FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1 PM; SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 8 PM;
AND SUNDAY, MARCH 2, 2:30 PM

On February 28 and March 1 and 2, pianist and conductor András Schiff leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a program of revered works at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. The weekend's program includes Bach's Piano Concerto in D, BWV 1054, Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4, "Italian," and Schumann's Piano Concerto. The conductor leads the orchestra from the piano in the Bach and Schumann concertos, while taking the podium to conduct the "Italian" Symphony.

Upbeat Live, a free pre-concert event with Nancy Fierro, pianist and pre-concert lecturer for the Pasadena and Pacific Symphony Orchestras, takes place in the Pavilion's Grand Hall one hour before each of these performances.

Known as an exponent of repertory ranging from Beethoven to Mozart and Haydn to Schubert, the music of Bach has figured prominently in András Schiff's performances and recordings. He has, in fact, recorded all 16 of Bach's keyboard concertos, as well as the complete solo keyboard music. Bach's Piano Concerto in D, BWV 1054 opens the weekend's program.

Also on the program are works by two German composers from a generation responsible for beginning the re-evaluation of Bach's work. Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4, "Italian," was completed in 1833, two years after the composer's nine-month vacation in Italy. The "Italian" symphony is Mendelssohn's ode to nature, an exotic response to Beethoven's "Pastoral" Symphony.

Schumann's only piano concerto, also performed by Schiff and the Philharmonic on this program, began as a single-movement work in 1841, titled Fantasy in A minor. Three years later, the composer picked up the thread of the 1841 Fantasy and wove it seamlessly into two new movements. His wife, Clara Schumann premiered the finished product, the three-movement Piano Concerto in A minor in 1845.

Pianist ANDRÁS SCHIFF is recognized worldwide for his thoughtful and inspired interpretations in concerto performances, recitals, chamber music, and recordings. Born in Budapest, Hungary in 1953, he began piano lessons at the age of five and continued his musical studies at the Franz Liszt Academy. Schiff now occupies a prominent position among the world's leading musicians, collaborating with foremost conductors and appearing regularly at the Festivals of Salzburg, Vienna, Lucerne, Ansbach, and Feldkirch. Recitals and special projects take him to all of the international music capitals and include many special cycles, most notably the major keyboard works of Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, and Bartók. Schiff has also begun conducting all-Bach concerts from the keyboard. The conductor/pianist has also recorded prolifically.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1 PM

SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 8 PM

SUNDAY, MARCH 2, 2:30 PM

ANDRÁS SCHIFF, conductor and piano

BACH: Piano Concerto in D major, BWV 1054

MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90, "Italian"

SCHUMANN: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54

Upbeat Live, a free pre-concert event with Nancy Fierro, pianist and pre-concert lecturer for the Pasadena and Pacific Symphony Orchestras, takes place in the Pavilion's Grand Hall one hour before each of these performances.

Tickets ($14 - $82) for both concerts are on sale now at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion box office, all Ticketmaster outlets (Robinsons-May, Tower Records, Ritmo Latino, and selected Wherehouse locations), and by credit card phone order at 323.850.2000. Tickets are also available online at www.laphil.com. A limited number of $10 rush tickets for seniors and full time students may be available two hours prior to the performance at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion box office. Valid identification is required; one ticket per person. Groups of 12 or more may be eligible for special discounts. For further information, please call 323.850.2000.

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