Christopher's Grand Finale on June 4, 2011.
(Photo: Kyle Schwab)
In honor of Christopher Seaman, the RPO’s Principal Pops Conductor—Jeff Tyzik—delivered these remarks at the May 25, 2011 RPO Board of Directors meeting.
Please click here to read remarks given by the Dean of the Eastman School of Music, Douglas Lowry, later that evening at a University of Rochester reception.
Visit the RPO Facebook page to view a photo album of images from this special night.
Click here to view a timeline of Christopher's years with the RPO and more photos as a PDF.
You can also read the commemorative program book from A Bow Tie Affair—which includes tributes from Board Chair Suzanne Welch, President & CEO Charles Owens, and Principal Conductor for Education and Outreach Michael Butterman, as well the lyrics to the musical tribute which closed Saturday's concert—by clicking on this link.
Use this link to listen to Julia Figueras' fond farewell to Christopher in an interview on WXXI. And click here for Brenda Tremblay's audio profile, also on WXXI.
Click here to read Paloma Capanna's concert review in City Newspaper. Use this link to read Anna Reguero's review in the Democrat and Chronicle. Anna Reguero also posted a profile of Christopher Seaman—click here to read it and view a video.
Christopher Seaman Timeline:
October 1, 1998: Christopher Seaman makes his critically acclaimed debut as RPO Music Director
September 2001: RPO releases first international CD on harmonia mundi featuring Van Cliburn winner Jon Nakamatsu in Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto and Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
November 2001: The Symphony 101 Series, created by Christopher, makes its debut
September 2003: RPO’s second harmonia mundi CD is an all-Tchaikovsky disc: the Piano Concerto No. 1 with Van Cliburn winner Olga Kern and Francesca da Rimini
October 2004: Composer David Diamond’s Fanfare in Honor of George Eastman is premiered to celebrate the 150th anniversary of George Eastman’s birth
May 2005: RPO collaborates with Young Audiences of Rochester for a sold-out benefit concert with violinist Itzhak Perlman
June 2005 (and also 2006): The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) honors the RPO with an award for Adventurous Programming
November 2005: Soloist Nicholas Goluses, Christopher, and the RPO perform the world premiere of Bill Dobbins’ Guitar Concerto
December 2005: Leading soprano Renée Fleming performs a special “Home for the Holidays” concert with Christopher and the RPO
November 2007: Conducts world premiere of Michael Daugherty’s Deus ex machina for Piano and Orchestra with soloist Terrence Wilson
May 2008: Welcomes Yo-Yo Ma for a special sold-out performance of Dvorvák’s Cello Concerto
February 2009: Christopher conducts the East Coast premiere of Sergio Assad’s Interchange with the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
May 2009: Receives an honorary Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Rochester
October 2009: Opens the newly renovated Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre with world premiere of Douglas Lowry’s Geo
October 2009: Christopher announces he will step down as Music Director, named Conductor Laureate as of 2011-2012 Season
January 2010: Following the world premiere of Jeff Tyzik’s Timpani Concerto, written for Charles Ross, Christopher—former Principal Timpani of the London Symphony—joins in the encore
March 2010: Concertmaster Juliana Athayde is featured soloist in the RPO-commissioned Violin Concerto by Allen Shawn, led by Christopher
November 2010: Receives a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Arts and Cultural Council of Greater Rochester
March 2011: Records Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music and London Symphony on the harmonia mundi label for release in 2012— in time for his 70th birthday
June 2011: Christopher ends his 13-season tenure as Music Director with his final Philharmonics concerts before being honored at a special Bow Tie Affair event
