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Imaginary Symphony
Anthony Piccolo composer
Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra | Petr Vronský conductor
Campanella Children’s Chorus
The Hamelin Children’s Chorus | Anthony Piccolo conductor
Petr Nouzovkský cello
Ladislav Bilan percussion
Luci Kaucka celesta
Marta Talabova flutes
Zuzana Rzounkova, Martin Paullik, Martin Sokol, Jaroslav Hubek horns
New York-based Anthony Piccolo leads a vibrant and varied career as composer, choral director, pianist and conductor. Drawing on decades of performing and composing experience, he crafts clear and colorful scores in a variety of genres. On IMAGINARY SYMPHONY AND OTHER TALES, an album devoted entirely to his works, he presents Imaginary Symphony No. 1, hailed as “one of the most appealing pieces for children and orchestra ever written” (The Advocate, Stamford CT), as well as his virtuosic, impassioned Sonata for Cello Solo; Fever Time for children’s voices and percussion, on text by Susan Kander based on a real-life fever; Flutes de suite, four pieces employing the full range and mobility of the flute family; and Fanfare-Sonatina for four horns, with movements in contrasting contrapuntal and dance forms.
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Artist Information
Anthony Piccolo
Anthony Piccolo earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the Peabody Conservatory, where he studied piano, orchestral conducting, and composition. He studied further at the Britten-Pears School and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where he was a repetiteur in the opera studio. Returning to the states he joined the staff of the New York City Opera and in 2009 took up his current position as Children's Chorus Director at the Metropolitan Opera.
Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra
The Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the foremost and oldest symphony orchestras in the Czech Republic. It is based in the historical capital of Moravia, the city of Olomouc, and has been a leader of music activities in the region for the past 70 years. Its artistic development was directly influenced by distinguished figures from the Czech and international music scene.
Petr Vronský
After successes in several important international competitions for conductors — including the competition in Besancon France in 1971 and the Karajan Competition in Berlin in 1973 — his career began at the opera company in Pilsen. From 1974 to 1978, he was Chief of Opera of the State Theater in Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic. In 1978, he was appointed Chief Conductor of the Brno Philharmonic Orchestra, a position he held until 1991. Vronsky was later appointed Chief Conductor of the Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra Ostrava in 2002.
