Jonathan McPhee – Ring Reduction for Piano

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE ARCHIVAL VIDEO OF THIS EVENT: https://youtu.be/QhtFRauyy64

Maestro Jonathan McPhee is an artist in residence at Boston University, the Music Director of the Lexington Symphony and since 1992 has been a guest conductor for the Houston Ballet. McPhee will introduce us to his most recent work “Wagner – the Essential RING” an adaptation of Wagner’s Ring for piano. McPhee is among a handful of artists who create reduced orchestrations of large, well-known classical music pieces. Maestro McPhee has experience on both sides of the podium – including leadership roles at orchestras around the country and conducting for professional orchestras of all sizes in major halls around the world.

“My approach is always to be respectful of the original intentions,” McPhee says. “But I know how orchestras of all sizes sound, which allows for maintenance of the textures, colors and integrity of the composer’s sound world. It’s possible to make listeners think they’re hearing eight horns when only four are playing by combining them with trombones and bassoons. A lot of this work involves tricking the ear into hearing sounds produced by instruments other than the ones originally used.”