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  • BAROQUE VARIATIONS 2008/09 SERIES BEGINS AT WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL FEATURING PIANIST PIOTR ANDERSZEWSKI IN AN ALL-BACH PROGRAM
  • Oct. 18, 2008
  • SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2008, 8 PM

    Polish-Hungarian pianist Piotr Anderszewski performs at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Saturday, October 18 at 8 p.m. in an all-Bach Baroque Variations series program that includes Bach’s Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826; Partita No. 1 in B flat, BWV 825; two items from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II (Prelude and Fugue No. 19 in A, and Prelude and Fugue No. 20 in A minor); and English Suite No. 6 in D minor, BWV 811.

    Piotr Anderszewski is regarded as one of today's most inspired musicians and is a regular visitor to major concert venues around the world. He returns to Walt Disney Concert Hall after his acclaimed debut in 2005. The Los Angeles Times states of his debut performance, “The occasion was auspicious, the auditorium close to capacity and the piano playing flawless.” Anderszewski’s recordings have received exceptional critical acclaim, including his latest release, Beethoven: Bagatelles, Op. 126; Piano Concerto No.1, as well as his Bach recordings. Of his 2004 release, Bach, Beethoven, Webern: English Suite No. 6, Sonata Op. 110, Variations Op. 27, The Guardian states, “This is a superlative recital disc, further confirmation that Anderszewski is one of the very finest pianists of the present day.”

    The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association presents music from the 17th through early 18th centuries in its Baroque Variations series. Anderszewski begins the 2008/09 season series, which continues with: Venice Baroque Orchestra on January 21, 2008; The English Concert on March 24, 2008; and the Australian Chamber Orchestra on May 21, 2008.

    Upbeat Live pre-performance discussions are free to ticket-holders, and occur one hour prior in BP Hall. Veronica Krausas, composer and professor at Thornton School of Music at USC, hosts Upbeat Live on Sat., Oct. 18.

    Piotr Anderszewski is widely regarded as one of the most exciting pianists of his generation. Since first coming to public attention at the 1990 Leeds Piano Competition, he has become a familiar figure on the international concert platform, recognized for the intensity and originality of his interpretations. In the 2008-09 season, Mr. Anderszewski will give recitals at Carnegie Hall, Chicago's Orchestra Hall, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and the Royal Festival Hall in London, among others. He will also make his debut with the San Francisco Symphony and perform a series of recitals in Europe with German violinist Frank Peter Zimmermann. Anderszewski’s engagements in the 2007-08 season included an appearance with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, a tour of the United States with the Swedish Chamber Orchestra, and recital tours of the United States, Japan, and Europe, the latter which included appearances at London 's Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris and the Wiener Konzerthaus.

    The 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth saw Anderszewski directing the composer's concertos from the keyboard with various chamber orchestras - including the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the soloists of the Berlin Philharmonic. Most notable has been his collaboration with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, with which he has performed extensively and recorded a disc featuring the G major and D minor concertos. This partnership continues into the current season. Anderszewski has made a number of highly-praised recordings since becoming an exclusive artist with Virgin Classics in 2000. His first release for Virgin was Beethoven's Diabelli Variations, a disc which received exceptional critical acclaim, including a Diapason d'or and a Choc du Monde de la Musique in France. The recording was also the subject of a film by Bruno Monsaingeon, creator of documentaries on Sviatoslav Richter, Yehudi Menuhin and Glenn Gould. Other notable releases have included Grammy-nominated CDs of Bach's Partitas 1, 3 and 6 and a selection of solo pieces by his compatriot Szymanowski, which received a Classic FM Gramophone Award in 2006 for best instrumental disc. Piotr Anderszewski has been singled out for several high profile awards - the Szymanowski Prize in 1999 for his interpretations of the composer's music and, in 2001, the Royal Philharmonic Society's '2000 Best Instrumentalist' award. In April 2002 he was named Gilmore Artist, succeeding previous winner Leif Ove Andsnes.

    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:

    SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2008, at 8 PM


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



    Baroque Variations



    Piotr Anderszewski, piano



    BACH Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826

    BACH Partita No. 1 in B flat, BWV 825

    BACH The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II

    Prelude and Fugue No. 19 in A

    Prelude and Fugue No. 20 in A minor

    BACH English Suite No. 6 in D minor, BWV 811

    Upbeat Live pre-performance discussions are free to ticket-holders, and occur in BP Hall one hour prior to the performance. Veronica Krausas, composer and professor at Thornton School of Music at USC, hosts Upbeat Live on Sat., Oct. 18.

    Tickets ($36 - $92) 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) are released for sale to selected Philharmonic, Colburn Celebrity Recital and Baroque Variations performances two weeks 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 information, please call 323.850.2000.

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  • Contact:

    Lisa Bellamore, 213.972.3689, lbellamore@laphil.org; Photos, 213.972.3034