“The revered Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, now in its 11th year under the stewardship of conductor/music director Toshi Shimada, kicks off the 2018-19 season Saturday,” writes Rich Koster in Wednesday’s (10/17) The Day (New London, CT). “This also marks the start of the third year for executive director Caleb Bailey, who says … a lot of ideas come to fruition simply because … ‘Toshi and I have always had good synergy…. But we also … pay attention to what our community might be craving in terms of repertoire; what inspires the board members; and who can we serve with our mission of performing orchestral music.’ … Bailey and Shimada recognize the rapidly transforming demographics of entertainment in the modern, device-happy world of countless options.” Says Bailey, “People are craving vibrancy and space through a real-time event—dining out or being on the water—and we think an ECSO concert fulfills these impulses. To hear 65 musicians onstage making music acoustically and with passion, it’s a moment that won’t be repeated. It’s the anti-viral.” The orchestra’s season will feature standard repertoire as well as works by Christopher Rouse, Michael Torke, and Joan Tower.
Posted October 18, 2018
