Portland Spoke – The Official Blog of Travel Portland – Travel Portland's Staff Blog

It was date night and I had to come up with something special to placate the better half.  Lucky for me, an e-mail  hadpopped into my inbox earlier in the week with the perfect date idea: Catching the Oregon Symphony’s performance of “The New World Symphony.”  With Musical Director Carlos Kalmar at the helm, I knew we would be in good hands as we slipped into our seats.

Big sounds quickly filled the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall as we were treated to a phenomenal auditory experience for the next hour and a half.  About 20 minutes in, I had my first awe-inspiring moment, which came in the form of a question: Why has it taken me so long to attend a performance of classical music?  It was amazing.  Angie and I were treated to a firsthand look at the expert as Carlos Kalmar cued a section to play and sound burst forth as the music shifted around the orchestra.  The guest of honor, German cellist Alban Gerhardt, offered a stunning performance of the monumental creation by Prokofiev.  Needless to say, this was an experience I’m ready to relive in the near future.

When you’re ready to have your own classical music epiphany, the Oregon Symphony and I will be there with you.  For a full lineup of performances, visit the Oregon Symphony’s website, www.orsymphony.org.

This fall’s classical music season is far more eclectic than in days of old when warhorse symphonies dominated. The concert of the season, for example, might be Sō Percussion’s account of Steve Reich and John Cage, and the Oregon Symphony’s fall season features Dawn Upshaw singing great American songs and a Pink Martini collaboration. On the other hand, Portland Baroque Orchestra will settle in for Vivaldi and In Mulieribus will sing a program of women composers, ancient and contemporary. Here are some of the highlights.

Thomas Lauderdale and Storm Large

Oregon Symphony with Pink Martini – Sept. 11-13
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1111 S.W. Broadway

Pink Martini pianist Thomas Lauderdale isn’t just classically trained — he’s a longtime symphony supporter and current board member, so these collaborations between the city’s orchestra (fresh off its Carnegie Hall triumph) and its bubbly retro-Latin big band amount to much more than the usual crossover fare.

Portland Vocal Consort – Sept. 11
The Grotto, 8840 N.E. Skidmore St.

In a free tribute to the victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks, the choral ensemble will sing some of history’s most moving requiems by Spanish Renaissance composer Tomas Luis de Victoria and Samuel Barber, as well as patriotic songs.

Uri Caine

Uri Caine – Sept. 20
Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E. Burnside St.

The latest in Portland Piano International’s intimate, edgier series brings the jazz-tinged classical pianist and composer to town to explore the delightful possibilities along the boundaries of each genre.
(more…)

Travel Portland is working with Oregon Arts Watch, a new, nonprofit journalism enterprise, to cover upcoming art exhibits, performances and events in the city.

Here are some of this summer’s music highlights (see visual arts and theater highlights):

Emerson String Quartet (photo credit: Lisa-Marie Mazzucco)

Chamber Music Northwest
Various venues
June 20-July 24

The summer center of Portland’s vital chamber music scene, the 30 concerts in the 41st annual edition of this festival include the world premiere of a new clarinet quintet commissioned from composer Marc Neikrug (July 1); classic unfinished works by Bach, Mozart, Schubert and others completed by leading contemporary composers and performed by the Brentano String Quartet (July 9); and perhaps the world’s most accomplished classical foursome, the Emerson Quartet (July 16). (more…)

Sometimes, the winter weather in Portland can be a bit … dicey.  Fortunately for us, we have a great arts scene that provides some cozy distractions, from festivals (the Jazz Festival and the Portland International Film Festival are on right now) to season-long offerings from companies like the Oregon Ballet Theatre, Oregon Symphony and White Bird Dance.

Now through the end of March, downtown Portland’s performing arts organizations have teamed up to provide a break from the winter doldrums with a 2-for-1 offer on select performances.  Shows include STOMP, Alvin Ailey Dance, and a piece from Oregon writer Ken Kesey, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.  In addition, local restaurants and retailers are providing dining, shopping and parking discounts to showcase the full downtown Portland experience.

These deals are open to locals and visitors, so check out the details at downtownportland.org.

Bright new (energy-efficient) lights came on in downtown Portland’s cultural district today with the grand re-opening of Portland State University’s renovated Lincoln Hall.  Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski and PSU President Wim Wiewel presided over the ribbon cutting in the 465-seat venue that will host national and regional dance, theater and music companies such as White Bird’s Uncaged dance series, Friends of Chamber Music, NW Dance Project and PSU’s own symphony and theater programs.  There’s already a buzz around town about PSU’s world-renowned opera program’s presentation of Kurt Weill’s “Street Scene” next spring.  (Note to theatergoers – there  are excellent venues such as Higgins bar nearby for deconstructing the evening over a post-performance pint!) (more…)