Berkshire Symphony

The Williams College Department of Music presents the Berkshire Symphony in concert on Friday, March 10, at 7;30 p.m. in Chapin Hall on the Williams College campus. There is a pre-concert talk with conductor Ronald Feldman at 6:45 p.m. in Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall.

Berkshire Symphony is an ensemble that stays current while keeping in touch with its roots. The program includes Overture to Der Freischütz by Anton Weber, a beloved orchestral standard for over two hundred years. Next, celebrated guest solo cellist Adrian Duarov offers Dvorak’s Cello Concerto, another enduring 19th-century favorite. Next featured is a world premiere by faculty member Ileana Perez Velazquez, titled Marejadas. Deeply evocative, “Marejadas” refers to the surging tropical sea and to powerful emotional outpourings brought to the surface by the composer’s recalled memories of her native Cuba. Cuban percussion instruments evoke rhythms inspired by Cuban popular music. For this first-ever performance, the percussion section literally moves to the front of the stage. With dazzling waves of rhythm the section leads a musical narrative, as the story is punctuated by winds and strings. Together the ensemble swells, sending riplets of sound that propel the music to its final conclusion.

about Adrian Daurov
A native of St. Petersburg, Russia and now living in New York City, cellist Adrian Daurov is one of the most dazzling artists of his generation.

Adrian Daurov, at the age of 15, made his debut as soloist with the St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra. Subsequently, he earned top honors at three international competitions – Bulgaria’s 1^st International Music Competition “Coast of Hope” (First Prize, 1996); The Netherlands’ Peter De Grote International Music Competition (Grand Prix, 2002); New York City’s L.I.S.M.A. International Music Competition (First Prize, 2004). In 2004, he toured  as soloist with the St. Petersburg Chamber Orchestra, performing in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Warsaw and throughout Germany, and was appointed to the dual position of principal cellist and soloist with the Bayreuth Youth Festival Orchestra, under the baton of Peter Gulke. 2008 heard him as a featured participant in a gala Carnegie Hall concert celebrating Russia’s Independence Day, a program that included the distinguished Russian singers Yelena Obratztsova and Vladimir Galouzine.

After studying at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, Adrian Daurov was awarded the Jerome L. Greene Scholarship for advanced studies at The Juilliard School with renowned cello pedagogues André Emelianoff and  David Soyer, where he completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. While still in school, he was appointed principal cellist of The Chamber Orchestra of New York, a position he still holds. Mr. Daurov has also collaborated in chamber music programs with pianist Alexander Ghindin, violinist Mark Peskanov and flutist Eugenia Zukerman. Recent seasons have included debuts with the Dayton and Massapequa philharmonic orchestras, the symphony orchestras of Altoona, Bozeman, Glacier, Kalamazoo, Longmont, Longwood, Ridgefield, Westerville and Wyoming, and the Chamber Orchestra of New York (at Carnegie Hall). In 2012, he teamed up with the award-winning pianist Spencer Myer to form the Daurov/Myer Duo.

Passionately devoted to the music of our own time, Adrian Daurov has already presented the world premieres of two important works – In 2008, Fountains of Fin for flute, violin and cello by the Persian composer Behzad Ranjbaran and, in 2009, The Epistle – Concerto for Cello & Chamber Choir by the Siberian composer Yuri Yukechev, written for Mr. Daurov and the Russian Chamber Chorus of New York, Nikolai Kachanov, Artistic Director.

Adrian Daurov’s artistry has been heard on several radio and television stations, including WNYC, WQXR and NTV-America. He is also featured on a recent album by the young New York City-based jazz star Romain Collin.

Adrian Daurov performs on a magnificent 1989 cello crafted by John Terry in Florence, Italy.

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