Sinfonia da Camera

{{short description|Chamber orchestra in Illinois}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox orchestra | name = Sinfonia da Camera | type = Chamber orchestra | short_name =  | image = | caption = | alt = | founded = {{Start date|1984}} | location = Champaign-Urbana, Illinois | concert_hall = Krannert Center for the Performing Arts | principal_conductor = | music_director = Ian Hobson | website =  | logo = }} '''Sinfonia da Camera''' is a professional chamber orchestra in Central Illinois. It was founded in 1984 by Ian Hobson, a noted pianist who in 1981 was awarded the First Prize in the Leeds International Piano Competition.<ref>{{cite web | title=The 1981 Competition | url=http://www.leedspiano.com/content/1981-competition | work=leedspiano.com | publisher=Leeds International Piano Competition | date=1981 | access-date=2016-07-22 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113012200/http://www.leedspiano.com/content/1981-competition | archive-date=2014-11-13 }}</ref> The orchestra is composed of musicians throughout the Midwest and brings music to audiences in Central Illinois and elsewhere. In addition to performing the standard repertoire from baroque to modern music, Ian Hobson and Sinfonia da Camera frequently present compositions by composers that are performed less often and a world premiere by a contemporary composer or a newly made orchestration of an earlier work.

==History==

The orchestra was formed in September 1984 and performed two concerts that season in the Great Hall of the Krannert Center at the University of Illinois and at Lake Land College in Mattoon.<ref name="JoursGaz1984-09-12">{{cite news | title=Chamber orchestra concert 'near to heaven' | url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/82751280/ | publisher=Journal Gazette | page=19 | location=Mattoon, Illinois | date=September 12, 1984 | access-date=2017-02-07 }}</ref> During succeeding years the number of concerts increased, and has included either six or seven concerts at Krannert Center each year starting with the 1989–1990 season.<ref name="SdaC History">{{cite web | title=Sinfonia da Camera – History | url=http://www.sinfonia.illinois.edu/#!history/zgyjm | publisher=University of Illinois | work=illinois.edu | access-date=2017-02-07 }}</ref>

Fifteen recordings are listed by ArkivMusic for Sinfonia da Camera.<ref name="Arkiv-SdaC-recordings">{{cite web | url= http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Name/Sinfonia-da-Camera/Ensemble/67304-4 | title=Sinfonia da Camera – recordings | work=ArkivMusic | access-date=2017-03-27 }}</ref> A live recording of Sinfonia da Camera's October 6, 2014, concert featuring music by Pulitzer-Prize winner George Walker was released on Albany Records in 2016.<ref name="WalkerRecording">{{cite web | title=George Walker: Great American Orchestral Works, Vol. 4 | url=http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=998337 | work=ArkivMusic | access-date=2017-02-07 }}</ref><ref name="WalkerNotes">{{cite web | title=African Heritage Symphonic Series, Vol. II -- Program Notes | url=http://www.dramonline.org/albums/african-heritage-symphonic-series-vol-ii/notes | work=dramonline.org | access-date=2017-02-07 }}</ref> The four volumes of the Ignaz Moscheles cycle were released in 1999, 2001, 2004 and 2012.<ref>{{cite web | title=Moscheles: Piano Concertos  | url=http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Search?cx=011477110254701862377%3Abwrykxfy_di&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=UTF-8&google_search=1&searchingPage=J10W23T21&searching=1&engine=2&role_wanted=-1&q=Moscheles%3A+Piano+Concertos+Vol&sa.x=16&sa.y=12 | work=ArkivMusic | access-date=2017-02-07 }}</ref> Each volume was positively reviewed in ''American Record Guide'', for example, volume 2<ref name="ARGuide-NovDec2001">{{cite journal | title=Moscheles, Piano Concertos 3+5; Sinfonia da Camera/Ian Hobson | url=http://www.americanrecordguide.com/issue.php | journal=American Record Guide | volume=64 | issue=6 | page=154 |url-access=subscription | quote=Hobson, whose elegant phrasing, remarkable ear for color, and miraculous ability to evenly sustain the most difficult runs —— each like a string of pearls —— are simply a joy to hear | last=Haller | first=Steven J. | date=November–December 2001 | access-date= }} (or, via [http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=5490360&site=ehost-live EBSCO], or [http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy2.library.illinois.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=5490360&site=ehost-live UofIllLib]). Retrieved 2017-03-27.</ref> and volume 3.<ref name="ARGuide-JanFeb2005">{{cite news | url=http://www.americanrecordguide.com/issue.php | title=Moscheles, Piano Concertos 1 +6; Variations on Alexander's March; Au Claire de la Lune, Hobson, Sinfonia Da Camera | journal=American Record Guide | volume=68 | issue=1 | pages=142–143 | quote=[the concerti] seem tailor-made for Hobson’s great panache and free-wheeling style -- a welcome addition to the catalog | last=Haller |date=January–February 2005| access-date=2017-02-06 }} (or, via [http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=15598425&site=ehost-live EBSCO])</ref> In 2011 the Albany label released a Sinfonia recording of another American composer, William Schuman, during his centenary year.<ref name="Fanfare-NovDec2011">{{cite journal | title=American Festival Overture. A Free Song. Prelude. On Freedom's Ground. | url=http://dev.fanfarearchive.com/articles/atop/35_2/3524800.az_SCHUMAN_American_Festival_Overture.html | journal= Fanfare: The Magazine for Serious Record Collectors | volume=35 | issue=2 | pages=562–563 | last=Snook | first=Paul A. |date=November–December 2011| access-date=2017-02-06 }} (or, via [http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=66385860&site=ehost-live EBSCO]) </ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Name/University-Of-Illinois-Oratoria-Society/Ensemble/232082-4 | title=Schuman: On Freedom's Ground, American Festival Overture, A Free Song / Hobson, Sinfonia Da Camera | work=ArkivMusic | date=July 12, 2011 | access-date=2017-02-06 }}</ref>

==Selected season performances== 2000-2001 Season * The first concert of the season included the world première of Graham Whettam’s ''Concerto Drammatico'' with cellist Martin Rummel.<ref name="BritOrch-vol2">{{cite web | title=Program notes: British Orchestral Music, Vol. 2 (Redcliffe Recordings RR017) | url=http://www.musicweb-international.com/Redcliffe/RR017.htm | last1=Conway | first1=Paul | last2=Routh | first2=Francis | work=musicweb-international.com }}</ref><ref name="CulotOnWhettam">{{cite web | title=Concerto Drammatico; Sinfonia contra timore | url=http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2002/Jan02/whettam.htm | last=Culot | first=Hubert | work=musicweb-international.com }}</ref> * Special guest artists also included Paul Merkelo (trumpet)<ref>{{cite web | title=Paul Merkelo, principal trumpet | url=http://www.osm.ca/en/bio/paul-merkelo | publisher=OSM, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal |access-date=2017-02-06 }}</ref> and Nathan Gunn (baritone). * Haydn’s ''Creation'' was performed with the University of Illinois Chorale and Oratorio Society. * A season-closing European tour included two London concerts, one featuring baritone Nathan Gunn singing Delius and Scheer songs<ref name="Southbank2001-05-22">{{cite web | title=Sinfonia da Camera - Hobson/Gunn | date=May 22, 2001 | url=http://www.uktw.co.uk/archive/concert/sinfonia-da-camera/L1526150285/ | location=Southbank Center, London | work=uktw.co.uk | access-date=2017-03-28 }}</ref> and one with marimbist William Moersch performing the UK premiere of Bennett's Marimba Concerto.<ref name="Fairfield2001-05-23">{{cite web | title=Sinfonia da Camera - Hobson/Moersch | work=uktw.co.uk | date=May 23, 2001 | url=http://www.uktw.co.uk/archive/concert/sinfonia-da-camera/L01038832186/ | location=Ashcroft Theater, Fairfield Hall, Croydon, London | access-date=2017-03-28 }}</ref> * A recording of Ignaz Moscheles' Piano Concertos, Vol. II was released.<ref name="ARGuide-NovDec2001"/> 2001-2002 Season * Guest artists included pianist Jonathan Faiman,<ref name="Faiman1998">{{cite news | title=Want the Newest of the New? Then Try Writing It Yourself | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/31/arts/music-review-want-the-newest-of-the-new-then-try-writing-it-yourself.html | last=Kozinn | first=Allan | author-link=Allan Kozinn | work=New York Times | date=August 31, 1998 | access-date=2017-02-10 }}</ref> who performed the world première of his piano concerto ''Conversations with Piano and Orchestra,'' and violinist Andrés Cárdenes. * The University of Illinois Chorale and Oratorio Society joined Sinfonia to perform Bach’s ''St. John Passion''. * Sinfonia presented a concert at the University of South Carolina's Koger Center for the Arts.<ref name="TheState2001-11-30">{{cite news | title=VENUE BY VENUE | url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/0F0225E7F8D0F400?p=AWNB | work=The State | date=November 30, 2001| access-date=2017-03-16 }}</ref>

2005-2006 Season

* American première of George Enescu’s opera ''Oedipe'' featuring Stefan Ignat as soloist in his American debut.<ref name="Mitchell2005">{{cite web | url=https://news.illinois.edu/blog/view/6367/207176 | title=American premiere of Enescu opera to take place at Illinois | last=Mitchell | first=Melissa | publisher=University of Illinois News bureau | date=September 28, 2005 | access-date=2017-02-06 }}</ref><ref name="Opera-March2006">{{cite web | title=Opera around the world – Urbana | url=https://reader.exacteditions.com/issues/51909/spread/84 | last=Parsons | first=Charles H. | work=Opera | date=March 2006 | pages=339–340 | access-date=2017-02-06 }} (or, via [http://opera.archive.netcopy.co.uk/article/march-2006/40/opera-around-the-world/opera%20around%20the%20world Opera archive], or [https://reader-exacteditions-com.proxy2.library.illinois.edu/issues/51909/spread/84 UofIllLib])</ref> * World première,<ref name="Clinton2016-03-30">{{cite web |title=Dr. James Buckland Guitar Recital March 31 | url=http://www.clintonchronicle.com/breaking-news/dr-james-buckland-guitar-recital-march-31 | last=Franklin | first=Larry | work=The Clinton Chronicle | date=March 30, 2016 | access-date=2017-03-26 }}</ref> featuring guitarist James Buckland, of his reconstruction of a long-lost version for "full orchestra and terz guitar"<ref name="Heck1995">{{cite book | title=Mauro Giuliani: Virtuoso Guitarist and Composer | pages=116–117 | last=Heck | first=Thomas F. | publisher=Editions Orphée | location=Columbus, Ohio, USA | isbn=0936186879 | ol=785147M | date=1995 }}</ref> of Mauro Giuliani’s Second Guitar Concerto, Op. 36.

2006-2007 Season

* Guest artists included Chu-Fang Huang (piano),<ref name="NYTimes2007-12-12">{{cite news | title=Living Large and Robustly With Schumann and Ravel | last=Kozinn | first=Allan | author-link=Allan Kozinn | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/12/arts/music/12zank.html | work=The New York Times | date=December 12, 2007 | access-date=2013-03-17 }}</ref> winner of the 2005 Cleveland International Piano Competition, and Graeme Jennings (violin). * Two world premières were performed by Sinfonia da Camera: ''Ianus''<ref name="tipeiCompIndex">{{cite web | title=Computer Music Compositions: Sever Tipei | url=http://ems.music.illinois.edu/people/tipei/Comp/index.html | work=ems.music.illinois.edu | access-date=2013-03-17 }}</ref> for chamber ensemble and computer-generated sounds by Sever Tipei and ''Still''<ref name="MakanStill2006">{{cite web | title=Still (2006) Violin, Viola, and Chamber Orchestra | url=http://keerilmakan.com/#/music/still | work= keerilmakan.com | access-date=2013-03-17 }}</ref> for Violin (Graeme Jennings), Viola (Masumi Per Rostad<ref name="IU-Rostad">{{cite web | title=Jacobs School of Music, Faculty Biography: Masumi Per Rostad | url=http://info.music.indiana.edu/faculty/current/per-rostad-masumi.shtml | work=indiana.edu| access-date=2017-03-17 }}</ref><ref name="NYTimes-1999-02-03">{{cite web | title=Sounds of the Decade From Diverse Sources | last=Griffiths | first=Paul | author-link=Paul Griffiths (writer) | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/03/arts/critic-s-notebook-sounds-of-the-decade-from-diverse-sources.html | work=The New York Times | date=February 3, 1999 | access-date=2017-03-17 }}</ref>) and Chamber Orchestra by Keeril Makan.<ref name="MIT-Makan">{{cite web | title=MIT Music Faculty: Keeril Makan | url=http://mta.mit.edu/person/keeril-makan | work=mta.mit.edu | access-date=2013-03-17 }}</ref> * ''The Marriage of Figaro'' commemorated the 250th birth year of Mozart. * Sinfonia took a two-week tour to China (Beijing and Shanghai).<ref name="newsmth2007-05-06">{{cite web | title=Sinfonia de Camera (at UIUC) Goes to China | url=http://m.newsmth.net/article/Chorus/47225 | work=m.newsmth.net | date=May 6, 2007 | access-date=2017-03-22 }}</ref><ref name="InsideIllinois2007-05-17">{{cite web | title=Musical mission | url=https://news.illinois.edu/ii/07/0517/0517.pdf | work=Inside Illinois | date=May 17, 2007 | page=2 | access-date=2017-03-22 }}</ref>

2007-2008 Season

* Sinfonia performed the world première of Roberto Sierra’s ''Variations on a Souvenir'', a work commissioned by the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and the Carlsen Center in Overland Park, Kansas.<ref name="KCStar2007">{{cite news | title=Sinfonia da Camera plays Roberto Sierra | url=http://archives.kcstar.com/ | last=Horsley | first=Paul | work=The Kansas City Star | date=October 8, 2007 | access-date=2017-02-06 }} (or, via [http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/11C2950695205728?p=AWNB NewsBank], or [http://infoweb.newsbank.com.proxy2.library.illinois.edu/resources/doc/nb/news/11C2950695205728?p=AWNB UofIllLib])</ref> This concert also featured James Carter in Sierra's ''Concerto for Saxophones and Orchestra''. * Sinfonia also premièred the orchestration, by T. Grigoriu,<ref name="lupu2007">{{cite web | title=World Premieres: 2007 | url=http://www.sherbanlupu.com/performances/index.html | work=SherbanLupu.com | access-date=2013-03-17 }}</ref> of George Enescu’s ''Impressions from Childhood'' featuring Sherban Lupu.<ref name="enescu-brownell">{{cite web | title=Enescu: Impressions from Childhood; Chamber Symphony; Quartet No. 2 | last=Brownell | first=Mike D. | url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/enescu-impressions-from-childhood-chamber-symphony-quartet-no-2-mw0001869893 | work=allmusic.com | date=February 10, 2009 | access-date=2017-03-17 }}</ref>

2008-2009 Season

* Sinfonia performed the six Brandenburg Concertos. * Sinfonia performed Edward Elgar's Serenade in E minor, Walton's Viola Concerto and Vaughan Williams' Symphony No. 5 in D Major. * Sinfonia performed the world premiere of Stephen Andrew Taylor's ''The Machine Awakes'',<ref name="machineAwakes">{{cite web | title=The Machine Awakes, for soprano and chamber orchestra | url=http://www.stephenandrewtaylor.net/machineawakes.html | work=stephenandrewtaylor.net | access-date=2017-03-30 }} </ref> based on the novel Galatea 2.2 by Richard Powers, with soprano soloist Amy van Roekel,<ref name="vanRoekel-resume">{{cite web | title=Amy van Roekel - resume | url=http://www.amyvanroekel.com/about/resume/resume.html | work=amyvanroekel.com | access-date=2017-03-30 }} </ref> Schubert's Symphony No. 8 in B minor (the Unfinished), and Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 17 with Menahem Pressler as soloist.<ref name="NewsGazette2009-03-01">{{cite news | title=Sinfonia's next concert to feature world-class pianist, premiere | url=http://www.news-gazette.com/arts-entertainment/local/2009-03-01/sinfonias-next-concert-feature-world-class-pianist-premiere.html | work=The News-Gazette | date=March 1, 2009 | access-date=2017-03-30 }} </ref>

2015-2016 Season<ref name="NewsGaz2016-06-26">{{cite news | title=Looking back on a noteworthy season | last=Frayne | first=John | url=http://www.news-gazette.com/arts-entertainment/local/2016-06-26/john-frayne-looking-back-noteworthy-season.html | publisher=The News-Gazette | date=June 26, 2016 | access-date=2017-02-17 }}</ref>

* A Beethoven-centered concert included Beethoven's The Creatures of Prometheus and the world premiere of "''The Letter''," a setting by Robert Chumbley of Beethoven's Immortal Beloved letter, sung by Ricardo Herrera.<ref name="NewsGaz2015-10-29">{{cite news | title=Beloved Beethoven | last=Frayne | first=John | url=http://www.news-gazette.com/arts-entertainment/local/2015-10-29/john-frayne-beloved-beethoven.html | publisher=The News-Gazette | date=October 29, 2015 | access-date=2017-02-17 }}</ref> * Vienna's Webern Kammerchor and the University of Illinois Chamber Singers joined the orchestra to perform Schubert's Mass in E flat major. * Csaba Erdélyi performed his completion of Bartók's Viola Concerto.

2016-2017 Season

*American Century concert with Leonard Bernstein’s ''Candide Overture'', Barber’s ''Knoxville, Summer of 1915'', David DeBoor Canfield's ''Rhapsody after Gershwin'', written for the violinist Rachel Patrick, in a US premiere performance. Followed by Gershwin’s ''Porgy and Bess: a Symphonic Picture'' and finally Sousa’s ''Stars and Stripes Forever''.<ref name="NewsGaz2017-03-02">{{cite news | title=Sinfonia's 'American Century' a rousing — if loud — success | last=Frayne | first=John | url=http://www.news-gazette.com/arts-entertainment/local/2017-03-02/john-frayne-sinfonias-american-century-rousing-%E2%80%94-if-loud-%E2%80%94-succe | publisher=The News-Gazette | date=March 2, 2017 | access-date=2018-01-15 }} </ref>

*Mendelssohn’s ''Elijah – Oratorio on Words of the Old Testament'', with the Oratorio Society and nine soloists.<ref name="NewsGaz2017-03-23">{{cite news | title=Sinfonia, Oratorio Society shine in powerful 'Elijah' | last=Frayne | first=John | url=http://www.news-gazette.com/arts-entertainment/local/2017-03-23/john-frayne-sinfonia-oratorio-society-shine-powerful-elijah.html | publisher=The News-Gazette | date=March 23, 2017 | access-date=2018-01-15 }} </ref>

*Final concert with Stravinsky’s Pulchinella Suite, Glazunov’s Violin Concerto, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s symphonic poem, Scheherazade. Violin soloist for the Glazunov and Rimsky-Korsakov was Andrés Cárdenes, former concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony.

==About the Orchestra== In addition to the approximately fifty contracted players<ref name="SdaC-orch">{{cite web | title=Sinfonia da Camera – The Orchestra | url=http://www.sinfonia.illinois.edu/the-orchestra | publisher=University of Illinois | work=illinois.edu | access-date=2017-02-07 }}</ref> and the Music Director, Sinfonia da Camera employs area musicians on an as-needed basis. The orchestra typically performs six subscription concerts each season and has recorded twelve concerts. Recordings of recent concerts are broadcast on "Prairie Performances" on select Fridays by WILL-FM Radio.<ref>{{cite web | title=Prairie Performances | url=http://will.illinois.edu/prairieperformances | publisher=WILL-FM | access-date=2016-08-07 }}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.sinfonia.illinois.edu Sinfonia da Camera] *[http://www.kcpa.uiuc.edu Krannert Center for the Performing Arts] *[http://www.ianhobson.net Ian Hobson]

Category:1984 establishments in Illinois Category:American chamber orchestras Category:Musical groups established in 1984 Category:Orchestras from Illinois