Joshua Roman, Las Vegas Philharmonic Artist-In-Residence, will perform Dvořák’s Cello Concerto
By Debbie Hall
The Las Vegas Philharmonic (LVP) returns to the stage for its first live performance since March 2020 performing Fanfare! The Music of Copland, Dvořák, Joan Tower, and Tchaikovsky at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, Oct. 23.
Marking the 23rd season of the LVP, Music Director Donato Cabrera has selected music, composers, and artists that celebrate humanity’s indomitable spirit to thrive when faced with adversity. The orchestra will welcome audiences and the LVP musicians back to share in a musical experience. American Cellist Joshua Roman will make his debut as the LVP’s first Artist-In-Residence as he takes the stage with the orchestra to perform Dvořák’s spirited cello concerto. Based in New York City, Joshua has never performed in Las Vegas for a public performance.
“I am especially excited to introduce our new artist-in-residence, Joshua Roman, through the grand gestures and yet intimate sentiments of Dvořák’s incredible Cello Concerto. It’s time to come together, heal, and celebrate, and there’s no better tonic than live music, performed by the Las Vegas symphony orchestra,” says Donato.
“My parents are both musicians who played for the church as well as classical music. I was three years old, and they wanted their children to play music. I was given a choice between the violin and cello. My dad played the cello, so I followed in his footsteps. It is such a beautiful instrument, and I was immediately hooked,” explains Joshua.
For those who watched the television series, The Big Bang Theory, one of the main characters played the cello. According to Joshua, the cello is coming into its own as a vibrant instrument, especially with the influence of musicians such as Bruno Mars and Nirvana on MTV.
Joshua tours as a soloist and is excited about performing in Las Vegas. “We have been looking forward to performing live on the stage and sharing music with the audience for the past 18 months. Unfortunately, the residency was put on hold due to the pandemic, and now we will have our first performance. It will be exciting to be in a room performing music for a live audience and sharing special moments.”
As for his residency, “I am excited over the course of the next few years of the residency to learn more about Las Vegas and work within the community, including musicians and other artists. The piece I am performing on Saturday [Oct. 23] is one of my favorites, and I am so excited to work with the orchestra.”
The program will include COPLAND Fanfare for the Common Man, DVOŘÁK Cello Concerto in B Minor, Op. 104. TOWER Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman, and TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64
“The two fanfares demonstrate a real sense of Americana and what was written 50 years with Copland and one written 20 years ago with Tower,” says Cabrera.
Music Director Donato Cabrera and special guests will host a pre-concert conversation at 6:30 p.m. in Reynolds Hall to discuss the works to be performed and the history behind the music. All ticket holders are invited to attend and participate in the discussion, which offers deeper insight into the music, composers, and artists and enhances the concert experience. Cabrera also creates special playlists for each concert in the season, offering patrons the opportunity to survey the music in preparation for the orchestra’s live performances. Playlists for each performance can be found by clicking here.
The Las Vegas Philharmonic will continue to offer its shuttle bus services from its Henderson and Summerlin locations in Las Vegas to its Reynolds Hall evening performances during the 2021-22 concert season. A round trip bus pass costs $25 per concert and can be purchased with concert tickets.
The Las Vegas Philhamonic will perform Fanfare! The Music of Copland, Dvořák, Joan Tower, and Tchaikovsky at The Smith Center on Oct. 23. The pre-concert conversation will begin at 6:30 p.m., and showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29 and are available for purchase at Lvphil.org and The Smith Center Box Office.
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