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Pro Musica's 80th season celebrates beginnings

Season opens Nov. 10 at The Max

DETROIT – The 2006-2007 schedule of concerts of Pro Musica Detroit pays tribute to its eight-decade history and solidifies its standing as the foremost presenter of unique concerts in the market.
This year's season pays tribute to the 1928 debut of Pro Musica. There are tributes to Bartok and Ravel who appeared with Pro Musica that season. The Ravel concert will be performed as then – by leading musicians of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
Concerts include vocalist Mihaela Ursuleasa on November 10, violinist Barnabas Kelemen on January 26, 2007 and a DSO septet of harp, strings and woodwinds on April 20.
The Pro Musica concerts take place Friday evenings at 8:30 p.m. at The Music Box in the Max M. Fisher Music Center at 3711 Woodward Avenue, Detroit. Concert tickets are $40 each and may be ordered at the Max M. Fisher Music Center Box Office, by phoning 313-576-5111 and online at http://www.detroitsymphony.com.
Like many artists, Mihaela Ursuleasa is well known in Europe but less so in America. She studied at Vienna Conservatory and won the coveted Clara Haskill award at 15. She is soloing with the greats: Claudio Abado and Vienna Philharmonic; Neeme Jaervi and Gothenburg Symphony; Paavo Jaervi with the Cincinnati and the German Chamber Philharmonic; Hans Graf and the Rotterdam; Sir Colin Davis and Paris' Orchestre National de France.
Barnabas Kelemen studied with Isaac Stern, Gyoergy Kurtag and Igor Ozim. Now a professor of violin at Franz Liszt Music Academy in Budapest, he was Gold Medalist at Gingold's world class Indianapolis International Violin Competition in 2002. His Pro Musica performance is a tribute to Bartok who appeared on Pro Musica's first program in February 1928.
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra Septet of Harp, Strings and Woodwinds is led by cellist Robert deMaine and harpist Patricia Masri-Fletcher, with violinists Geoffrey Applegate and Hai-Xin Wu, violist James VanValkenburg, flutist Philip Dikeman, clarinetist Theodore Oien and pianist Pauline Martin. The program includes music by Debussy (cello sonata) and is highlighted by Ravel's glorious septet, Introduction and Allegro.
After the concert, the audience is invited to an Afterglow with light refreshments in the atrium lobby of The Max where they can socialize with other members, meet and talk to the artist and relax after the performance at what one local commentator on public radio has called "Detroit's most civilized post concert reception." Admission is included in concert ticket price.
For season tickets and to become a member of Pro Musica, or to request a brochure, please contact Membership Chairman Margaret Beck at 313-882-7775. Subscriptions for the three performances in the 2003-2004 Pro Musica season start at $80.
Patron level Pro Musica ticket holders receive complimentary valet parking by showing their patron ticket. A pre concert dinner is available in the Paradise Cafe starting at 6 p.m.; reservations are suggested.
In conjunction with the 80th season, the book "The Witness Of Music" by Pro Musica president and journalist Alexander Suczek was released on Sept. 2. Published by Marick Press, the book details how the Detroit chapter has consistently presented world-class artists and composers in intimate recitals and how organization prevailed when all other 19 Pro Musica chapters nationwide failed. Information on the book is available through Marick Press' Bonnie Caprara at 586-899-5718.
{TAGLINE For more information or to request a brochure, call the Pro Musica information line at 313-886-5639 or visit} http://www.promusicadetroit.com.

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