The ARCOS CHAMBER 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 Chamber 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 Chamber Orchestra stands for.

Initially consisting of graduates and current students of the Juilliard School in New York, the Arcos Chamber 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 Chamber 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 Chamber 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 Chamber 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 Chamber Orchestra usually include old and new, helping the listener to construct an inner bridge from the known to the unknown. The Arcos Chamber 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 Chamber 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 Chamber 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.

Concertmaster Elissa Cassini was born in Cincinnati and raised in France. After studies at the conservatories of Angers and Paris, she joined the class of Miriam Fried at Indiana University. Graduate studies were at the New England Conservatory in Boston and the Juilliard School in New York. She has performed at numerous international music festivals. (www.elissacassini.com)

Conductor John-Edward Kelly was born in San Francisco. After studies of clarinet, conducting and philosophy, he embarked upon a successful 30-year international career as a saxophonist., performing as soloist with many of the world’s leading orchestras, recording 30 CDs and premiering over 200 works written especially for him. In recent years he has returned increasingly to conducting. (www.johnedwardkelly.com)

The Arcos Chamber Orchestra, Ltd. is incorporated in the State of New York as a Not-for-Profit Corporation.

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: © 2008 Arcos Chamber Orchestra, Ltd.

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