concert this fall by the Eastman Philharmonia, the premier student orchestra of the Eastman School of Music. The concert, conducted by Brad Lubman, assistant professor of conducting and ensembles, begins at 8 p.m., Friday, October 27, in Eastman Theatre (60 Gibbs St.). It is free and open to the public.
Two other significant works by prominent 20th-century composers round out the evening’s program: Debussy’s lustrous and mystical Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun and Varèse’s Ionisation, a striking work for percussion to be performed by 13 members of the Eastman Percussion Ensemble.
“These are three classics that had a profound effect on the development of 20th-century music,” said Lubman. “To see and hear them performed live is a thrilling experience, a real spectacle.”
Written between 1911-1913, The Rite of Spring — which in concert will feature an orchestra of 100 players — is arguably Stravinsky’s greatest and most important work. Originally written as a controversial ballet about pagan Russia, it caused quite a stir when it premiered in Paris in 1913 — literally resulting in one of the most famous opening-night riots in the history of music. The highly original composition is said to have marked the start of the modernist movement in music, and solidified Stravinsky’s reputation as a composer.
About Brad Lubman
Brad Lubman joined the Eastman faculty in 1997. A conductor and composer, he enjoys an international career and a reputation for his outstanding work in contemporary music. His conducting has been praised by such composers and conductors as Pierre Boulez, Luciano Berio, Elliot Carter, Oliver Knussen, Steve Reich, and Charles Wuorinen.
Lubman, 37, has appeared with major orchestras and ensembles both here and abroad, including the Saarbruecken Radio Orchestra, Deutsches-Sinfonie-Orchester Berlin, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Finnish Radio Symphony, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Steve Reich Ensemble, ASKO Ensemble of Amsterdam, the Boston Symphony Chamber Players, New York New Music Ensemble, and others. His music has been performed in the United States and in Europe by the Cygnus Ensemble, the Guild Trio, the New Millennium Ensemble, Lawrence Philharmonic, Percussion Group The Hague, and the Pittsburgh New
Music Ensemble. He has been a conductor/composer/teacher at the Tanglewood Music center (1989-94), the Britten/Pears School at Aldeburgh (1995), and the June in Buffalo Festival (1992-94, ’00). In November 1999, he was chosen to be the assistant conductor to Pierre Boulez for the Boulez Carnegie Hall Workshop. Lubman has recorded for the Nonesuch, Bridge, CRI, Centaur, Auvidis Montaigne, Koch, and BMG labels. He was the assistant conductor to Oliver Knussen at the Tanglewood Music center (1989-94), and music director of the Stony Brook Symphony (1990-95).
Lubman attended the Tanglewood Music center in 1990 for composition studies with Oliver Knussen, the Aspen Music Festival in 1983 and 1984 for conducting studies with Murry Sidlin, and the Scotia Festival in 1991 as a participant in master classes with Pierre Boulez. At Eastman, he conducts frequently and directs the Musica Nova Ensemble.
###
Note to editors: Brad Lubman is available for interviews. Photos also are available.