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  • WDCH
  • CELEBRATED PIANIST LANG LANG PERFORMS WITH LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC CONDUCTED BY VASSILY SINAISKY AT WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL
  • Feb. 8, 2007
  • Concert Program Features Works by Chopin, Berlioz and Rachmaninoff

    THURSDAY, FRIDAY, and SATURDAY,
    FEBRUARY 8, 9, and 10, AT 8 PM

    SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2007 AT 2 PM

    February 8 Concert Sponsored by Acura, and

    February 10 Concert Sponsored by Princess Cruises;

    Media Support for the February 10 Concert Provided by KCET

    Celebrated Chinese pianist Lang Lang performs with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, led by Russian conductor Vassily Sinaisky, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 8, 9 and 10 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, February 11, at 2 p.m. at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The concert program features Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1, Berlioz's swashbuckling Le Corsaire Overture and Rachmaninoff's thrilling Symphonic Dances, considered by many to be the composer's most important symphonic work.

    Lang Lang has demonstrated an extraordinary level of musicianship in the widest range of repertoire. His artistry and ability to connect with audiences on a personal level have established him as an international sensation and one of the most exciting and sought-after artists of our time, seen by millions throughout the world in concert, on televised concert broadcasts and in documentaries. Sinaisky has been principal guest conductor of the BBC Philharmonic since 1996 and was principal guest conductor with the Bolshoi Opera and music director and principal conductor of the Moscow Philharmonic.

    Paul Romero, composer and pianist, discusses the concert program at "Upbeat Live," a free event in BP Hall open to all ticket holders, held one hour before each performance.

    As part of Acura's sponsorship of the February 8 performance, all Acura vehicles entering the Walt Disney Concert Hall parking garage that evening park at no charge.

    VASSILY SINAISKY's international career was launched in 1973 when he won the Gold Medal at the prestigious Karajan Competition in Berlin. His early work as assistant to the legendary Kyrill Kondrashin at the Moscow Philharmonic and his study with Ilya Musin at the Leningrad Conservatoire provided him with an incomparable grounding. In 2004 Sinaisky stood in at short notice for an indisposed Esa-Pekka Salonen, conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic in part of its Shostakovich Cycle. Another highlight was his Der Rosenkavalier with English National Opera in March 2003, which earned him unanimous acclaim. Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic since 1996, Sinaisky is a regular and popular visitor to the Proms each summer. He has also regularly guest conducted with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Gothenburg Symphony, the Finnish and Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestras, and Detroit and Atlanta Symphony Orchestras. He was principal guest conductor with the Bolshoi Opera and worked on many occasions with the Latvian State Opera companies. Sinaisky was music director and principal conductor of the Moscow Philharmonic from 1991-1996. He has also held the posts of Chief Conductor of the Latvian Symphony and Principal Guest Conductor of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2000 Sinaisky was invited to become music director and principal conductor of the Russian State Orchestra (formerly Svetlanov's USSR State Symphony Orchestra), a position which he held until 2002.

    LANG LANG was the first Chinese pianist to be engaged by the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the top American orchestras. He has collaborated with Daniel Barenboim, Colin Davis, Charles Dutoit, Christoph Eschenbach, Valery Gergiev, Mariss Jansons, Neeme Järvi, James Levine, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, Simon Rattle, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Leonard Slatkin, Yuri Temirkanov, Michael Tilson Thomas, Franz Welser-Möst, Long Yu, and David Zinman. Lang Lang's talent is matched by his ebullient personality, making him an ideal ambassador for classical music and a role model for young people. He was recently recognized for his efforts by the United Nations' Children's Fund (UNICEF), which appointed him its youngest international Goodwill Ambassador. Born in 1982 in Shenyang, he began piano lessons at the age of three. At the age of five, he won the Shenyang Piano Competition and played his first public recital. He entered Beijing's Central Music Conservatory when he was nine, and at the age of 11, he won the first prize and award for outstanding artistic performance at the Fourth International Young Pianists Competition in Germany. In America he studied with Gary Graffman at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, from which he graduated in 2003. In 1999, when he was 17, he substituted at the last-minute for an indisposed André Watts at the Ravinia Festival's Gala of the Century (introduced by Isaac Stern) playing the Tchaikovsky Concerto with the Chicago Symphony and Christoph Eschenbach. Lang Lang records exclusively for Deutsche Grammophon

    The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, under Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen, presents the finest in orchestral and chamber music, recitals, new music, jazz, world music and holiday concerts at two of the most remarkable places anywhere to experience music - Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. In addition to a 30-week winter subscription season at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the LA Phil presents a 12-week summer festival at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and home of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. In fulfilling its commitment to the community, the Association's involvement with Los Angeles extends to educational programs, community concerts and children's programming, ever seeking to provide inspiration and delight to the broadest possible audience.

    EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

    THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, AT 8 PM

    FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, AT 8 PM

    SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, AT 8 PM

    SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, AT 2 PM


    WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL, 111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles

    LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC

    VASSILY SINAISKY, conductor

    LANG LANG, piano

    BERLIOZ Le Corsaire Overture

    CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 1

    RACHMANINOFF Symphonic Dances

    Paul Romero, composer and pianist, discusses the concert program at "Upbeat Live," a free event in BP Hall open to all ticket holders held one hour before each performance.

    The February 8 Concert is Sponsored by Acura and the February 10 Concert is Sponsored by Princess Cruises; Media Support for the February 10 Concert Provided by KCET

    Tickets ($15 - $135) are on sale now online at LAPhil.com, at the Walt Disney Concert Hall Box Office, 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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  • Contact:

    Adam Crane, 213.972.3422, acrane@laphil.org; Rachelle Roe, 213.972.7310, rroe@laphil.org; Photos: 213.972.3034