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  • MUSIC DIRECTOR ESA-PEKKA SALONEN LEADS FIRST SUBSCRIPTION CONCERTS IN WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL
  • Oct. 30, 2003
  • Philharmonic Joined by Guest Soloists Soprano Christiane Oelze and Mezzo-soprano Monica Groop, and the Los Angeles Master Chorale in Mahler's Second Symphony, "Resurrection"

    Performances Mark Start of Creation Festival

    THURSDAY - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 1 AT 8 PM
    SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2 at 2 PM

    October 30 sponsored by Smith Barney

    The Los Angeles Philharmonic’s inaugural season at Walt Disney Concert Hall begins on October 30 with music director Esa-Pekka Salonen leading the orchestra and guest vocalists Christiane Oelze (soprano) and Monica Groop (mezzo-soprano) and the Los Angeles Master Chorale in Gustav Mahler’s monumental Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection.” Performances take place on Thursday and Friday, October 30 and 31, and Saturday, November 1 at 8 p.m., and on Sunday, November 2 at 2 p.m.

    Upbeat Live pre-concert events take place one hour prior to each concert in BP Hall at Walt Disney Concert Hall, and are free to all ticket holders. Musicologist Christopher Hailey and architecture historian Esther Da Costa Meyer lead a discussion of the spiritual aspects of creation in both music and architecture as they relate to Mahler's powerful “Resurrection” symphony and the dynamic new concert hall.

    These concerts lead off the Philharmonic’s Creation Festival (October 30 – November 15), which reflects the themes of creation, invention and renewal through various types of programs. The Festival includes repertoire such as Haydn’s The Creation and Milhaud’s La création du monde. The theme of creation also resonates throughout the season, which includes eight world premieres. The Festival is also complemented by additional programming on the Green Umbrella new music series and the Toyota Symphonies for Youth series, as well as within the Association’s other education and community initiatives.

    “There is no more appropriate theme than creation and recreation as we witness the birth of this unique concert venue,” remarks Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen. “This theme is more or less what the Los Angeles Philharmonic is all about, looking to the future while keeping the great traditions alive.”

    Gustav Mahler composed the first movement of his second symphony in 1888; six years later, the march-like symphonic poem became the first movement of the more-than-80-minute monumental work. The massive piece – one of the lengthiest in the symphonic repertoire – contains five movements, two of which contain text, and is scored for one of the largest ensembles of any work: massive orchestra, organ, offstage ensembles, vocal soloists and chorus. Mahler’s knack for tackling major topics in his work is evident in the “Resurrection” symphony, which deals with the meaning of life and coming to terms with death – as well as revival. The text in the finale was drawn from German poet Klopstock’s hymn, Auferstehung (Resurrection Ode), which the composer himself then augmented. The finale gives the work its name and represents Mahler’s own faith and philosophical perspective.

    German soprano CHRISTIANE OELZE studied in Cologne and Frankfurt and has since collaborated with opera companies and orchestras in Europe, North America, and Japan. In the last decade, she has specialized in Mozart’s roles, performing Despina, Konstanze, and Pamina. Britain is Oelze’s second home; she has appeared many times at the Royal Opera Covent Garden and at the Glyndebourne Festival. Oelze sings Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier at the Hamburg State Opera this year. She has an extensive discography of lieder, arias, masses and oratorios as well as full opera roles on numerous labels.

    Finnish mezzo-sopranoMONICA GROOP enjoys a multi-faceted career combining operatic, recital, symphonic, and chamber music engagements and is noted for her many critically acclaimed recordings. Since her professional debut in 1987, she has performed with many of the world’s major opera companies and orchestras: Royal Opera, Covent Garden, Munich State Opera, Royal Opera of Stockholm, Los Angeles Opera, Paris Opera, the Chicago Symphony, the Boston Symphony, the London Philharmonic, and the BBC Symphony. Groop has given solo recitals at Lincoln Center, London’s Wigmore Hall, and Vienna’s Musikverein. In July, she debuted at Santa Fe Opera in the North American premiere of Saariaho’s L’amour de loin. Upcoming engagements include her New York City Opera debut in the title role of Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia, appearances with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, at the Proms, and the San Francisco Symphony, and a return to the Cologne State Opera. A prolific recording artist, Groop has made over 40 recordings.

    ESA-PEKKA SALONEN, the tenth conductor to head the Los Angeles Philharmonic, began his tenure as Music Director in October 1992. Salonen made his American debut conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic in November 1984, and he has conducted the orchestra every season since. Among the many highlights of Salonen’s activities with the Philharmonic have been world premieres of new works by composers John Adams, Bernard Rands, Rodion Shchedrin, Steven Stucky and Salonen himself, well-received Ligeti, Schoenberg and Stravinsky Festivals, appearances at the Ojai Festival, numerous critically acclaimed international tours since 1992, and his extensive discography with the Orchestra for Sony Classical. Salonen was born in Helsinki, Finland in 1958. He made his conducting debut in London with the Philharmonia Orchestra in September 1983. He served as principal guest conductor of the Philharmonia of London from 1985 to 1994 and as a principal conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1985 to 1995.

    EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

    LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC - CREATION FESTIVAL -


    Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles

    Thursday, October 30, 2003 at 8 PM

    Friday, October 31, 2003 at 8 PM

    Saturday, November 1, 2003 at 8 PM

    Sunday, November 2, 2003 at 2 PM

    Los Angeles Philharmonic

    Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor

    Christiane Oelze, soprano

    Monica Groop, mezzo-soprano

    Los Angeles Master Chorale

    MAHLER Symphony No. 2, "Resurrection"

    Upbeat live pre-concert events take place one hour prior to each concert in BP Hall at Walt Disney Concert Hall, and are free to all ticket holders. Musicologist Christopher Hailey and architecture historian Esther Da Costa Meyer lead a discussion of the spiritual aspects of creation in both music and architecture as relates to Mahler's powerful Resurrection Symphony and the dynamic new concert hall.

    Tickets ($15 - $120) are on sale now online at LAPhil.com, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion box office, or via credit card phone order at 323.850.2000. Walt Disney Concert Hall box office opens October 7. A limited number of $10 rush tickets for seniors and full time students may be available at the Walt Disney Concert Hall box office two hours prior to the performance. Valid identification is required; one ticket per person; cash only. Groups of 12 or more may be eligible for special discounts for selected concerts and seating areas. For all information, please call 323.850.2000.

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  • Contact:

    Elizabeth Hinckley, 213.972.3034; Rachelle Roe, 213.972.7310