Giovanni Antonini Leads the Ensemble in a Varied Program

THURSDAY, APRIL 26 AT 8:00 PM

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association presents Il Giardino Armonico, one of Italy's most distinguished period instrument ensembles, in the final Baroque Variations series performance this season at Walt Disney Concert Hall on April 26 at 8 p.m.

Led by conductor and founder Giovanni Antonini, Il Giardino Armonico performs Guerrieri's Sonata "La Ravarina" for three violins and Sonata "La Pietra" for two violins; Purcell's Pavane in G minor and Three Parts upon a Ground; Rosenmüller's Sonata No. 7 for two violins and viola; Telemann's Flute Concerto in C major; Nardini's Recorder Concerto in G major; Goldberg's Sonata in C minor for two violins and viola; and Vivaldi's Recorder Concerto in A minor, RV 108.

Il Giardino Armonico specializes in performance of music from the 17th and 18th centuries, and the size of the ensemble fluctuates depending on the demands of each program. They regularly play with distinguished soloists and have released many acclaimed recordings, including their Grammy-winning collaboration, The Vivaldi Album, with Cecilia Bartoli.

Composer/Conductor Russell Steinberg of the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra 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 Los Angeles Philharmonic's Baroque Variations series offers presentations of Baroque music on both period and modern instruments performed by some of the world's most admired ensembles and soloists.

IL GIARDINO ARMONICO, founded in Milan in 1985, brings together a number of graduates from some of Europe's leading colleges of music, all of whom specialize in playing on period instruments. Since 1989 il Giardino Armonico is conducted by Giovanni Antonini. il Giardino Armonico is regularly invited to many festivals all over the world and has performed in the most important concert halls. il Giardino Armonico has been under exclusive contract with TELDEC Classics for a number of years. Its various recordings of works by Vivaldi and other 18th-century composers have received widespread acclaim and major awards (Award "Fondazione Cini" of Venice, Caecilia Award in Belgium, Diapason d'Or, Choc de la Musique, Grand Prix des Discophiles). Il Proteo, their recording of several of Vivaldi's double and triple concertos for cello and orchestra, with soloist Christophe Coin, received a Gramophone Award in October 1996 and the Diapason d'Or. The Brandenburg Concertos were awarded the Echo-Preis in 1998 and a CD dedicated to works by M. Locke and H.I.F. Biber won the Diapason d'Or 1999. In 1999, The Vivaldi Album with Cecilia Bartoli won the Grammy Award. Viaggio Musicale (2000) and Musica Barocca (2001) won the French prize 10 de Répertoire. In 2005 two CDs were released: La Casa del Diavolo (with works by Boccherini, Locatelli, Gluck, C.P.E. and W.F. Bach) with the French label Naïve, and Violin Concerts by Vivaldi with Viktoria Mullova, winner of the Diapason d'Or with the English label Onyx. il Giardino Armonico plays regularly with many acclaimed soloists such as Cecilia Bartoli, Katia and Marielle Labèque, Sara Mingardo, Bernarda Fink, Lynne Dawson, Christoph Prégardien, Magdalena Kožená, Viktoria Mullova, Christophe Coin and Giuliano Carmignola both in concerts and in opera stage productions such as Monteverdi's L'Orfeo, Handel's Agrippina, Il Trionfo del Tempo del Disinganno, La Resurrezione and Aci, Galatea e Polifemo and Pergolesi's La serva padrona.

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, APRIL 26, 2007, AT 8:00 PM

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

Baroque Variations

Il Giardino Armonico

GIOVANNI ANTONINI, director

GUERRIERI Sonata "La Ravarina" for three violins

GUERRIERI Sonata "La Pietra" for two violins

PURCELL Pavane in G minor

PURCELL Three Parts upon a Ground

ROSENMÜLLER Sonata No. 7 for two violins and viola

TELEMANN Flute Concerto in C major

NARDINI Recorder Concerto in G major

GOLDBERG Sonata in C minor for two violins and viola

VIVALDI Recorder Concerto in A minor, RV 108

Composer/Conductor Russell Steinberg of the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra discusses the concert program at "Upbeat Live," a free event in BP Hall open to all ticket holders, held one hour before each performance.

Tickets ($33 - $86) 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 10 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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