Jean Sibelius
(Photo by Yousuf Karsh)

31 August - 12 September 2003
in BRASOV, ROMANIA
with
MAESTRO JORMA PANULA
and the
BRASOV PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Distinguished conductor and
conducting pedagogue, MAESTRO JORMA PANULA will lead the Mastercourse/Symposium.

Maestro Panula is an authority on the music and performance of the orchestral works of Jean Sibelius -- the focus of the event.

He has conducted major orchestras on all continents and was professor of conducting in his native Finland at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki (since 1973). He presently teaches conducting courses at the Stockholm Royal Academy, and formerly taught at the Copenhagen Royal Academy. Panula is in demand as an effective teacher of conducting mastercourses throughout the world. Several of his former students are now music directors of major orchestras, including Esa Pekka Salonen (LA Philharmonic), Osmo Vanska (Minnesota Orchestra, Lahti Symphony), Jukka Pekka Saraste (Toronto Symphony), Sakari Oramo (City of Birmingham Symphony, Finnish Radio Symphony), and Petri Sakari (formerly Iceland Symphony). The BBC has labeled him as one of the 60 most influential musicians alive today.

Brasov inaugurated its concert life with the Philharmonic Orchestra Society (Philharmonische Gesellschaft) on 6 May 1878, in a program that included Mozart's overture to Die Zauberflote and the Beethoven Sixth Symphony, with Anton Brandner conducting. Since then, the Brasov Philharmonic has performed the entire standard repertoire. Historically significant were appearances by such musical luminaries as Johann Strauss Jr., Josef Joachim, Johannes Brahms, Richard Strauss, Felix Weingartner, George Enescu and Edwin Fischer.

After the difficult war years, conductor Dinu Nicolescu led a reorganization, developing an exceptional orchestra by 1962-1963, when it received national recognition. The late 60's, 70's, 80's and early 90's were dominated by the personality of conductor I. Ionescu-Galati, who brought the orchestra international prominence, performing with prestigious artists, and touring with both chamber and symphonic-sized groups.

Beginning with 1996, the general manager and chief conductor of the Brasov Philharmonic has been Ovidiu Dan Chirila; its resident soloists are Florin Ionescu Galati, violin, and Anton Niculescu, violoncello. Conductors who have appeared with the orchestra have included Kiril Kondrasin, Carlo Zecchi, Kurt Woss, and Edward Civjilan; soloists have included IgorBezrodnai, Dmitri Baskirov, Aldo Ciccolini, Radu Lupu, Mihaela Ursuleasa, Viktor Tretiakov, Li-Min-Cean, Jean Jacques Kantorow, Rudolf Kerer, Lola Bobescu, Yvry Gitlis, Mihail Fichtengolz, Ion Voicu, Stefan Ruha, Valentin Gheorghiu, Dan Grigore, Silvia Marcovici, Mihaela Martin, Vladimir Orlov, Marin Cazacu, Radu Andulescu, and others. The Brasov Philharmonic Orchestra has also recorded widely for a variety of record labels.

Conductor MICHAEL HOLMES, a Sibelius scholar and former Fulbrighter in Finland, will provide practical sessions dealing directly with the symposium repertoire. Topics covered will include problems with the existing editions, discussion of important unpublished corrections, and a progress report on the current critical editions.

The Symposium/Mastercourse will begin on 31 August 2003 and conclude with its final concert on 12 September (some conductors may want to make optional excursions we have arranged in the region on 13 September). The event will take place in the rehearsal and performance halls of the BRASOV PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA and focus on selected orchestral works of Jean Sibelius with a full symphony orchestra. There will be 20 rehearsals and four public concerts (3, 5, 10, and 12 September) with lectures and discussions.

Sixteen (16) conductors will be selected as active participants from the applicants -- these conductors should be experienced professionals who want to deepen their knowledge of the Sibelius orchestral repertoire and its interpretation. Each of the conductors will have daily podium time and conduct on one of four public concerts with equal time. Up to ten (10) auditors will also be selected -- auditors need not have significant professional conducting experience, but should be experienced conductors with an interest in Sibelius and/or conducting technique, or others who are simply interested in the orchestral works of Jean Sibelius. Those auditors who are experienced conductors may also conduct during one or more rehearsals.

THREE MASTERCOURSE CONDUCTORS (SELECTED BY MAESTRO PANULA) WILL BE OFFERED CONCERTS WITH THE BRASOV PHILHARMONIC IN 2004.

The fee for the course is 2,200 USD (for active participants) and 500 USD (for auditors) excluding travel, accommodation and meals.

We have negotiated the following rates at the Hotel "Coroana" -- 30 USD per night for a single; 40 USD per night for a double -- breakfast is included and all rooms have full bath. Less expensive accommodations are also available. The hotel is very close to rehearsal and performance halls.

Brasov, Romania is easily reached by train or auto from either Budapest, Vienna or Bucharest and is three hours by car from Otopeni International Airport in Bucharest. The Philharmonic will provide ground transportation to and from Bucharest.

31 August: Probe at 18.00
1 September: Probe at 9:30/Video/Probe at 18.00
2 September: Probe at 9.30/Video/Probe at 18.00
3 September: Probe at 10.00/Video/Concert 1 at 19.30
4 September: Probe at 9.30/Video/Probe at 18.00
5 September: Probe at 10.00/Video/Concert 2 at 19.30
6 September: Probe at 9.30/Video/Probe at 18.00
7 September: Probe at 10.00
8 September: Probe at 9.30/Video/Probe at 18.00
9 September: Probe at 9.30/Video/Probe at 18.00
10 September: Probe at 10.00/Video/Concert 3 at 19.30
11 September: Probe at 9.30/Video/Probe at 18.00
12 September: Probe at 10.00/Video/Concert 4 at 19.30
13 September: Possible video/excursion/departure

20 Proben, 4 Concerts, 16 Conductors, perhaps 8 auditors

Although the repertoire list is extensive, conductors will conduct and prepare pieces of their choice (whenever possible). They should, however, be familiar with most of the repertoire; there will be opportunities for them to "get their feet wet" with unfamiliar repertoire (to them) in a supportive and "low pressure" context.

* - Swedish songs with orchestra (to be performed by baritone, Brian Ming Chu)
** - Finnish songs with orchestra (to be performed by baritone, Brian Ming Chu)
Brian Ming Chu is the soloist for all orchestral/vocal works

The orchestral music of Sibelius is available through:
Breitkopf & Hartel (Wiesbaden, Germany) - www.breitkopf.com
Wilhelm Hansen (Copenhagen, Denmark) - www.ewh.dk
Edwin F. Kalmus (Boca Raton, Florida, USA) - www.kalmus-music.com
NB -- The Orchestral Songs are available through Breitkopf. The Serenade (Stagnelius, 1895) is unpublished, but it will be distributed at the Symposium.