Edward Cumming Returns to the Bushnell in Hartford with the Hartt Symphony Orchestra on April 4th

Featuring Works by Beethoven, Glinka, Rossini, and Copland; Plus, a Special Guest Appearance by Acclaimed Local Opera Star Matthew Worth

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. ― On Friday, April 4th at 8:00 p.m., The Hartt Symphony Orchestra returns to The Bushnell’s magnificent Belding Theater with renowned Maestro Edward Cumming conducting an evening full of wonderful classical music, including works by Glinka, Rossini, and Copland plus a performance of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony. Acclaimed opera star and West Hartford native, Matthew Worth, joins the ensemble in arias by Rossini (“Largo al factotum,” from The Barber of Seville) and (“Soliloquy” from Carousel), marking the first time Mr. Worth will have performed with The Hartt Orchestra. In addition, Jeffrey Hoffman, co-chairman of the family-run auto dealership Hoffman Auto Group, will guest conduct. The performance begins promptly at 8 p.m. and takes place at The Maxwell M. & Ruth R. Belding Theater located at The Bushnell Performing Arts Center in Hartford, Connecticut. For box office information, please visitwww.Bushnell.org. Ticket prices start at $25.00.

The Hartt School is the performing arts conservatory of the University of Hartford that offers innovative degree programs in music, dance, and theatre. It provides world class performing arts education to students in Greater-Hartford and around the world. With more than 400 concerts, recitals, plays, master classes, dance performances, and musical theatre productions each year, performance is central to Hartt’s curriculum. The Hartt Orchestra’s performance at The Bushnell is one of the highlights of the year for both students and the community. Home to the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, the Bushnell’s Belding Theater has been hailed as one of the most acoustically superior theaters in the region, if not the nation. Due to a long lasting partnership between The Hartt School and The Bushnell, each year students from Hartt have the incredible opportunity to perform on one of the world’s best stages in front of a loyal audience of classical music enthusiasts.

“I am thrilled to be returning to The Bushnell with The Hartt Symphony Orchestra. The chance to perform at the Belding provides students the great pleasure of being able to hear themselves play in a way that only one of the finest acoustic rooms in the country can,” says Edward Cumming, Primrose Fuller Professor of Orchestral Studies at The Hartt School. “I am also looking forward to performing with Matthew Worth. We are honored to have this local, rising star join us on stage.”

“The Bushnell is proud to once again host Maestro Edward Cumming and The Hartt Symphony Orchestra and to welcome Matthew Worth back to Connecticut,” says Ric Waldman, director of programming at The Bushnell Center. “Continuing to nurture the marriage of our two institutions, aligns with The Bushnell’s mission of being a resource to the community and functioning as a space for local arts groups to perform in a world-class venue.”

“It means a tremendous amount for me to be able to return to my home town and perform with The Hartt School Symphony Orchestra at one of the region’s premier venues,” says Matthew Worth, acclaimed opera star and West Hartford native. “When Maestro Cumming invited me to join the performance at the Belding, I was thrilled for the opportunity to perform with such an esteemed conductor and the talented students of The Hartt School. Promoting the arts in Hartford and the state is a cause close to my heart and I am excited to collaborate with these gifted musicians to produce a beautiful piece of art.”

The Hartt School is the performing arts conservatory of the University of Hartford that offers innovative degree programs in music, dance, and theatre. Founded in 1920, Hartt has been an integral part of the University of Hartford since its charter merged the then Hartt School of Music, the Hartford Art School, and Hillyer College to create the University in 1957. 2010 marked Hartt’s 90th year of providing world class performing arts education to students in Greater-Hartford and around the world. With more than 400 concerts, recitals, plays, master classes, dance performances, and musical theatre productions each year, performance is central to Hartt’s curriculum. For more information about The Hartt School, visit www.hartford.edu/hartt.

The University of Hartford, centrally located in Connecticut, provides a distinctive educational experience across seven schools and colleges for one of the most diverse student bodies in New England. Hartford’s faculty are attracted by the opportunity to challenge and support students as they pursue degrees in more than 100 programs in the arts, humanities, science, business, engineering and technology, education, and health professions. Chartered in 1957, Hartford has more than 5,000 undergraduate and, 1,600 graduate students from 48 states and 63 countries, and 75,000 alumni worldwide. Visit www.hartford.edu for more information.