Garland Symphony Orchestra continues its 2018-2019 “Symphonic Kaleidoscope” April 19 with “Father Figures.” The concert will feature pianist Luca Sacher along with guest conductor Stefano Sacher, his father. In addition, the program features major works by Beethoven and Schubert, composers who could be said to have had a figurative father-son relationship.
Luca Sacher is a Slovene-Italian pianist. He is a Boston Conservatory and Tartini Conservatory graduate. He is currently a graduate student at Texas Tech University in Lubbock studying with Dr. William Westney. Previous teachers include Igor Cognolato and Roberto Plano. Luca Sacher will be performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto #4 with the GSO.
Stefano Sacher is an accomplished conductor based in Trieste, Italy. He holds a master’s degree in Composition from J. Tomadini Conservatory in Udine, degrees in Choral Composition and Conducting from Tartini Conservatory in Trieste, and in Orchestral Conducting from Martini Conservatory in Bologna.
“My dad has always been extremely supportive, every step of the way. At the same time he really avoided becoming ‘my teacher’, so to speak,” said Luca Sacher. “He never really interfered with my education, unless I asked him for help. Our relationship was never built on music, which I think is healthy. I have performed with him a few times, usually in medium size ensembles as well as choirs, but never as a soloist, which is why this really is a longtime dream come true!”
Beethoven’s 4th Piano Concerto was premiered at a private concert in March 1807 and didn’t have its first public performance until December 1808. The composer served as soloist, his last appearance in that public role as his hearing was quickly disappearing. Arguably the most momentous single concert ever, the December program also included the premieres of Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy and 5th and 6th Symphonies.
Along with the Beethoven Piano Concerto, the program opens with the “Aquarellen” Waltz by Josef Strauss and also features Schubert’s Symphony #9 in C Major (“The Great”). Son of Johan Strauss I and a member of the famous Strauss Family of composers, Josef Strauss was destined for a career in the military and received training in engineering. Despite this, his musical talent couldn’t be suppressed, and he wrote 283 opus-number compositions. The “Aquarellen” (or water colors) Waltz was written in 1869.
The Ninth Symphony was the last that Schubert completed and was performed publicly for the first time by Felix Mendelssohn at the Leipzig Gewandhaus in 1839, eleven years after Schubert’s death. One of Schubert’s masterpieces, “The Great” was considered nearly unplayable by orchestras of the day. It is now one of his most frequently performed works.
GSO credits its music director, Robert Carter Austin, for its continued outstanding and diverse orchestral programming. Maestro Austin’s background encompasses over 30 years of professional music experience and includes degrees from MIT, Cambridge University, and Stanford University. Austin’s musical experience includes conducting performances in many countries including: Korea, Ukraine, Canada, Italy, Spain, China, France, Germany, Mexico, Bulgaria, Ecuador, Colombia, Philippines, Guatemala, Dominican Republic and the United States.
Season tickets start at $60. Single tickets are $17.50, $27.50 and $37.50. All are available by calling 972-926-0611 or emailing info@garlandsymphony.org. Group discounts are available. Concerts are at the Granville Arts Center, 300 North Fifth Street in downtown Garland at 7:30 p.m. www.garlandsymphony.org