Conductor to take baton at Masterworks concert

Fleischer has worked with many well-known musicians.
By ROBERT ROLLIN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN -- Randall Craig Fleischer, the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra's new music director and conductor, will conduct the symphony for the first time since getting the job last year.
He will lead the fourth Masterworks Series concert, "Piano Panache," at 8 p.m. Saturday at Powers Auditorium.
The interesting program includes the lively and accessible Bartok, with Rumanian Folk Dances, an audience pleaser; the vibrant Prokofiev Third Piano Concerto, with guest soloist, Denis Matsuev; and the marvelously tuneful Tchaikovsky Fifth Symphony.
It should be no surprise that Russian music will constitute two-thirds of the evening.
"My five years as assistant and then associate conductor of the National Symphony working under Russian cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich were magnificent," Fleischer told The Vindicator in a telephone interview. "Rostropovich was like a father to me."
Rock and rap
During his professional years, Fleischer has developed an abiding interest in rock and world music, having worked with such artists as Natalie Merchant, Blondie, Ani DiFranco, John Cale of the Velvet underground, Garth Hudson of the Band, Kenny Rogers and American Indian artists R. Carlos Nakai, Burning Sky, The Hawk Project, The Benaly Family, and others.
He has been a strong advocate for new music, having commissioned and conducted many works by living composers.
"I taught at Catholic University during my days with the National Symphony and composed and co-authored with my wife three rap pieces for children entitled 'Rhythm Rap,' 'Mozart Rap,' and 'Instruments of the Orchestra Rap.'" He has also composed several works involving American Indian subjects.
Based on his wide interests and background, Saturday's concert should prove stimulating.