Conductor Robert Lehmann Re-enters His
Native Violin Habitat for Spectacular Recital
GORHAM, ME:
Conductor Robert Lehmann steps off the podium and re-enters his native
violin habitat for a spectacular recital featuring two blockbusters sonatas by
Prokofiev and Brahms on Friday, March 16, at 8 p.m. in Corthell Concert Hall,
USM Gorham, as part of the University of Southern Maine School of Music’s
Spotlight Concert Series.
Lehmann, a faculty member at the USM School of Music, will be joined by
Boston-based pianist Sayuri Miyamoto to perform Sergei Prokofiev's virtuosic and
sunny Sonata in D Major, Op. 94a, and Johannes Brahms’ bittersweet D minor
sonata, a work inseparably linked to his friend and “muse” Clara Schumann and
the great violinist Joseph Joachim.
“People often ask me which I like best, conducting or playing. My answer
invariably is that the grass always seems greener on the other side. When
conducting, I miss the 'hands on' aspect of creating sound and contributing
tangibly to a concert, whereas when I am playing the violin - especially in an
orchestra - I miss the overarching viewpoint and overall sense of 'ownership' I
have as a conductor. In the end, I find that conducting makes me a better
violinist, and keeping up my violin playing makes me a better conductor. Doing
them both keeps me very busy, quite humble and very happy,” says Lehmann.
Robert Lehmann is Associate Professor of Music and Director of String Studies
and Orchestral Activities at the USM School of Music. In addition to his duties
conducting the Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra and the Portland Youth Symphony
Orchestra, he is on the Artist Faculty in Violin, Viola and Chamber Music. He
was the unanimous choice of the North Shore Philharmonic orchestra and board of
directors to become the fourth Music Director of this 61 year-old institution.
Dr. Lehmann is also Music Director of the highly acclaimed Portland Chamber
Orchestra and first violinist of the Meliora Quartet. In 2008 he was invited to
become the conductor of the White Mountain Bach Festival in New Hampshire.
Tickets cost $15 general public; $10 seniors/USM employees; $5
students/children. For reservations, contact the Music Box Office at
www.usm.maine.edu/music/boxoffice or 780-5555. In case of snow emergencies, call
(207)780-4800 for concert information. TTY: 780-5646. For more information on
the USM School of Music’s spring concert season and programs of study, visit
www.usm.maine.edu/music. Sign up for e-notices, or find us on Facebook as USM
School of Music,
www.facebook.com/Music.USM.
