An anniversary and milestone
Twenty years later, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic continues its musical magic
Twenty years later, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic continues its musical magic

By Rick Rogers

Published: September 7, 2008

In October 1989, a fledgling orchestra played its first notes for a packed crowd that had turned out to hear familiar works by Tchaikovsky, Bach, Smetana and Ravel. The occasion was the long-awaited debut of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, an ensemble that promised "a new tradition of musical magic.”

Two decades later, that tradition has continued uninterrupted. The orchestra has since performed more than 150 classics concerts, 100-plus pops concerts and 51 family concerts. Add in a few gala programs — special concerts featuring Van Cliburn, Dave Brubeck and Olivia Newton-John — and one begins to appreciate what an accomplished and versatile organization this is.

This week, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic will kick off its 20th anniversary season, a milestone for any performing arts organization. Joel Levine also will begin his 20th season with the orchestra, one of the longest tenures of any music director with an Oklahoma City orchestra.

In one sense, the past 19 seasons have flown by, Levine said. Dozens of classical music's elite have performed with the orchestra, many on more than one occasion. The special guest for this year's season opener is Itzhak Perlman. The noted violinist, who has performed on five previous occasions with this orchestra, turned down a request for an interview.

Perlman will perform Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, K. 219. Also programmed are Jaromir Weinberger's "Polka and Fugue From Schwanda the Bagpiper” and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 in E Minor.

The orchestra's artistic growth has been remarkable, Levine says, singling out improvements in the string section in particular. The orchestra has seen numerous personnel changes over the years, although 30 musicians who played during the inaugural season are still with the philharmonic.”

"We're now seeing a greater sense of consistency in all sections,” Levine said. "Ten years ago, the orchestra performed some really fine concerts but didn't do it every time up at bat. Today, we can do that more consistently and in a wider range of literature. There's real depth to the musicianship in this orchestra.”

Levine said the orchestra has witnessed many milestones in its 19 seasons, from obtaining the Hamburg Steinway concert grand (a piano selected by concert pianist and frequent guest artist Jean-Yves Thibaudet) to changes of the orchestra's concertmaster.

Gregory Lee will begin his second season as concertmaster this month, the sixth distinguished violinist to have held this important position. Previous concertmasters have included Lacy McLarry, Michael Ma and Felicia Moye.

In planning the orchestra's 20th anniversary season, Levine said he decided against looking back through the years for repertoire ideas. Part of that was the result of the orchestra's participation in concerts for the centennial of statehood in 2007. This season, the orchestra will present the local premieres of Joan Tower's "Made in America” and Christopher Theofanidis' "Rainbow Body.”

Also making their first appearances this season are Antonin Dvorak's "Symphonic Variations,” Weinberger's "Polka and Fugue From Schwanda the Bagpiper,” the "Dance of the Hours” from Amilcare Ponchielli's "La Gioconda” and Richard Strauss' "Burleske” for piano and orchestra.

As a frequent guest conductor with other American orchestras, Levine has the opportunity to determine how the Oklahoma City Philharmonic measures up to its competition. But no matter how well his concert with another orchestra might go, Levine says he's always happy to return home.

"Some orchestras I've conducted have wonderful players, but given the number of concerts they play, (to them) it's just another concert,” Levine said. "It makes you appreciate the fact that players here don't come in with that attitude. People often comment that they look like they want to be there. As Luis Herrera used to say, ‘It's nice to go other places so you can find out how good you have it at home.'”

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