MAESTRO'S MUSINGS by YAACOV BERGMAN

Welcome to the Portland Chamber Orchestra's 58th Concert Season!

Children and parents are welcome to attend "For Free" the Saturday morning Dress Rehearsals at 10 am. And, as always, children under 12 are admitted free to the regular performances.

Welcome to the Portland Chamber Orchestra’s 58th concert season of glorious music making!

Our 2004/2005 season programming highlights a stellar roster of internationally acclaimed soloists performing a rich and varied repertoire that includes musical jewels from around the world. The concerts will offer a creative and exciting experience by presenting thematically connected programs which integrate live music performance with the other disciplines of the arts. The visual arts, theatre, poetry, and the use of cutting edge multi-media technology will be called upon to add refreshing dimension to the concert series.

No experience can equal that of hearing a live performance of great music.The anticipation and thrill of the unpredictable element of chance . . . the "what's happening right now before our very eyes and ears" cannot be reproduced on recording. No engineering or editing can duplicate the emotional energy generated by the unspoken communication between performer and audience. Recorded music has, indeed, made it possible for millions of music lovers to hear a diverse repertoire performed by a multitude of great artists, but no CD or DVD can replace the excitement produced by the sea of live sound and sight that one is deliciously immersed in when exposed to those same works in the concert hall.

The support of the community is vital to ensure that this irreplaceable experience of the concert hall is not lost. We thank you, our dedicated listening audience, for your support of the PCO in its never ending search for artistic excellence, its commitment to cultural education and its promise to provide a legacy of live music for future generations of music lovers. I look forward to sharing this season's wealth of musical treasures with you!