Kindly RSVP and let us know if you plan to attend.
Why RSVP? Your response helps us plan ahead and ensure we can comfortably accommodate everyone who will be in attendance.
chrisTina Bouey - Albany Symphony Concertmaster, violin
Paula OakeS - Violin and Piano
Sharon Bielik - principal Viola
Grace Ho - principal Cello
Daniel Ketter - principal Clarinet
The Program
-
During the Albany Symphony’s opening concert on October 3, concertgoers will hear the widely known Overture to William Tell. While most know the work for its association with The Lone Ranger, not everyone is familiar with its exquisitely beautiful and lyrical opening—solo cellos and accompanying double basses that evoke a serene, pastoral scene representing “the calm before the storm.” Because the cello section literally opens our 2026/2027 season, we thought it would be fitting to feature the “tenor of the string family” during our inaugural chamber concert with this stunning solo piece for cello and piano by Rossini—Una Larme. Una Larme translates to “a tear,” and portrays a character not often associated with Rossini—melancholy and introspection. Rossini wrote these variations as an homage to a deceased friend, and they belong to a collection of witty, intimate salon pieces titled Peches de Vieillesse ("Sins of Old Age"). Originally written for solo bass, Una Larme later found its natural voice when transcribed for the cello.
-
Also on our opening concert is a world premiere by Celka Ojakangas entitled “Shuffle”. Celka, winner of numerous awards, is a rising star in the world of new music. Her compositions are inventive and witty, revealing her eclectic background across many musical genres, including classical, jazz, and rock. Toons 2024 is a fun, whimsical nod to the Looney Tunes Cartoons from her childhood, a recollection relatable to almost everyone.
-
Coleridge-Taylor’s Clarinet Quintet in F-sharp minor was written in 1895. Coleridge-Taylor composed this work as a challenge posed by his composition teacher, who exclaimed after a performance of the said Brahms that no person could produce such a work without the looming influence of the great German master. Instead, one hears the unmistakable influence of Antonin Dvorak, specifically the rhythmic motives of his New World Symphony. It is a misfortune that Coleridge-Taylor’s brilliant Clarinet Quintet has been so sorely neglected. As well-written and engaging as any, many regard the work as on par with the infamous Brahms and Mozart Clarinet Quintets. We seek to correct this injustice when Albany Symphony musicians perform this overlooked, but sublime work during our inaugural chamber Companion Concert in October
-
The great Belgian violinist and composer Henri Vieuxtemps composed this virtuosic showpiece for violin and piano to feature during his American recitals. He takes the simple Revolutionary War-era tune and applies every technical element in a violinist’s toolkit in a creative, amusing way, sure to elicit smiles and laughter from any audience.
The first performance in this new four-concert chamber music series is Saturday, October 3, 1-2:30pm, at the Opalka Gallery, with each event connecting directly to the themes, artists, and repertoire featured throughout Albany Symphony’s mainstage programming. Each concert will illuminate the composers, ideas, and broader civic context presented on the Albany Symphony stage, creating new points of entry into the orchestra while highlighting its longstanding commitment to championing new music, building the future of our living musical heritage.
The inaugural concert, October 3, features acclaimed composer Celka Ojakangas, five musicians from the Albany Symphony, in interactive conversation with the audience, led by Music Director David Alan Miller. Works on the program include Ojakangas’ Toons to complement the world premiere of her new work Shuffle, which will be premiered later that day at the Albany Symphony’s Rome, Romance, and Rising Stars opening night program. The juxtaposition offers a deeper introduction to Ojakangas as one of today’s most imaginative and exciting compositional voices. Rossini’s intimate and lyrical Una Larme gives listeners an intimate counterpart to William Tell Overture, showcasing the lyrical beauty and expressive voice of the cello that opens Rossini’s orchestral masterpiece. The chamber program is rounded out by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s richly expressive Clarinet Quintet and Henri Vieuxtemps’s virtuosic Souvenir d’Amérique, reflecting the Albany Symphony’s commitment to pairing beloved repertoire with hidden gems in the orchestral music cannon.
The Chamber Music Companion Series launches in partnership with the Opalka Gallery, with the first concert free and open to the public. Known for fostering creative dialogue across disciplines, the Opalka Gallery at Russel Sage College provides an inspiring setting for the new chamber series, and underscores a shared commitment to artistic excellence, community connection, and exploration. Chamber Companions continues on December 16, February 10, and in June 2027, concurrent to each of the Albany Symphony’s core concerts. More details, including locations and community partners, forthcoming.
The Albany Symphony’s new Chamber Music Series, launching in the 2026/27 season, is made possible thanks to a generous commitment by Paula & Dana Oakes.
Program and performers subject to change
DIRECTIONS & PARKING INFORMATION
Directions: Click here for directions
Parking: Parking is available outside of the Opalka Gallery
