Detroit Symphony Hosts French Mezzo-Soprano Isabelle Druet’s American Debut as Part of “Exotic Adventures” Program (April 16-18)

“In an era in which the majority of American orchestra programs are cookie-cutter duplicates, the Detroit experience speaks to the uniqueness of the DSO.” — Detroit Free Press

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra welcomes prize-winning French mezzo-soprano Isabelle Druet for her American debut, performing Maurice Ravel’s Shéhérazade as part of the DSO’s “Exotic Adventures” program April 16-18. In addition to the French composer’s Shéhérazade with Druet – admired for her “rich, dark” voice (Scena) – the DSO under music director Leonard Slatkin will perform Ravel’s “Ouverture de Féerie” from Shéhérazade and his Two Hebraic Melodies, along with several works by Argentinian composer Alberto Ginastera: his Piano Concerto No. 1 (with soloist Simon Mulligan), Pampeana No. 1 for Violin and String Orchestra (featuring DSO Associate concertmaster Kimberly Kaloyanides Kennedy) and Four Dances from the ballet Estancia. The “Exotic Adventures” concerts take place at Orchestra Hall on Thursday April 16 at 7:30pm, Friday April 17 at 10:45am and Saturday April 18 at 8:00pm. One hour prior to the Thursday and Saturday performances, University of Michigan students will perform a vocal recital of songs by Ravel and other French composers of his era.

The April 17 morning performance will be streamed live to a worldwide audience via the free “Live from Orchestra Hall” HD webcast. The concert can be viewed on a desktop by logging onto dso.org/live, and music lovers can also download the free DSO to Go mobile app for a portable concert experience.

Looking ahead to April 24-25, the DSO and Slatkin will present the world premiere of André Previn’s Double Concerto, to be performed by the husband-and-wife team of violinist Jaime Laredo and cellist Sharon Robinson. The program will also include Mozart’s Overture to The Magic Flute and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 “Romantic.” For more details, click here.

About Isabelle Druet

Isabelle Druet is a young yet seasoned performer who received a Victoire in the French Classical Music Awards 2010 as the year’s most promising young opera singer. The course Druet has followed is unusual: she has not only explored the art of singing through various traditional and modern types of music, she also trained as an actor and is co-founder of the company La Carotte in Besancon, with which she has presented many shows that combine theater, mime and music. She graduated from the Paris Conservatoire summa cum laude in 2007. That same year, Druet received the Adami award as Young Classical Singer of the Year, and she won Second Prize in the Queen Elisabeth of Belgium International Music Competition in 2008.

About the DSO

Hailed by the New York Times as “cutting edge,” the internationally acclaimed Detroit Symphony Orchestra is known for trailblazing performances, visionary maestros, collaborations with the world’s foremost musical artists and an unwavering commitment to Detroit. Esteemed conductor Leonard Slatkin, called “America’s Music Director” by the Los Angeles Times, became the 12th Music Director of the DSO during the 2008-09 season. Acclaimed conductor, arranger and trumpeter Jeff Tyzik serves as Principal Pops Conductor while celebrated trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard holds the Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Jazz Creative Director Chair. The DSO’s performance schedule includes Classical, Pops, Jazz, Young People’s, and Neighborhood Concerts and collaborations with chart-topping musicians from Smokey Robinson to Kid Rock. A commitment to broadcast innovation began in 1922 when the DSO became the first orchestra in the world to present a radio broadcast and continues today with the free “Live from Orchestra Hall” webcast series. Making its home at historic Orchestra Hall within the Max M. Fisher Music Center, one of America’s most acoustically ideal concert halls, the DSO actively pursues a mission to inspire and serve the community through music. For more information, visit the newly updated dso.org or download the free DSO to Go mobile app.

Subscriptions can be purchased by visiting dso.org or calling the DSO’s Box Office at 313-576-5111. Students of any age can attend any Classical, Jazz or Pops concert at Orchestra Hall free all season long by purchasing a Soundcard for $25. More information is available at dso.org/soundcard.

To read the DSO’s full 2015-16 Season news release, including programming for Pops, Young People’s Family Concerts, “DSO Presents” special series and subscription pricing, click here.

Upcoming DSO concerts

Thursday April 16, 7:30pm
Friday April 17, 10:45am webcast
Saturday April 18, 8:00pm
Leonard Slatkin, conductor
Simon Mulligan, piano
Kimberly Kaloyanides Kennedy, violin
Isabelle Druet, mezzo-soprano
RAVEL “Ouverture de Féerie” from Shéhérazade 
GINASTERA Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 28
RAVEL Two Hebraic Melodies
GINASTERA Pampeana No. 1 for Violin and String Orchestra, Op. 16
RAVEL Shéhérazade
GINASTERA Four Dances from Estancia

Friday April 24, 8:00pm
Saturday April 25, 8:00pm webcast
Leonard Slatkin, conductor
Jaime Laredo, violin
Sharon Robinson, cello
MOZART Overture to The Magic Flute
ANDRE PREVIN Double Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Orchestra
BRUCKNER Symphony No. 4, “Romantic”

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© 21C Media Group, March 2015