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  • THE RUSSIAN NATIONAL ORCHESTRA RETURNS TO THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL FOR TWO CONCERTS
  • Aug. 20, 2002
  • Russian Singers Sergei Leiferkus and Galina Gorchakova Make Their Bowl Debuts

    Tuesday, August 20 and Thursday, August 22, 8 PM

    August 20: Media Sponsors: NEWS 980, K-MOZART 105.1 FM

    August 22: United's Thursdays; Media Sponsor: K-MOZART 105.1 FM

    A favorite of past Bowl seasons, the Russian National Orchestra returns to Los Angeles on August 20 and 22. Both performances feature all-Russian music - Tuesday boasts ballet music by Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky, and Thursday highlights opera, including excerpts from operas by Verdi, Puccini, Rachmaninoff, and Balakirev. Backbeat Live pre-concert events take place at the Patio, one hour prior to the Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday concerts; free to all ticket holders. The August 22 session features KCRW's Sandra Tsing Loh.

    The August 20 concert features conductor Dmitri Liss leading the ensemble in a bill of classic Russian ballet music: Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake Suite with Stravinsky's Divertimento from The Fairy's Kiss and Firebird Suite.

    On August 22 - A Russian Opera Evening - the Russian National Orchestra is led by conductor Alexander Vedernikov, featuring soprano Galina Gorchakova and baritone Sergei Leiferkus in arias by Rimsky-Korsakov, Rachmaninoff, Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, and others. Gorchakova and Leiferkus make their Bowl debuts with this performance.

    Founded in 1990 following the sweeping changes in the former U.S.S.R., the RUSSIAN NATIONAL ORCHESTRA is Russia's first orchestra since 1917 to be free of government control and supported entirely by private funding. The RNO is comprised of the most exceptional players from the major Soviet orchestras. Upon formation, the RNO was in constant demand and became the first Russian orchestra ever to play at the Vatican and tour Israel. Today, the RNO is firmly established as one of the world's premier orchestras. At home and abroad, on European, Asian, and American tours, and at some of the world's most prestigious festivals including Edinburgh and Sydney, the RNO garners enthusiastic critical acclaim. The Russian National Orchestra last performed at the Hollywood Bowl in 1999.

    As Associate Conductor of the Russian National Orchestra and Principal Conductor of the Ural Philharmonic Orchestra, DMITRI LISS has won praise and rave reviews for his interpretations of the Russian masterworks and contemporary music as well. Born in the former Soviet Union in 1960, he graduated with honors from the Moscow Conservatory in 1984. His debut with the Russian National Orchestra in 1997 in Moscow featured RNO Music Director and renowned pianist Mikhail Pletnev as soloist. He began touring internationally with the RNO in 1998 and was appointed Associate Conductor soon thereafter. Liss has toured Asia and the United States and throughout western and central Europe. As guest conductor, he has led the Moscow Philharmonic, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Estonian National Orchestra, and the Budapest Philharmonic. He appeared last with the RNO at the Bowl in 1999.

    Since 1995, conductor ALEXANDER VEDERNIKOV has been Artistic Director and Music Director of the Russian Philharmonia. He has conducted the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, the Russian State Symphony, and the Orchestra of Russia's Bolshoi Theater, where he recently assumed the position of Artistic Director. Vedernikov studied at the Moscow Conservatory and in 1988 joined the Moscow Stanislavsky Theater, performing Le nozze di Figaro, La traviata, Boris Godunov, Eugene Onegin, and Cavalleria rusticana. He has also appeared with international opera companies and orchestras including the Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden, La Scala, Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, and the Philharmonia Orchestra. Vedernikov makes his Bowl debut this summer.

    Russian soprano GALINA GORCHAKOVA made her Western debut in the role of Renata in Prokofiev's The Fiery Angel at the 1991 BBC Proms to worldwide acclaim, and her Covent Garden debut in the same role the following year. In the United States, she debuted in Houston and Los Angeles in Puccini's Madama Butterfly, and repeated the role to great acclaim at the Metropolitan Opera in 1995. Since then, Gorchakova has enjoyed a busy career in opera and recital throughout the world. She has given recitals in Europe and the Far East, and has appeared in many major opera houses. Her other notable roles include Lisa (Queen of Spades), Tatiana (Eugene Onegin), and Tosca. She has made numerous recordings for Philips Classics and recently made a recording of arias with Delos Records. Future appearances include Elisabeth in Don Carlo for the Metropolitan Opera and Pique Dame with the Washington Opera. She sings Norma for the first time ever with San Diego Opera in 2003. Gorchakova makes her Bowl debut this summer.

    Russian baritone SERGEI LEIFERKUS is recognized as one of the century's great virtuoso singers. Born in Leningrad in 1946, Leiferkus studied at the (now) St. Petersburg Conservatory. He made his debut with the Maly Theatre of Leningrad in 1972. Today, Leiferkus is most known for his interpretations of such major roles as Eugene Onegin, Iago, Scarpia, and Mephistopheles. He makes his Bowl debut with this appearance.

    EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

    Tuesday, August 20 at 8 PM


    HOLLYWOOD BOWL (2301 N. Highland Ave.)

    RUSSIAN NATIONAL ORCHESTRA

    DMITRI LISS, conductor

    Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake Suite

    Stravinsky: Divertimento from The Fairy's Kiss

    Stravinsky: Firebird Suite

    Media Sponsors: NEWS 980, K-MOZART 105.1 FM

    Thursday, August 22 at 8 PM

    HOLLYWOOD BOWL (2301 N. Highland Ave.)

    RUSSIAN NATIONAL ORCHESTRA

    ALEXANDER VEDERNIKOV, conductor

    GALINA GORCHAKOVA, soprano

    SERGEI LEIFERKUS, baritone

    VERDI: Sinfonia from Luisa Miller

    PUCCINI: "Aria Vissi d'arte" from Tosca

    PUCCINI: "Il viaggio a Havre" from Manon

    CILEA: "Io son l'umile ancella" from Adriana Lecouvreur

    VERDI: "Credo in un Dio crudel" from Otello

    VERDI: "Perfide!" Macbeth

    VERDI: Sinfonia from Un ballo in maschera

    VERDI: Duet , Act 1, II Trovatore

    TCHAIKOVSKY: Polonaise from Eugene Onegin

    RACHMANINOFF: "Ves tabor spit" from Aleko

    TCHAIKOVSKY: "Vi mne pisali" from Eugene Onegin

    TCHAIKOVSKY: "The letter scene" from Eugene Onegin

    BALAKIREV: Islamei (orch. Liapunov)

    United's Thursdays; Media Sponsor: K-MOZART 105.1 FM

    Backbeat Live pre-concert events take place at the Patio, one hour prior to the Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday concerts; free to all ticket holders. The August 22 session features KCRW's Sandra Tsing Loh.

    Tickets ($1 - $76) are on sale now at the Hollywood Bowl box office, by calling Ticketmaster at 213.480.3232, at all Ticketmaster outlets (Robinsons May, Tower Records and Ritmo Latino locations), or online at hollywoodbowl.com. Groups of 12 or more may be eligible for a 20% discount, subject to availability; call 323.850-2050 for further details. For general information or to request a brochure, call 323.850.2000.

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  • Contact:

    Elizabeth Hinckley, 323/850-2047; Melanie Gravdal, 323/850-2021