Curtis Celebrates Centenary of Samuel Barber with New Production of Antony and Cleopatra by Curtis Opera Theatre

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Performances by Curtis Symphony Orchestra, Curtis On Tour, and Curtis 20/21

New Curtis iPhone Fan Application Offers Live Performances, Recordings, Tour Info, and Concert Listings to iPhone and iPod Touch Users

PHILADELPHIA – Described by the New York Times as “one of America’s elite conservatories” and recently highlighted in U.S. News and World Report’s 2010 college survey as the most selective institution for students seeking a bachelor’s degree, the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music presents an exciting season with more than 130 concerts, operas, and recitals. A busy schedule of performances is at the heart of Curtis’s distinctive “learn by doing” approach, which has produced an impressive number of notable artists since the school’s founding 85 years ago.

A central theme of Curtis’s performance season is the 100th birthday of composer Samuel Barber (’34), one of the school’s most notable alumni. The season also features the return of the acclaimed Curtis On Tour recitals, which present Curtis students performing alongside members of the celebrated faculty in venues nationwide. The Spring 2010 tour includes a special appearance in March at the Allen Room in New York ’s Frederick P. Rose Hall.

Extending the reach of its students’ performances, Curtis is also in the vanguard of audience outreach with the launch of the new Curtis iPhone App through InstantEncore.

Season premiere gala
The Curtis Institute of Music kicks off its concert season with a gala performance by the Curtis Symphony Orchestra – praised by the New York Times for its “otherworldly ensemble and professional level of sophistication.” The orchestra, led by conductor JoAnn Falletta, will be joined by violinist and Curtis alumna Elissa Lee Koljonen (’94). The concert at Verizon Hall in Philadelphia ’s Kimmel Center will include the Philadelphia premiere of Behzad Ranjbaran’s Violin Concerto, Strauss’s Don Juan, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Sheherazade.

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