Early Romantics Festival Continues March 31 With Works By Schumann, Chopin And Liszt

News Release Contact:
Sara Obuchowski, (707) 546-7097 ext 218

February 13 , 2007

(SANTA ROSA, CA) – The third concert of the 4-concert Santa Rosa Symphony Early Romantics Festival takes place on Saturday, March 31, at 5:30 p.m. at Sonoma Country Day School’s Jackson Theater. This performance offers two chamber works of Robert Schumann: his Piano Quartet in E-flat major, and his String Quartet No. 2 which contains the rhythmic displacements and textural surprises that are also characteristic of his piano music. Of all the Romantics, Schumann may have possessed the most remarkable ear for harmonic color.

Also on the program are Chopin’s Berceuse in D-flat major and Franz Liszt’s Valse-Caprice No. 6 from Soirées de Vienne for Piano. It was Schumann who first announced to the world that Chopin was a genius, and it was Chopin who competed with Liszt in the arena of transcendental piano technique. Hearing all three composers side by side offers a unique snapshot of Romantic Era individualism.

Mack McCray, a faculty member at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music since 1971, is Festival host and the featured pianist. He received his B.M. and M.S. from The Juilliard School, where he studied under Irwin Freundlich. He won the Silver medal in the International George Enesco Competition, first prize in the Charleston Symphony and San Francisco Young Artists competitions, Juilliard’s Edward Steuermann Memorial Prize, and a grant from the Martha Baird Rockefeller Foundation—all in one season (1969-1970). McCray has performed at the Festival d’Automne in Paris, Seville’s Great Interpreters Cycle, UNESCO Festival of International Artists at Monte Carlo, the Bucharest Philharmonic’s Bach/Beethoven/Brahms Festival, and the Hong Kong City Hall Series. He is also artistic director of Zephyr International Chamber Music Festival, held annually in Courmayeur, Italy.

Following the March 31 concert, audience members will have the opportunity to attend a wine reception with the musicians, compliments of Kendall Jackson.

Santa Rosa Symphony gratefully acknowledges The National Endowment for the Arts, Jackson Wine Estates and Barbara Banke & Jess Jackson for making this festival series possible.

Single tickets, at $23 and $31, can be purchased online at www.santarosasymphony.com or by calling the Symphony Box Office at (707) 546-8742. Student rush tickets can be obtained for $10 each (with valid student I.D.) at the venue 30 minutes before the performance.