Oakland Symphony Kicks Off Season with Bates Premiere Tonight

The Oakland Symphony opens its 22nd season with a West Coast premiere by Bay Area composer Mason Bates tonight, October 2, at 8 pm at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland. The program, with Music Director and conductor Michael Morgan on the podium, includes the West Coast premiere of Bates's Devil's Radio, Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 2 with guest soloist and young Bay Area artist Kenneth Renshaw, selections from Brahms' Liebeslieder Waltzes with the Oakland Symphony Chorus conducted by Lynne Morrow, who celebrates her tenth year with the Chorus, and Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances. The Oakland Symphony 2015-2016 season is sponsored by the California Arts Council, Art Works, the National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Oakland and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. The season opening concert is sponsored by Wells Fargo. For more information and tickets, priced $15-$75 and on sale August 15, visit www.oaklandsymphony.org .

Two internationally acclaimed local artists--composer Mason Bates, who has worked with the Symphony since early in his career, and Menuhin Competition winner and Crowden School alumnus Kenneth Renshaw--take the stage for what promises to be a sensational season opening. Bates's Devil's Radio (2014) swings and grooves from quietly propulsive to shimmering melodic "lures" to a bluesy bassline. Kenneth Renshaw brings a formidable technique and interpretive flair to Prokofiev's virtuoso concerto. Oakland Symphony Chorus Music Director Lynne Morrow celebrates ten years on the podium conducting selections from Brahms's lyrical Liebeslieder Waltzes. Rachmaninoff's lush Symphonic Dances completes the program.

A new name for the Symphony

In June, the Symphony Board of Directors voted to change the name of the orchestra to Oakland Symphony from Oakland East Bay Symphony to more accurately reflect the organization's home base and the community's pride of ownership of one of the country's most recognized regional orchestras. The Oakland Symphony will continue to serve its core community as well as audiences from throughout the Bay Area in its main stage concerts, increasing performances and events in the community and its acclaimed education programs that reach tens of thousands of participants each year.

OCTOBER 2 AT THE PARAMOUNT THEATRE

WHO: Oakland Symphony, Michael Morgan, conductor; with Kenneth Renshaw, violin, Oakland Symphony Chorus and Mason Bates, composer
WHEN: Friday, October 2, at 8 pm
WHERE: Paramount Theatre, 2025 Broadway, Oakland, CA
PROGRAM: West Coast premiere of Bates's Devil's Radio, Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 2 with guest soloist and young Bay Area artist Kenneth Renshaw, selections from Brahms' Liebeslieder Waltzes with the Oakland Symphony Chorus conducted by Lynne Morrow, who celebrates her tenth year with the Chorus, and Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances.
TICKETS AND INFO: $20-$70 www.oaklandsymphony.org or 510-444-0802

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