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THE ARCOS ORCHESTRA was founded in 2005 by conductor John-Edward Kelly and concertmaster Elissa Cassini. Inspired by the great creative spirit of Béla Bartók — who himself once sought to found such an orchestra — the Arcos Orchestra offers the listener an artistic bridge, extending from the origins of European musical culture to the most exciting contemporary music of our time. Bartók’s comprehensive attitudes towards music and music-making, together with his ability to merge the currents of past and future into a language that speaks directly to the human heart, permeate everything the Arcos Orchestra stands for. Consisting largely of graduates of the renowned Juilliard School in New York, the Arcos Orchestra approaches orchestral playing with the chamber musician’s sense of discipline: individual instrumental mastery; in-depth knowledge of the composer’s life & music; and selfless co-operation in service of the composer’s intentions. The orchestra was furthermore conceived and built around several independent chamber music groups, each of which upholds the highest musical standards in its own right and brings outstanding and mature ensemble skills to the entire orchestra. Although many chamber orchestras now perform without conductor, the Arcos Orchestra follows a more traditional path, believing that the conductor increases both their scope of repertoire and the musical unity that can be achieved. The relationship of conductor to orchestra is not a typical one, however: by design, the Arcos Orchestra’s conductor is integrated into the music-making like one player of many, working with the musicians to attain a lively exchange of ideas in rehearsal and spirited focus in concert. The result is a degree of synergy between players and conductor rarely found today. While contemporary music is one of its mantelpieces, the Arcos Orchestra is not a “new music ensemble”. The members of the orchestra understand that the music of our time has grown out of the great music traditions preceding it, and that today’s music can be neither well-performed nor well-received if estranged from its historical context. Consequently, the programs of the Arcos Orchestra usually include old and new, helping the listener to construct an inner bridge from the known to the unknown. The Arcos Orchestra is convinced that historical music is best played by musicians familiar with the musical languages of our time, and vice-versa. The orchestra is particularly dedicated to discovering and presenting great music of composers whose work is little known. One of the foremost aims of the Arcos Orchestra is the maximum integration of the listener into the musical process. It is the listener, after all, to whom the great efforts of both composer and performer must be directed. Accordingly, concert introductions and anecdotal presentations during the program are a vital part of the complete concert experience. The Arcos Orchestra believes that a well-informed listener is a better listener, and both the planning and execution of its programs are directed toward helping the listener achieve the richest possible musical experience. The Arcos Orchestra is incorporated in the State of New York as a non-profit corporation with Federal Tax Exemption under 501(c)(3). Tax-deductible donations can be made at www.arcos-orchestra.com. |
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Elissa Cassini was born in Cincinnati and raised in France. Following studies at the conservatories of Angers and Paris, she joined the violin class of Miriam Fried at Indiana University. She pursued graduate studies at the New England Conservatory in Boston and the Juilliard School in New York. She has performed extensively at music festivals internationally and has developed a special affinity for 20th century and contemporary music. (www.elissacassini.com) |
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John-Edward Kelly was born in San Francisco. After studies of clarinet, conducting, philosophy and two years of private studies with legendary saxophonist Sigurd Rascher, he moved to Europe and embarked upon a successful 30-year international career as a saxophone soloist, performing with many of the world’s leading orchestras, recording over 30 CDs and premiering some 300 works, more than 200 of which were written especially for him. He was a professor of chamber music at the Robert Schumann Academy of Music in Düsseldorf and at the Norwegian State Academy of Music in Oslo. In recent years he has returned increasingly to his musical roots in conducting. (www.johnedwardkelly.com) |
The Arcos Orchestra, Ltd. is incorporated in the State of New York as a Not-for-Profit Corporation and has been granted non-profit tax status under section 501(c)(3). Donations are tax deductible. Donors will receive a written receipt and will receive our regular e-mail newsletter. Click here to view the Arcos Orchestra Board of Directors and Artistic Leadership. Click here to view a list of current Arcos Orchestra Musicians. Photos (www.arcos-orchestra.com, /Repertoire, /Documents, /Projects, /Reviews, /Contacts): Tristan Cook Photography, New York. Other Photos: Private Audio Clips: For demonstration purposes only. Duplication and/or storage on 3rd party media prohibited. Content: © 2010 Arcos Orchestra, Ltd. |
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