NHSO Beinecke / Walton Project

The Walton Project 2009-2012
Artistic Director: William Boughton

The New Haven Symphony Orchestra and the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library of Yale University announce the beginning of ‘The Walton Project.’ This exciting 3-year collaboration between the two organizations will include Concerts, Broadcasts, Lectures, and Recordings. This will be the largest concentration of performances in one place anywhere in the world of Walton’s music for the duration of the Project.

The Beinecke Rare Book Library of Yale University houses the Frederick R. Koch Collection of Walton’s Music, which accounts for approximately 98% of Walton’s original manuscripts. The collection will be the primary source for the 'Project.'

Music to be performed over the next three years will include:

• Symphonies 1 & 2
• Violin, Viola, and Cello Concertos
• Façade
• Violin Sonata
• Partita for Orchestra
• Variations on a Theme of Hindemith
• Orb & Sceptre – Coronation March
• String Quartet No. 1
• Five Bagatelles for Guitar
• Passaglia for Solo Cello
• Toccata for Violin
• Anon in Love – Song Cycle
• Portsmouth Point Overture & Songs and other solo instrumental music.

The project’s Artistic Director William Boughton will also be creating three introduction CD ’s on ‘The Life and Music of William Walton’ which will be produced in conjunction with WMNR.

Gr.Uff. Lady Walton, MBE, D.Mus, FRWCMD

La Mortella, Ischia, May 2008

"This project between the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, the Beinecke Library of Yale University (which holds most of the original manuscripts of my late husband's music) and Nimbus Records is most exciting.

A comprehensive 3 year long project, such as this, which includes the American commissions, provides a unique opportunity for audiences in the US to embrace, and experience, William's diverse creativity. I have very fond memories of the exciting symposium that was organized by the Beinecke Library in 2002 to celebrate William's centenary year, and I’m sure this project will attract the same nterest and thrill. I am grateful to Dr William Boughton and Yale University for making this project possible and wish him, and everyone involved great success."

William Boughton, (Music Director – New Haven Symphony Orchestra)

"After accepting the position as Music Director with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra the first venture I wanted to realize was this ‘Walton Project’. Living and working so closely to the original manuscripts of Walton’s music at the Beinecke Library presents such a wonderful opportunity for both me and the New Haven Symphony Orchestra to study and present his music. For any performing artist access to the original manuscripts is an invaluable resource – seeing the notes spring off the page in the composers hand is the best kind of inspiration - the dryness of engraved scores does not communicate the emotions that an original does.

I look forward to furthering the appreciation and understanding of this great English composer’s music to American audiences.

I am indebted to Frank Turner for his support and encouragement of this project, without which this would not have been possible."

Frank Turner, (John Hay Whitney Professor of History, Yale University, and Director of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)

"The Beinecke Library’s commitment to the work and legacy of William Walton continues in this important project of performances and recordings. The New Haven Symphony Orchestra will build on the centenary celebration to bring Walton’s music to an even larger audience, showcasing the wide appeal of his work and the strengths of this partnership between Yale University and the musical talents of the city of New Haven."

Adrian Farmer, (Music Director of Nimbus Records)

"I see this project as the natural continuation of an already well-established 25 year partnership with William Boughton: I was quite certain that when the time was right Nimbus would follow William to New Haven. That we are doing so in such a significant way, building on the unique Walton archive held at Yale, is an exciting beginning to this new relationship."

David Wordsworth (Head of Promotion - Oxford University Press)

"The music of Sir William Walton has always had strong champions in the US - from Heifetz, Piatigorsky, Szell, Previn and Rostropovich to the premiere of a new version of the opera 'Troilus & Cressida' staged by Opera Theater St Louis in June this year. The rhythmic energy, irresistible melodic flair and sheer craftsmanship of this most English, but also most international of composers has shown its appeal to American audiences ever since the first performances of his most popular works in the 1930's and it therefore seems entirely appropriate that the New Haven Symphony and the Beinecke Library should undertake this huge project that will win many new friends for this wonderful composer. I am more than happy to lend my support and that of OUP to William Boughton and everyone involved on what I know will be a memorable three years."

2009 Performances:

February 5th 2009 - Beinecke Library 5.30pm

NHSO Ensemble. Conductor:WILLIAM BOUGHTON

Walton Passacaglia for Solo Cello & Façade (Narrators: Douglas Williams & Korby Myrick)

April 1st 2009 – Beinecke Library 5.30pm

Walton Violin Sonata, Five Bagatelles for Guitar, Anon In Love for Tenor & Guitar, Toccata for Violin & Piano

May 14th 2009 – Woolsey Hall 7.30pm

Conductor: WILLIAM BOUGHTON

Mendelssohn Overture – The Hebrides
Mozart Piano Concerto in D minor K466 (Soloist: Angela Hewitt)
Walton Symphony No 1

NB: Soloists and Guest artists for future concerts will be announced at a later date

For further information/photographs, please contact:

Nicole Gallego
New Haven Symphony Orchestra
PO Box 9718
New Haven, CT 06536
(203) 931-2991
ngallego@newhavensymphony.org

Rebecca Martz
Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library
PO Box 208240 / 121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06520-8240
(203) 432-2969
rebecca.martz@yale.edu