MacMillan's A Scotch Bestiary is Part of Philharmonic's Organ Inauguration

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2004 at 8:00 PM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8 at 8:00 PM

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9 at 8:00 PM

at Walt Disney Concert Hall

October 7 generously sponsored by Smith Barney

October 9 generously sponsored by Acura

Media support for all three concerts provided by K-MOZART 105.1 FM

The Los Angeles Philharmonic continues its inaugural festivities for the Walt Disney Concert Hall organ with the world premiere of James MacMillan's (pictured) A Scotch Bestiary in three concerts on Thursday, October 7, Friday, October 8, and Saturday, October 9 at 8:00 PM. Internationally renowned organist Wayne Marshall is the soloist in MacMillan's A Scotch Bestiary, which was co-commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association and the BBC for the BBC Philharmonic, and is underwritten in celebration of the organ's builders, Caspar von Glatter-Götz and Manuel Rosales. Also on the program are Strauss' Festival Prelude and Also sprach Zarathustra.

October 8 is a part of the Philharmonic's Casual Fridays series where both conductor and orchestra members abandon their formal vesture and opt for more casual attire. Concert attendees are invited to mingle with the performers in the lower lobby immediately following the concert.

A Scotch Bestiary (subtitled "Enigmatic Variations on a Zoological Carnival at a Caledonian Exhibition") is a two movement, concertante work for organ and orchestra drawn from an Elgarian tradition of musical portraiture. The first movement (The Menagerie, Caged) consists of the organ and various sections of the orchestra portraying MacMillan's "Reptiles and Big Fish," "Queen Bee," "The Reverend Cuckoo and His Parroting Chorus," and other uniquely whimsical creations. While the first movement's themes and refrains are well-ordered, the second movement (The Menagerie, Uncaged) is a volatile fantasy built upon the preceding movement's main themes with the "animals" now unleashed.

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. For these three concerts, Philharmonic Consulting Composer for New Music Steven Stucky leads discussion with composer James MacMillan.

The concerts also include performances of two works by Richard Strauss: his Festival Prelude, Op. 61 (not performed Friday) and Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30, both of which utilize an enlarged orchestra and organ. The Festival Prelude was composed in 1913 for the inauguration of the organ at the Konzerthaus in Vienna, which was Austria's largest organ at the time. Also sprach Zarathustra (Thus spake Zarathustra) was perhaps Strauss' most monumental tone poem and is based on the eponymous book by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche published in 1892. Strauss' work recounts Nietzsche's story of the wandering Zarathustra with music that fully expresses joy, fear, courage, and wonder.

WAYNE MARSHALL appears throughout the world as a virtuoso organist, solo pianist, and conductor and is a familiar figure at leading festivals and symphonic series. As an organ recitalist, he draws on an exceptionally large and varied repertoire. He has appeared widely throughout the U.K., Europe, North America and the Far East in such venues as Notre Dame Cathedral, St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral, Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall, the Vienna Konzerthaus, the Berlin Konzerthaus, Suntory Hall, and the Esplanade in Singapore. He is organist-in-residence at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall, and has recently appeared as organ soloist with the Hallé Vancouver Symphony, and Calgary Philharmonic orchestras. As conductor, pianist, and conductor/soloist he is a renowned interpreter of the works of Gershwin, Bernstein, Ellington, and other 20th century American composers. This season, he returns to the Rotterdam Philharmonic and also makes debuts with the Accademia di Santa Cecilia and MDR Symphony Orchestra. As a pianist, he has appeared as soloist with the Berlin Philharmonic and Philharmonia Orchestra and has given solo recitals in Spain, Portugal, and the U.K. He has also formed successful duo partnerships with Kim Criswell, Tasmin Little, Natalie Clein, Ole Edvard Antonsen, and Willard White.

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 and Stravinsky Festivals, appearances at the Ojai Festival, critically acclaimed international tours, and his extensive discography with the Philharmonic for Sony Classical. Salonen was born in Helsinki, Finland in 1958. He made his conducting debut with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra in 1979, and he has been one of the world's most sought-after conductors since his debut in London with the Philharmonia Orchestra in September 1983. He served as principal guest conductor of the Philharmonia from 1985 to 1994 and as principal conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1985 to 1995.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2004 at 8:00 PM

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8 at 8:00 PM

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9 at 8:00 PM

Walt Disney Concert Hall

111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC

ESA-PEKKA SALONEN

WAYNE MARSHALL, organ

R. STRAUSS Festival Prelude, Op. 61 (except Friday)

MacMILLAN A Scotch Bestiary (world premiere)

R. STRAUSS Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30

October 7 concert generously sponsored by Smith Barney

October 9 concert generously sponsored by Acura

Media support for all three concerts provided by K-MOZART 105.1 FM

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. For these three concerts, Philharmonic Consulting Composer for New Music Steven Stucky leads a discussion with composer JAMES MacMILLAN.

October 8 is part of the Casual Fridays series and does not include a performance of the Strauss Festival Prelude. Concert attendees are able to meet members of the Philharmonic in the lower lobby immediately following the concert.

Tickets ($15 - $125) are on sale now at the Walt Disney Concert Hall box office, online at LAPhil.com, or via credit card phone order at 323.850.2000. When available, choral bench seats ($15) will be released for sale to selected Philharmonic, Colburn Celebrity Recital, and Baroque Variations performances beginning at noon on the Tuesday of the second week prior to the concert. 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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