By Tony Sauro
Record Staff Writer
Salesmanship has become a necessary aspect of musicianship in these disharmonious economic times.
Peter Jaffe's a master at conveying his enthusiasm about expanding the audience for the classical music he selects and conducts for the Stockton Symphony.
So, for the orchestra's 10-concert 2009-10 season he's got a good deal for symphony novices and promises anything but a steady diet of musical "spinach."
Of course, there'll also be his annual world premiere, which has become a trademark.
"I always like to put a great menu together," said Jaffe, 52, in his 14th year as the symphony's conductor. "You don't want spinach salad, spinach soup, a spinach entrée and spinach ice cream. I like to mix it up with international styles as the cuisine."
During "A Season to Lift Your Spirits" - as it's been branded by symphony officials - that includes selections by French, American, German, Norwegian, Italian, Russian and Peruvian composers.
In a challenging economic climate, symphony officials also are offering first-time season ticket buyers a 50 percent discount.
"We want to be uplifting in a time when the culture is so economically depressed and sort of demoralized in so many ways," said Jaffe, whose audience remained relatively stable, though major donations suffered this season. "That's the time we really need music.
"It's a time for the symphony to take audiences on these emotional adventures. The concerts are a process of audiences having vicarious emotional adventures in their seats. It's a thrill to really get totally taken to a different place."
One of those places will be a world premiere of "Fanfare for Brass Ensemble" by New York composer Paul Turok. It's not a costly commissioned work, as was April's historic and sold-out "Ansel Adams: America" by Dave and Chris Brubeck.
"I sort of asked him (Turok) and he said he had this fanfare for brass he'd been thinking about," Jaffe said. "It just came out that way. It was kind of a felicitous thing - like he almost had it in the can.
"In a year of economic challenges, mounting a mega-thousand-dollar premiere like last year isn't possible. But I've always taken pride in us launching new repertoire."
Six solo artists will help Jaffe and his 70 musicians orchestrate that.
- Alon Goldstein, an Israel-born pianist, will perform Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4. "He's a phenomenal pianist of the utmost artistic integrity," Jaffe said. "He's never been here before. This will be a real treat."
- Rachel Barton Pine, a violinist from Chicago, will play Barber's Violin Concerto. "She's risen to be quite a bit of a star," Jaffe said of Pine, who soloed with the symphony 10 years ago. "She's really a quite notable figure. It's great to work with her again."
- Two symphony members, Los Angeles flutist Jennifer Olson and Motoshi Kosako, a Japan-born harpist from Oregon House, will lead the orchestra through Mozart's Concerto for Flute and Harp.
- David Requiro, 23, an Oakland native who won the 2008 Naumburg International Cello Award, will perform Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No. 1. Jaffe called him a "phenomenal artist, a phenomenal talent really on the way up."
Jaffe knows because Requiro has shared two tutors with his son, James, 20, a senior at the University of Michigan.
- Peter Takacs, a Rumanian-born pianist based at Ohio's Oberlin College (Jaffe's alma mater), will perform Schuman's Piano Concert in A Minor. "He's the senior member and, like Alon, he's a pianist of the most fabulous artistic integrity and phenomenal talent," Jaffe said of Takacs, who also soloed with the symphony in 2003.
Jaffe also will avoid the "spinach" with international flavors provided by: George Gershwin's "An American in Paris," Norwegian Edvard Grieg's "Holberg Suite," Peruvian Jimmy Lopez's "Techno From Fiesta" ("It has lot of mambo elements," Jaffe said), Turok's "Fanfare ..." and Italian Ottorino Respighi's "Feste romane (Roman Festivals)."
Jaffe's orchestra also will recognize the 200th anniversary of German composer Robert Schumann's birth by performing his Piano Concerto in A minor.
"It's just a season to lift your spirits," Jaffe said. "We're thinking about uplifting everyone with a mix of really time-honored works along with things that are a little bit more adventuresome."
Contact reporter Tony Sauro at (209) 546-8267 or tsauro@recordnet.com.
2009-10 season
Where: Atherton Auditorium, Delta College (except where noted)
When: 8 p.m. Thursdays;
6 p.m. Saturdays
Admission: $20-$55, single shows (students half-price); $50-$235, season tickets
Information: (209) 951-0196
Schedule
Sept. 24 and 26: Alon Goldstein, piano
Oct. 15 and 17: Rachel Barton Pine, violin
Nov. 19 and 21: Jennifer Olson, flute; Motoshi Kosako, harp
Dec. 13: Holiday Pops with Stockton Chorale, 3 p.m.
Feb. 13: Valentine Pops, with Teri Bibb, soprano; Dennis McNeil, tenor, 6 p.m.
March 11 and 13: David Requiro, cello
April 15 and 17: Peter Takács, piano
May 7: Pops & Picnics, 6 p.m., Stockton Civic Auditorium
