The Cornell Concert Series welcomes the world-renowned Orpheus Chamber Orchestra to Bailey Hall on Sunday, October 26 at 4 p.m., joined by guest violinist James Ehnes.
Abby Fayette, the orchestra’s Artistic Coordinator, says Orpheus continues to astonish audiences with its unique approach. “The number one question on everybody’s mind when they see Orpheus Chamber Orchestra on stage,” she said, “is how we manage to unite an orchestra without a conductor.”
Fayette explained that the ensemble operates through shared leadership. “We’re an orchestra of shared leadership, and at the top of our priorities is engaging with one another on the same level you’d expect a conductor to bring—knowing the score intimately, knowing one’s part,” she said. “When somebody is in a leadership role, everyone else focuses on supporting them. Within any given piece, that role rotates all over the orchestra, so our awareness is much more heightened than your standard symphony orchestra.”
Programming Coordinator James Wilson described the upcoming performance as “inspired by French music.” The concert opens with Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, followed by two showpieces featuring Ehnes as soloist—Saint-Saëns’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso and Chausson’s Poème. After intermission, the orchestra performs Cartes Postales, a new work by American composer Jessica Meyer, and closes with a symphonic version of Ravel’s Piano Trio arranged by composer Zachary Wadsworth.
Many of the works on the program are presented in special arrangements for Orpheus. “We see it as an advantage,” said Wilson. “We’re a small orchestra—often just thirty or so musicians—so these arrangements allow us to perform a much wider range of music. They’re bespoke pieces for Orpheus, and in that way, we’re creating new repertoire for ensembles of our size.”
Fayette added that commissioning new works is central to the orchestra’s mission. “Orpheus has a long history of being a leading commissioner in the orchestral field,” she said. “We aim to commission a new work for almost every concert. It’s an extension of our collaborative spirit—why not extend that collaboration to composers as well?”
As for violinist James Ehnes, Fayette speaks from a performer’s perspective. “As a violinist myself, I’ve long been an admirer of James’s playing,” she said. “He’s at the very top of his field, but what really stands out is his collaborative spirit. At Orpheus, we value soloists who share our democratic approach, and James understands that the relationship between soloist and orchestra isn’t independent—it lives and breathes together.”
The concert takes place Sunday, October 26 at 4 p.m. in Bailey Hall on the Cornell campus. Tickets and information are available at cornellconcertseries.com.