Announcing Grammy-winning Conductor Michael Christie’s 2021-2022 Season - New West Symphony, Atlanta Opera, and Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Announcing Grammy-winning Conductor Michael Christie’s 2021-

Third Season as Artistic and Music Director of New West Symphony

Leading the Orchestra in Full Season of Live Performances Beginning in December 

Making Atlanta Opera Debut and Returning to Lyric Opera of Kansas City to Conduct Mason Bates’ The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs

“[New West Symphony is] embracing the mission of refreshing the modern concert experience for a new generation” – Los Angeles Times

www.michaelchristieonline.com

Los Angeles, CA – Grammy-winning conductor Michael Christie announces his 2021-22 season with audience-building initiatives and a kaleidoscopic array of musical masterworks. Christie is a thoughtfully innovative conductor, equally at home in the symphonic and opera worlds, who is focused on making the audience experience at his performances entertaining, enlightening, and enriching. The New York Times reports, “Michael Christie is a director open to adventure and challenge,” and the Cincinnati Enquirer declares, “If Michael Christie represents the future of music in this country, the future looks promising indeed.” The 2021-22 season is Christie’s third as Artistic and Music Director of the New West Symphony (NWS), and will also see him lead performances of Mason Bates’ groundbreaking opera, The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs in Atlanta, GA and Kansas City, MO.

Christie returns to Lyric Opera of Kansas City (March 11, 12, 13, 2022) and makes his debut with Atlanta Opera (April 30, May 3, 6, 8, 2022), in Mason Bates’ The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, for which he won a 2019 Grammy Award (Best Opera Recording) for the world premiere recording with The Santa Fe Opera (PENTATONE). In 2017, he led the world premiere performances at The Santa Fe Opera, “with suave assurance” (San Francisco Chronicle), with “precision and pizzazz” (Santa Fe New Mexican), and “preside[d] over an expertly executed performance” (The Financial Times). 

The New West Symphony’s 2021-2022 six-concert Masterpiece Series marks the orchestra’s return to a full season of live performances following a season of seven virtual festivals (Global Sounds. Local Cultures.) during the pandemic. A new December offering will kick off the holiday season with a program of symphonic wintertime delights and beloved holiday traditions in what promises to be a new tradition for the Symphony. The remainder of the season through November 2022, will present programs ranging from the familiar melodies of Hollywood’s Silver Screen and the Great American Songbook to the pinnacle of symphonic masterworks, Beethoven’s beloved Ninth Symphony, in Thousand Oaks and Camarillo, CA.

The season will feature performances of works by four American women composers: Joan Tower’s Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman, Jessie Montgomery’s Strum, Reena Esmail’s Meri Sakhi Ki Avaaz (My Sister’s Voice), and a world premiere collaborative performance of Pauline Frechette’s Tales of Winter. Other works on the season include Dvorák’s Suite in A Major, “American;” Sibelius’ Third Symphony; Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony; selections from Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha; and music by Vivaldi, Vaughan Williams, Bottesini, and Korngold.

“This exciting and varied season emphasizes two goals: first, welcoming our devoted fans back to the concert hall to relish in the artistry of live performance; and second, to build the orchestra’s audience for the coming years,” said Christie. “I have selected iconic favorites and expanded our programming to embrace families, first time concertgoers, and the large numbers of new residents to the region, many of whom are already avid classical music lovers. Joining our extraordinary musicians to enhance the experience is an exceptional group of guest artists and ensembles performing an array of musical styles.”

Acclaimed guest artists making their New West Symphony Masterpiece Series solo debuts include violinist Elena Urioste, guitarist JIJI, New West Symphony principal trumpet James Grinta, double bassist Xavier Foley, the ensemble Hermanos Herrera, Hindustani soprano Saili Oak, soprano Toni Marie Palmertree, mezzo soprano Sarah Coit, tenor Yongzhao Yu, and baritone Craig Irvin. Pianist Andrew von Oeyen returns to perform Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto. Vocal ensembles from California Lutheran University and Pepperdine University will provide the choral forces for the Beethoven Ninth Symphony performances.

Michael Christie’s 2021-2022 New West Symphony Concerts

All Saturday Performances at 7pm at Thousand Oaks Bank of America Performing Arts Center (2100 E Thousand Oaks Blvd. | Thousand Oaks, CA)

All Sunday Performances at 3pm at Rancho Campana Performing Arts Center (4235 Mar Vista Dr.| Camarillo, CA)

Season subscriptions and single tickets available at www.newwestsymphony.org

Tales Of Winter! Celebrate The Holidays with New West Symphony

Symphonic wintertime delights and beloved holiday traditions will have you skating in the aisles. The orchestra will be joined by the Los Robles Children’s Choir, traditional Mexican music ensemble Hermanos Herrera, members of the California Contemporary Ballet, and special guest host, actor and impressionist Jim Meskimen, all under the direction of Michael Christie.

December 4 & 5, 2021
Michael Christie, conductor
Jim Meskimen, guest host
Hermanos Herrera, guest ensemble
California Contemporary Ballet
Los Robles Children’s Choir  

TCHAIKOVSKY: Selections from The Nutcracker
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Snow Maiden Suite
WALDTEUFEL: Skater’s Waltz
FRY: The Twelfth Elf
FRECHETTE: Tales of Winter (world premiere)
ANDERSON: Sleigh Ride 

Our American Roots

From majestic mountains to Hollywood’s Silver Screen, America inspires great music. Antonin Dvorák wove a musical tapestry that blended American styles with Western European symphonic traditions, influencing the works of Aaron Copland, Joan Tower, Erich Wolfgang Korngold and John Williams. 

January 29 & 30, 2022
Michael Christie, conductor

Elena Urioste, violin

COPLAND: Fanfare for the Common Man
DVORÁK: Suite in A Major, “American”
TOWER: Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman
KORNGOLD: Violin Concerto
WILLIAMS: Star Wars Suite

Music To My Ears: The Science of Sound

Music is one of humanity’s most treasured and enduring experiences, combining physical science with human emotional response. Together we will explore how the characteristics of musical instruments and concert venues themselves create our vibrant acoustic experience.

February 26 & 27, 2022
Michael Christie, conductor
JIJI, guitar/electric guitar
James Grinta, trumpet

GABRIELI: Canzon noni toni a 12
VIVALDI: Concerto for Guitar in D Major
MONTGOMERY: Strum
TELEMANN: Suite for Trumpet, Strings and Continuo
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
MOZART: Serenade No. 6 in D Major, “Serenata notturna” 

Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3
Written within a few years of each other, Rachmaninoff’s epic concert showpiece, Sibelius’ beautiful folk-influenced symphony and Joplin’s ragtime-inspired opera each capture a spirit of national pride and musical awakening that distinguished early 20th Century music.

April 2 & 3, 2022
Michael Christie, conductor
Andrew von Oeyen, piano

RACHMANINOFF: Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor
JOPLIN: Selections from Treemonisha
SIBELIUS: Symphony No. 3 in C Major

Masters Of Melody

Timeless melodies lead us from the heights of ecstasy to the depths of despair. Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony and classic melodies from Mexico and The Great American Songbook connect us to our past and carry us through our lives. 

October 1 & 2, 2022
Michael Christie, conductor
Xavier Foley, double bass
Hermanos Herrera, guest ensemble

MUSIC FROM   The Great American Songbook and Beyond
BOTTESINI: Double Bass Concerto No. 2 in B Minor
MOZART: Symphony No. 41 in C Major, “Jupiter”           

Ode To Joy

New West Symphony ends the season with a celebration of unity. Beethoven’s triumphant Symphony No. 9 and Reena Esmail’s My Sister’s Voice explore themes of human connection beyond borders and the passage of time.

November 19 & 20, 2022
Michael Christie, conductor
Saili Oak, Hindustani soprano
Toni Marie Palmertree, soprano
Sarah Coit, mezzo soprano
Yongzhao Yu, tenor
Craig Irvin, baritone

California Lutheran University Choral Ensembles & Arete Vocal Ensemble

Wyant Morton, director

Pepperdine University Choral Ensembles
Ryan Board, director           

ESMAIL: Meri Sakhi Ki Avaaz (My Sister’s Voice)
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, “Choral”

 

Michael Christie’s Opera Performances?

Mason Bates: The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs
Lyric Opera of Kansas City
March 11, 12, 13, 2022
Tickets and Information

Mason Bates: The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs

Atlanta Opera 
April 30, May 3, 6, 8, 2022
Tickets and Information

More about Michael Christie: Christie was featured in Opera News in August 2012 as one of 25 people believed to “break out and become major forces in the field in the coming decade.” At Minnesota Opera, Christie led 24 productions over eight years, six seasons as its first-ever Music Director (2012-2018). Other recent highlights include leading performances with Washington National Opera, Opéra de Montréal, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Des Moines Metro Opera, and Michigan Opera Theatre. Deeply committed to bringing new works to life, Michael Christie has championed commissions by leading and emerging composers alike, including Mark Adamo, Mason Bates, Unsuk Chin, Michael Daugherty, Osvaldo Golijov, Mark Grey, Daron Hagen, Jennifer Higdon, Matthew Hindson, Huang Ruo, Marjan Mozetich, Stephen Paulus, Kevin Puts, and more.

Michael Christie has been a strong proponent of multicultural programming throughout his career. He created a World Music Festival at the Phoenix Symphony and a World Music Series at the Colorado Music Festival. As Chief Conductor of the Queensland Orchestra in Australia, he toured Japan and recorded his debut album with didgeridoo player William Barton. With the Phoenix Symphony, he premiered and recorded Mark Grey’s Enemy Slayer: A Navajo Oratorio, libretto by Navajo poet Laura Tohe. While Music Director of the Brooklyn Philharmonic, he led performances of Tan Dun’s The Gate and created the orchestra’s Nuevo Latino Festival.

Christie’s conducting career, spanning more than 20 years, has included serving as Music Director of the Phoenix Symphony (2005-2013) and Brooklyn Philharmonic (2005-2010), and as Chief Conductor of the Queensland Orchestra (2001-2004) in Australia, as well as guest appearances leading the Los Angeles Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Rhode Island Philharmonic, and the Symphonies of Dallas, St. Louis, Atlanta, Houston, Minnesota, Oregon, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Santa Rosa. Christie’s many European engagements have included leading the Rotterdam Philharmonic, DSO Berlin, Orchestre National de Lille, Swedish and Netherlands Radio Symphony, City of Birmingham Symphony, NDR Hannover Orchestra and the Czech Philharmonic. In addition, Christie enjoys a strong profile in Australia, where he has conducted the Sydney Symphony, Tasmanian Symphony, Opera Queensland, and the Western Australian Symphony in Perth. 

Michael Christie first came to international attention in 1995 when he was awarded a special prize for “Outstanding Potential” at the First International Sibelius Conductors’ Competition in Helsinki. Following the competition, he was invited to become an apprentice conductor with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra where he subsequently worked with Daniel Barenboim as well as at the Berlin State Opera during the 1996-1997 season. For more information, visit www.michaelchristieonline.com.