André Raphel Conducts the Boston Symphony in his BSO Subscription Series Debut, March 19-21,2020

ANDRÉ RAPHEL

CONDUCTS THE BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

IN HIS BSO SUBSCRIPTION SERIES DEBUT MARCH 19-21, 2020

 

Program will include William Grant Still’s Symphony No. 1 Afro-American; Uri Caine’s

The Passion of Octavius Catto; and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Petite Suite de Concert

 

New York, NY (March 6, 2020) – Conductor André Raphel conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra in his BSO subscription series debut on Thursday, March 19, at 8pm; continuing on Friday, March 20, at 8pm (this concert is presented as part of the BSO’s Casual Fridays); and Saturday, March 21 at 8pm.  The concerts take place in Symphony Hall in Boston.  For information and tickets visit www.bso.org.

Maestro Raphel’s program will include Samuel Coleridge Taylor’s work from 1910, Petitie Suite de Concert (Thursday and Saturday performances only), Uri Caine’s The Passion of Octavius Catto; and William Grant Still’s Symphony No. 1 Afro-American, a work played by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops in 1937 and the first symphony by an African-American composer to be performed by a significant American orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic.

 Uri Caine’s The Passion of Octavius Catto, an oratorio about the Reconstruction-era civil rights leader who was murdered in Philadelphia in 1871, also features a jazz trio (Uri Caine, piano; Mike Boone, bass; and Clarence Penn, drums); vocalist Barbara Walker and The Catto Chorus.

 A recording of The Passion of Octavius Catto conducted by André Raphel, with the Uri Caine trio and Barbara Walker, was released on August 30, 2019 on 816Music.  André Raphel states “The Passion of Octavius Catto is a piece of music unlike anything I have ever conducted given its historical significance.  Uri’s work fuses together different musical styles and does it in the framework of telling Catto’s story.  Catto wasn’t just an important figure in Philadelphia history; he was forgotten figure in U.S. history.”

About André Raphel

A dynamic and versatile conductor hailed for his profound musical performances, André Raphel is renowned for his technical brilliance.  An adventurous programmer, he has also developed a reputation as a skilled communicator. Raphel has led critically acclaimed festivals, world premieres and commissioned works by Richard Danielpour, Jennifer Higdon, Kenneth Fuchs, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, Uri Caine and Hannibal Lokumbe. 

Conductor Laureate of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, André Raphel led the orchestra as Music Director for 15 years. Other key positions have included, Assistant Conductor to Kurt Masur at the New York Philharmonic for two years. He was Assistant Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra for six years. Raphel served for three years as Assistant Conductor of the Saint Louis Symphony.   

Raphel enjoys an active career as guest conductor. During the 2019-20 season, he makes his subscription series debut with the Boston Symphony. He also appears with the Pittsburgh Symphony, Reading Symphony and leads the Ann Arbor Symphony. Raphel returns to Wheeling for a special concert leading Beethoven’s Mass in C  as part of Beethoven’s 250th Anniversary. He has appeared with most of the major American orchestras including Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. Raphel has led Germany’s Bamberg Symphony in two recordings for Bavarian Broadcasting. He made his Los Angeles debut conducting at the gala opening of The Broad museum. A new recording of Uri Caine’s Passion of Octavius Catto with Raphel conducting has garnered acclaim.   

André Raphel made his European debut with the Neubrandenburger Philharmonie and has also led the Moravska Philharmonie. In the United States he has appeared with the orchestras of Atlanta, Baltimore, Detroit, Houston, Milwaukee, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Saint Louis, Seattle, the National Symphony and Minnesota Orchestra among others. He made his Carnegie Hall debut leading Robert Shaw and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in a concert celebrating the centennial of mezzo-soprano Marian Anderson. Raphel’s international engagements have further included appearances with the Auckland Philharmonia, Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Columbia and Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Costa Rica.

A guest conductor at major music festivals, Raphel has led concerts at the Blossom Music Festival and Tanglewood Music Center.  He has also appeared at the Grant Park Music Festival, National Orchestral Institute, Brevard Music Festival, and the Campos do Jordao Festival in Brazil.

Raphel has a strong commitment to education and community engagement. His commitment to education is reflected in his work at leading conservatories and training programs.  He has led the Juilliard Orchestra, New World Symphony, Kennedy Center Summer Music Institute and Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra. During his tenure with the Saint Louis Symphony, he served as Music Director of the orchestra’s In Unison program, a partnership between the orchestra and local churches.

Born André Raphel Smith in Durham, North Carolina he began formal music lessons at age 11.  He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Miami, and pursued further study at Yale University where he earned his Master’s Degree.  While at Yale, he began conducting studies with Otto-Werner Mueller.  He continued studies with Mueller at The Curtis Institute of Music earning a Diploma in conducting and at The Juilliard School, where he was awarded the Bruno Walter Memorial Scholarship and received an Advanced Certificate in orchestral conducting.

Raphel is the recipient of numerous honors and awards which attest to his artistry. In 2012, he was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Miami.  The Philadelphia Orchestra issued a special commemorative CD featuring William Grant Still’s Symphony No.1 with Maestro Raphel conducting. He received the Distinguished Service Award from Yale University.  Raphel is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from West Liberty University. The North Carolina Senate awarded Raphel the “Order of the Long Leaf Pine.”  The award, presented annually is the state’s highest honor for a civilian.        

André Raphel Conducts the Boston Symphony Orchestra

Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 8pm

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor:  Petite Suite de Concert

William Grant Still:  Symphony No. 1 Afro-American

Uri Caine:  The Passion of Octavius Catto

  Uri Caine Trio; Vocalist Barbara Walker; The Catto Chorus

 

Friday, March 20, 2020 at 8pm (Casual Fridays)

William Grant Still:  Symphony No. 1 Afro-American

Uri Caine:  The Passion of Octavius Catto

  Uri Caine Trio; Vocalist Barbara Walker; The Catto Chorus

 

Saturday, March 21, 2020 at 8pm

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor:  Petite Suite de Concert

William Grant Still:  Symphony No. 1 Afro-American

Uri Caine:  The Passion of Octavius Catto

  Uri Caine Trio; Vocalist Barbara Walker; The Catto Chorus

 

 

 

Contact: Debra Kinzler ¦ drkinz@gmail.com ¦ 347.574.2155