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performance is not allowed. Please be sure that cell phones,

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Please note that late entry or reentry ofthe 

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the Garden Cafe remains open for light refreshments

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Music Department

National Gallery ofArt

Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue nw

Washington, dc

www.nga.gov

Concerts are made possible in part through the generosity of donors

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available in recognition oftheir support. Please contact the development 

office at (202) 842-6450 or cirde@nga.gov for more information.

cover: Paul Stevenson Oles, Sketch ofthe East Building Exterior, 1971,

National Gallery of Art Archives, Gift of I. M. Pei and Partners

The Seventy-first Season of

The William Nelson Cromwell and F. Lammot Belin

Concerts

National Gallery ofArt

2,928th Concert

Theatre Tuscaloosa

Paul Looney, director emeritus

with

Soloists ofthe Russian National Orchestra

Soloists ofthe University ofAlabama Orchestra

Members ofthe National Gallery Orchestra

Hermitage Cats Save the Day

March 10, 2013

Sunday, 6:30 pm

East Building Auditorium

Admissionfree
Program

Chris Brubeck (b. 1952)

Hermitage Cats Save the Day

A Jazz Musical Fantasy for Cat-Lovers, Music-Lovers and

Art-Lovers ofAll Ages, Especially Children

MAIN CHARACTERS

Vladislav Lavrik, conductor and trumpeter

Drew Baker and Russell Stephens, assistant conductors,

who tell the story

Charles Prosser, Katzenoff, head ofmuseum security guards

HERMITAGE CATS

Diane Boyd Schultz (piccolo), Amber

Maxim Rubtsov (flute), Naughty Red-Ears

Marcio Botelho (cello), Van Dyck, a cat named for the

Dutch artist because he was found trapped in the heat

vent ofthe Van Dyck picture gallery 

Bruno Nasta (violin), Renoir, a cat named for the French

Impressionist artist

David Sciannella (trombone), Rastrelli, a cat named for the

Italian-born Russian architect who designed the Winter Palace

Edward Walters (clarinet), Kuzya, a cat without a tail

Dawn Sandel (guitar and vocals), Murlyka, a tabby cat that

purrs and sings

Joseph Connell (percussion), Sophocles, a wise old cat named

for the Greek philosopher and writer

Gregory Watkins (double bass), a thief
Hermitage Cats Creative Team

Mary Ann Allin is president of Swashbuckler Enterprises, an arts consultancy

based in Washington, DC, that specializes in Russian cultural projects. In

addition to writing the libretto for Hermitage Cats Save the Day, she is the 

coauthor with Maria Haltunen ofthe prize-winning children’s book, Anna

and the Hermitage Cats (2007).

Drew Baker returned to the stage, her true passion, after several years practicing law. She has appeared in dozens ofmajor roles for Theatre Tuscaloosa and 

the University ofAlabama stage. Since 2009 she has been artistic coordinator ofTuscaloosa Children’s Theatre. As a storyteller she has brought folk

tales to life for thousands of children.

Marcio Botelho is principal cellist with “The President’s Own” United States

Marine Band and with the National Gallery Orchestra. He has been a frequent

soloist with both ofthese orchestras, as well as with the Millbrook Orchestra

and Concert Artists Baltimore. He received a master ofmusic degree from 

the Eastman School of Music, and is a cum laude graduate ofthe University

ofCincinnati, where he was a winner ofthe concerto competition.

Grammy-nominated composer Chris Brubeck enjoys a diverse career—writing,

arranging, performing and recording jazz and symphonic works. He is much

sought after for his creative use ofmultiple genres in his compositions, and

has been commissioned to write many innovative works.

A regular extra percussionist with the National Symphony Orchestra, Joseph

Connell has recently appeared with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Colorado Symphony, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. He has performed with

musicians as diverse as Patti Labelle, country music’s Charlie Daniels, the 

Prog-rock group Yes, Tony Bennett, and Lady Gaga.

4

Erin Hisey is a freelance lighting designer for theater, dance, concert productions, and museum exhibitions at the Children’s Hands-On Museum of

Tuscaloosa. An adjunct faculty member at Shelton State Community College,

she teaches stage makeup and stage crafts. Hisey received her bachelor of

fine arts degree from New York University and her master offine arts from

the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Acclaimed as one of Russia’s finest trumpeters and a rising young conductor,

Vladislav Lavrik is recognized for achievements in both classical and jazz performance styles. He is principal trumpet ofthe Russian National Orchestra, 

leader ofthe rno Brass Quintet, founder of Moscow’s International Brass

Days Festival, and a member ofthe Board ofthe International Trumpet Guild.

Paul Looney is executive producer and artistic director emeritus ofTheatre

Tuscaloosa. A recipient ofthe Governor’s Arts Award, he founded the theater

department of Shelton State Community College and was technical director 

ofthe Alabama Shakespeare Festival. He has produced and designed over

120 major productions, including many that toured Alabama and abroad.

Known for his international and multi-genre repertoire, violinist Bruno Nasta

maintains a vigorous freelance schedule within the recording, symphony,

opera, theater, television and film circuits. He has performed with The Who,

Yes, Ray Charles, Lyle Lovett, Liza Minnelli, Bernadette Peters, and Luciano

Pavarotti, and his work has been featured on npr. Nasta is director ofthe

Jazz in the Garden summer concert program at the National Gallery ofArt,

personnel director ofthe National Gallery Orchestra, and founder/violinist

ofThe Gypsy Strings.

Charles Prosser has performed countless roles with theaters throughout

Alabama in a career spanning three decades. His acting and directing credits 

include productions in Annapolis, Maryland, and the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival. Recently retired from public school teaching, he continues to

enjoy a highly acclaimed acting career.

5
Maxim Rubtsov has been called “one ofthe best flutists ofthe Modern Age”

and is recognized as one of Russia’s finest musical ambassadors. As principal

flute ofthe Russian National Orchestra, he has premiered John Corigliano’s

Pied Piper Fantasy and recorded Corigliano songs with American soprano

Lisa Delan. Russian Romance, his recent recording with pianist Sergei Kvitko,

is available on iTunes.

As a mother oftwo young boys, Dawn Sandel is thrilled to sing and play guitar

as “Murlyka” the cat. She holds a bachelor’s degree in music therapy from the

University of Dayton (Ohio) and a master’s degree in early childhood special

education from the University ofAlabama, Birmingham. A music therapist

at the rise School ofTuscaloosa, she thinks this production is just PURRfect

for kiddies.

Flutist and piccoloist Diane Boyd Schultz began studying music at age n in

her native Mississippi. She is principal flutist ofthe Tuscaloosa Symphony, 

flutist with the Capstone Wind Quintet, and professor at the University of

Alabama. A prizewinner in several national and international competitions,

Dr. Boyd Schultz is a Yamaha Performing Artist.

Trombonist David Sciannella holds degrees from the Catholic University of

America and the Eastman School of Music. He maintains an active freelance

career in the greater Washington, DC, region. He is principal trombone ofthe

National Philharmonic, the WolfTrap Orchestra, the Lancaster Symphony, 

and the National Gallery Orchestra, and second trombone in the Annapolis

Symphony. He is trombonist and euphonium soloist with the Washington

Symphonic Brass.

Russell Stephens is a recent graduate ofthe University ofAlabama’s musical

theater program. He has starred in several ua and local musical theater productions and performed on stages throughout the state and region. Among

his favorite credits are more than 500 performances in the Jedi Training

Academy at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

6

Edward Walters recently retired as the clarinet instructor at the University of

Maryland School of Music. In addition to having served a four-year term with

the United States Navy Band, Walters has been a member ofthe Baltimore

Opera Orchestra, the Concert Artists ofBaltimore, the Kennedy Center Theater

Chamber Players, and the PostClassical Ensemble. Walters is the musical contractor for the National Theater in Washington, DC, and WolfTrap in Virginia.

Jeanette Waterman began work at Theatre Tuscaloosa as a volunteer and rose

to become the leader ofits costume department. In more than ten years as

costumer she has designed and supervised construction ofthousands ofhats,

shoes, and accessories. A native of Mobile, she studied clothing and textile

design at the University ofAlabama.

Classically trained double bassist Gregory Watkins has performed with the

National Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, and Washington Opera. 

Equally at home with jazz and pop, Watkins performs with The Sketches, a

unique pop group that blends melodic songwriting with orchestral accompaniment. A graduate ofthe Peabody Conservatory, he can also be heard on

many film and television scores, including programs on Discovery, National

Geographic, Arts & Entertainment, Miramax, hbo, abc, and Showtime.

7
Program Notes

Based on Anna and the Hermitage Cats by Mary Ann Allin and Maria Haltunen,

Chris Brubeck’s Hermitage Cats Save the Day received its world premiere in

Moody Concert Hall at the University ofAlabama, Tuscaloosa, just four days

ago. Inspired by legends surrounding the cats that live in the State Hermitage

Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia, the musical presents a new version of

a story that has been told and retold in Russia for more than 250 years. Cats

have lived in the basement ofthe Winter Palace since it was completed as a

masterpiece of Russian baroque architecture for the empress Elizaveta

Petrovna in 1762. Elizaveta’s successor, Catherine the Great, gave the Hermitage cats official status by issuing an imperial decree, stating that they 

were to be considered “guardians ofthe picture galleries.”

To this day more than fifty Hermitage cats fulfill their duty by keeping the

Winter Palace and five other museum buildings free ofmice and rats. According to Dr. Mikhail Piotrovsky, the director ofthe State Hermitage Museum,

“Our cats are one ofthe most important Hermitage legends. The museum

staffs care for and attention to the Hermitage cats offer the world an example

ofhuman kindness that serves to promote peace and understanding.”

About the musical, Mary Ann Allin says, “On one level, it is a simple

detective story in which the audience helps the Hermitage cats discover who

has stolen a priceless cat figurine from the museum’s Hall ofAncient Egypt.

On another level, it illustrates the kind of adventures, fantasies, and discoveries one can have in an art museum. To be sure, the story is an allegory of

human and international relations. The moral ofthe story: when we work

together, we can solve problems.”

According to composer Chris Brubeck, “Every musician knows this

lesson very well—in order to make music together, we must listen to one

another. We begin on the stage ofthe Hermitage Theater where ten jazzy 

musicians are unpacking their instruments, checking their sound and

rehearsing. But we soon learn that these are not ordinary players. These

musicians are really cool cats!”

Russian video designer Alexandra Komarova provided the visual effects 

by creating animated collages using original children’s drawings, Hermitage

works of art, photographs ofreal Hermitage cats, and museum interiors.

Every year the State Hermitage Museum invites children to compete for 

prizes in a juried drawing contest. The competition winners are announced

on the museum’s annual Day ofthe Cats. The winning artworks are exhibited in the museum and become part ofthe permanent collection.

The music for Hermitage Cats Save the Day was commissioned by Nestle

Purina PetCare (Moscow), Parsons & Whittemore (New York), Friends of

the Russian Arts Foundation (California), the University ofAlabama College

ofArts and Sciences, the Alabama State Council on the Arts, the BrannenCooper Fund (Massachusetts), the Panwy Foundation (Connecticut), Geraldine

Anderson, Stephanie and Peter Clemson, Nancy and Russell Nelson, and

Dr. Moonyeen Albrecht.

Additional partners in the Hermitage Cats Project include the National

Gallery ofArt, the State Hermitage Museum, Swashbuckler Enterprises, Inc. 

(Washington, dc), the rise School (Tuscaloosa, Alabama), the Institute of

Veterinary Biology (Saint Petersburg, Russia), and the Foundation for Cultural

Programs swash (Saint Petersburg, Russia).

Special thanks to author’s consultant Mary Quattlebaum, Embassy of

the Russian Federation, Savoy Suites Hotel, and BicyclesPACE DC.

9
Concerts in March 2013 at the National Gallery ofArt

Inscape Chamber Orchestra

Richard Scerbo, conductor

Music by Debussy, Delage, 

Hindemith, and Ravel

March 17, 2013

Sunday, 6:30 pm

West Building, West Garden Court

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Paul Posnak, pianist

Music by Gershwin

and other composers

March 20, 2013

Wednesday, 12:10 pm

East Building Auditorium