‘Woodwind Spectacular’ to cap Master Players Chamber Series May 2

Ricardo Morales

1:20 p.m., April 14, 2005--“Woodwind Spectacular! An Evening of Woodwind Chamber Music” will provide the grand finale to UD’s first annual Master Players Chamber Series at 8 p.m., Monday, May 2, in Mitchell Hall.

Ricardo Morales, world-renowned principal clarinetist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, with members of the Del’Arte Woodwind Quintet, UD faculty ensemble, and Julie Nishimura, faculty pianist, will play a varied concert program that includes the world premier of Piddle-in-the-Hole by internationally acclaimed composer Jennifer Barker, assistant professor of music at UD. The piece also will feature James Prodan, chairperson of the Department of Music, on oboe.

Tickets are $17 for adults, $12 for senior citizens/UD staff and alumni and $5 for students and are on sale at UD box offices, through TicketMaster, by calling (302) 984-2000, and at the door.

Morales was appointed principal clarinet of the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2002. Before that, he was principal clarinet of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, a position he assumed at 21. He can be heard on many broadcasts of The Metropolitan Opera Presents from his tenure at The Met. Morales began his professional career as principal clarinet of the Florida Symphony Orchestra.

Hailed by The New York Times as having “fleet technique, utterly natural musical grace, and the lyricism and breath control of a fine opera singer,” Morales’ performance also was singled out as “exquisite” in The New York Times review of the Metropolitan Opera production of Berlioz’s Les Troyens.

Morales has soloed with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra under the baton of James Levine in Carnegie Hall and on two European tours. He also has performed in the Met Chamber Ensemble series in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall, and he has played at the Kennedy Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art Concert Series, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and on NBC’s The Today Show.

An active recitalist and teacher at The Juilliard School, Morales has soloed with the Chicago Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Flemish Radio Symphony, North Carolina Symphony Orchestra, Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, Florida Symphony Orchestra and the Columbus Symphony.

A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Morales began his studies at the Escuela Libre de Música, along with his five siblings, who are all themselves distinguished musicians. He continued his studies at Indiana University and Cincinnati College Conservatory.

This series is under the management of the University of Delaware Department of Music and cosponsored by the University of Delaware Performing Art Series and the Office of the President.

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