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Notable Quotes News and Reviews -Archive
Seattle PI, October 3, 2006
Stephen Beus, 25, grew up in Othello and last summer won three
prestigious piano competitions including the Gold Prize in the Gina
Bachauer International Competition. Saturday night at the Theatre at
Meydenbauer Center, he joined the Bellevue Philharmonic in its season
opening concert. Beus' approach was mature, his interpretation in the
service of the music and the composer's intent. His technique is
unobtrusive, yet every note was present and clear, phrases beautifully
shaped and thoughtful. Read the
review...
Seattle Weekly, August 2, 2006
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The fiscal-year-end report released July 3 by the Bellevue Philharmonic
boasts a 99 percent increase (that's doubling, folks) in subscription sales;
finishing "in the black" for the fourth consecutive year, with no deficit;
an average of 93 percent to 94 percent capacity for all concerts in the
Theatre at Meydenbauer; and the expansion of their main season in 2006–07
to six pairs of subscription concerts (up from five). This is all startlingly
good news in a field that's been financially beleaguered in recent years—especially
so for a smaller ensemble that's been on not-so-firm footing since the controversial
easing-out of founding music director R. Joseph Scott, who led the group
from 1967 to 1997. Executive Director Lawrence Fried attributes the upswing
to their "largest, most comprehensive ad campaign ever" via direct mail
and KING-FM (98.1), and a special low rate for new subscribers. "The business
community is becoming more aware of us," he says, which seems to be translating
into both corporate support and butts in seats. Music director Fusao Kajima,
looking forward to his ninth season with the group, and their board seem
to have the group well on track. —Gavin Borchert
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