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Press Release
Last Modified:
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
ESA-PEKKA SALONEN, THE LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC AND SONY CLASSICAL JOIN FORCES TO PRESENT “LUTOSŁAWSKI THE SYMPHONIES”
Anniversary 2-CD Set Features a New Recording of Symphony No. 1 and Reissues of Symphonies Nos. 2, 3 & 4
Set Will Release Internationally on January 21, 2013 with U.S. Digital Release on January 22, 2013
January 25, 2013 would have been the 100th birthday of Witold Lutosławski, one of the most influential musical minds of the 20th century. To celebrate this anniversary, Esa-Pekka Salonen - a fervid devotee and mentee of Lutosławski - the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Sony Classical continue their long-established relationship by recording Lutosławski's Symphony No. 1 live at Walt Disney Concert Hall this December.
This new recording of the First Symphony will complete the four Lutosławski Symphonies recorded by Salonen and the orchestra; the recordings of the Second, Third and Fourth Symphonies appeared on various Sony releases from as early as 1986. An additional work, Fanfare for Los Angeles Philharmonic, written by the composer in 1993, will also be newly re-recorded for this set. Lutosławski The Symphonies will be available internationally on January 21, 2013 as a 2-CD set, as well as in digital format (US digital release date is January 22 and CD release date is March 12). The CD set will also include liner notes by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and noted Lutosławski scholar Steven Stucky. The recordings of Lutosławski's Fanfare for Los Angeles Philharmonic and Symphony No. 1 are being generously underwritten by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, as part of the Polska Music program.
Esa-Pekka Salonen first met Lutosławski in the mid-seventies in Helsinki, Finland, at the Sibelius Academy, where Lutosławski was lecturing for the composition class. Of his works, Salonen has written, "[They] possess the beauty of a giant organism, like a tree, or maybe a forest. We are moved by the logic of the form and the inevitability of growth. We perceive the music in shapes and lines, overall characteristics of the musical texture, and contrasts between movement and static situations." Salonen will honor the Lutosławski birthday with concerts around the globe, including a season-long project with the Philharmonia Orchestra called Woven Words: "Music Begins Where Words End," as well as performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. A full schedule of Salonen conducting Lutosławski’s work can be found at the end of this release.
In the last decade of his life, Witold Lutosławski became closely associated with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Most of his major pieces were presented in concert during that period by the orchestra, the Philharmonic Institute Orchestra, or the New Music Group, often with the composer conducting premiere performances. Highlights included the West Coast premiere of the Third Symphony on Salonen's debut concerts with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1984 and the world premiere of the Fourth Symphony in February 1993, with Lutosławski conducting. The Sony Classical recording of the Third Symphony by Salonen and the orchestra won a Grammy Award, a Cecilia Prize, a Koussevitzky Award, and the 1986 Gramophone Award for Best Contemporary Record. Salonen and the Philharmonic also recorded the Fourth Symphony twice, as well as the Second Symphony, Les espaces du sommeil (with baritone John Shirley-Quirk), the Piano Concerto (with soloist Paul Crossley), and Chantefleurs et Chantefables (with soprano Dawn Upshaw). They also recorded Fanfare for Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1994 - the first in a series of fanfares written by distinguished composers in celebration of the Philharmonic's 75th Anniversary Season - a work which also appears on this centennial release. At least 10 musicians in the ensemble have performed on all three of the earlier recordings featured in the upcoming set.
Esa-Pekka Salonen Conducts Lutosławski:
November 30, December 1, 2, 2012 - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Philharmonic
BEETHOVEN: King Stephen Overture
LUTOSŁAWSKI: Symphony No. 1
LUTOSŁAWSKI: Fanfare for Los Angeles Philharmonic
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 2
December 7, 8, 9, 2012 - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Philharmonic
David Fray, piano
Gerald Finley, baritone
SALONEN: Nyx (West Coast premiere)
SCHUMANN: Piano Concerto
LUTOSŁAWSKI: Les Espaces du Sommeil
TCHAIKOVSKY: Francesca da Rimini
January 30, 2013 - London, United Kingdom
Philharmonia Orchestra
Krystian Zimerman, piano
Philharmonia Voices
LUTOSŁAWSKI: Musique funèbre
LUTOSŁAWSKI: Piano Concerto
RAVEL: Daphnis et Chloé (complete)
February 7, 2013 - Tokyo, Japan
Philharmonia Orchestra
Leif Ove Andsnes, piano
LUTOSŁAWSKI: Symphony No. 4
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 4
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7
February 28, March 1, 2, 2013 - Chicago, IL
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
SIBELIUS: Pohjola's Daughter
SIBELIUS: Symphony No. 7
LUTOSŁAWSKI: Cello Concerto
TCHAIKOVSKY: Francesca da Rimini
March 7, 2013 - London, United Kingdom
Philharmonia Orchestra
Truls Mørk, cello
DEBUSSY: La mer
LUTOSŁAWSKI: Cello Concerto
LUTOSŁAWSKI: Concerto for Orchestra
March 13, 2013 - Warsaw, Poland
Philharmonia Orchestra
Truls Mørk, cello
LUTOSŁAWSKI: Musique Funèbre
LUTOSŁAWSKI: Cello Concerto
LUTOSŁAWSKI: Symphony No. 4
March 21, 2013 - London, United Kingdom
Philharmonia Orchestra
Jennifer Koh, violin
Matthias Goerne, baritone
RAVEL: Suite, Ma mère l'oye
LUTOSŁAWSKI: Symphony No. 4
LUTOSŁAWSKI: Les espaces du sommeil
LUTOSŁAWSKI: Chain 2: Dialogue for Violin and Orchestra
RAVEL: La valse
May 9 & 10, 2013 - Munich, Germany
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Frank Peter Zimmermann, violin
LUTOSŁAWSKI: Musique Funèbre
HINDEMITH: Violin Concerto
BARTOK: Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta
May 11, 2013 - Cologne, Germany
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Frank Peter Zimmermann, violin
LUTOSŁAWSKI: Musique Funèbre
HINDEMITH: Violin Concerto
XENAKIS: Khal Perr (for Brass Quintet & Percussion)
BARTOK: Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta
May 19, 2013 - Madrid, Spain
Philharmonia Orchestra
LUTOSŁAWSKI: Musique Funèbre
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7
STRAVINSKY: The Rite of Spring
May 26, 2013 - Dresden, Germany
Philharmonia Orchestra
LUTOSŁAWSKI: Musique Funèbre
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7
STRAVINSKY: The Rite of Spring
May 27, 2013 - Vienna, Austria
Philharmonia Orchestra
LUTOSŁAWSKI: Musique Funèbre
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7
STRAVINSKY: The Rite of Spring
May 28, 2013 - Ljubljana, Slovenia
Philharmonia Orchestra
LUTOSŁAWSKI: Musique Funèbre
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7
STRAVINSKY: The Rite of Spring
June 10, 2013 - Paris, France
Philharmonia Orchestra
Hélène Grimaud, piano
LUTOSŁAWSKI: Musique Funèbre
RAVEL: Piano Concerto in G
STRAVINSKY: The Rite of Spring
* * *
Esa-Pekka Salonen's restless innovation has marked him as one of the most important artists in classical music. He is currently the Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor for the Philharmonia Orchestra in London and the Conductor Laureate for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, where he was Music Director from 1992 until 2009. His pieces Floof and LA Variations have become established modern classics. A retrospective of his work was presented at Festival Présences Paris in February 2011. This season, Salonen will celebrate the centenary of two major events: the birth of Witold Lutosławski, his mentor, and the premiere of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. He marks the Stravinsky anniversary both with performances of The Rite of Spring and with his award-winning RE-RITE, a digital immersion project with the Philharmonia. In 2013, Salonen will also lead a new production of Strauss’ Elektra directed by Patrice Chéreau at the Aix-en-Provence Festival. Salonen’s extensive recording career includes a CD of his orchestral works performed by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, which he also conducted, as well as a disc of his Piano Concerto and his works Helix and Dichotomie. The latter disc, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Yefim Bronfman, was nominated for a Grammy Award. 2012 saw the release of the first-ever recording of Shostakovich’s previously undiscovered opera prologue Orango with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the release of Out of Nowhere, a collection of the composer's Grawemeyer Award-winning Violin Concerto and Nyx, featuring Leila Josefowicz and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, under the vibrant leadership of Music Director Gustavo Dudamel, presents an inspiring array of music from all genres – orchestral, chamber and Baroque music, organ and celebrity recitals, new music, jazz, world music and pop – at two of L.A.’s iconic venues, Walt Disney Concert Hall (www.laphil.com) and the Hollywood Bowl (www.hollywoodbowl.com). The LA Phil’s season at Walt Disney Concert Hall extends from September through May, and throughout the summer at the Hollywood Bowl. With the preeminent Los Angeles Philharmonic at the foundation of its offerings, the LA Phil aims to enrich and transform lives through music, with a robust mix of artistic, education and community programs.
The Adam Mickiewicz Institute is a national cultural institution. Its activity is part of the strategy for promoting Poland abroad and for building the Polska brand. Over the last decade, the institute has carried out more than 3000 projects in 26 countries, with a total audience of 20 million people. The institute promotes Polish culture around the world by supporting and fostering international cultural exchange. It presents Poland's cultural heritage and contemporary cultural achievements while also organizing presentations of projects by foreign partners in Poland. The institute also initiates and takes an active role in the ongoing debate concerning the economic potential of culture.
Sony Classical International is a division of Sony Music Entertainment, one of the world's leading music companies. Sony Classical International is responsible for the production and worldwide marketing of classical music. Its three labels- Sony Classical, RCA Red Seal and deutsche harmonia mundi - together produce numerous new recordings and reissues drawn from a large catalogue that looks back on a long and distinguished tradition (Sony Classical International, RCA Red Seal, dhm, Eurodisc and CBS Masterworks), as well as producing film soundtracks, Broadway recordings and jazz CDs. The Sony Classical International roster includes artists such as Lang Lang, Plácido Domingo, Yo-Yo Ma, Murray Perahia, Joshua Bell, Sol Gabetta, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Simone Dinnerstein and Vittorio Grigòlo.
To request press copies of the recordings, please contact:
Penelope Axtens
Sony Classical International Edisonhöfe
e: penelope.axtens@sonymusic.com
ph: +49 30 13888 7635
To request an interview with Esa-Pekka Salonen, please contact:
Amanda Ameer
First Chair Promotion
ph: 212.368.5949
To request an interview with members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, please contact:
Sophie Jeffries
Los Angeles Philharmonic
ph: 213.972.3422