Mezzo-Soprano Michelle DeYoung, Women of Los Angeles Master Chorale, and Los Angeles Children's Chorus Featured
THURSDAY, MAY 8 AND SATURDAY, MAY 10 AT 8 PM;
SUNDAY, MAY 11 AT 2:30 PM
On May 8, 10, and 11, taking a trip down memory lane, Los Angeles Philharmonic Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen leads his orchestra, soprano Michelle DeYoung, the women of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and the Los Angeles Children's Chorus in Mahler's Symphony No. 3 in D minor - the first work Salonen led as music director in 1992. It is, therefore, a fitting "farewell" program for Salonen, as it is the last weekend he will conduct at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion before the Philharmonic moves to the Walt Disney Concert Hall for the 2003/2004 season.
Upbeat Live, a free pre-concert event with musicologist Michael Steinberg, takes place in the Pavilion's Grand Hall one hour before each of these performances.
The Third Symphony, Mahler's longest, was composed during the early- to mid-1890s, with the bulk written during the summer of 1895 (completed in 1896) while the composer was on a break from his duties as music director of the Hamburg Opera. In the outline upon which he based the thematic ideas of the Third Symphony, Mahler wrote extensive notes and gave creative titles to each of the six movements which were inspired by nature, such as "Summer marches in" and "What the morning bells tell me." He later removed the titles and descriptions, but his ideas, having already been published, survived. Symphony No. 3 premiered in its entirety (an hour-and-a-half long) at a festival of new music in the Rhineland city of Krefeld in 1902, with Mahler conducting. Salonen and the Philharmonic recorded the work for Sony Classical, which was released in 1998.
ESA-PEKKA SALONEN, the tenth conductor to head the Los Angeles Philharmonic, began his tenure as Music Director in October 1992. Salonen made his American debut conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic in November 1984, and he has conducted the orchestra every season since. Among the many highlights of Salonen's activities with the Philharmonic have been world premieres of new works by composers John Adams, Bernard Rands, Rodion Shchedrin, Steven Stucky and Salonen himself, well-received Ligeti and Stravinsky Festivals, appearances at the Ojai Festival, eight critically acclaimed international tours since 1992, and his extensive discography with the Orchestra for Sony Classical. Salonen was born in Helsinki, Finland in 1958. He made his conducting debut in London with the Philharmonia Orchestra in September 1983. He served as principal guest conductor of the Philharmonia of London from 1985 to 1994 and as a principal conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1985 to 1995.
MICHELLE DeYOUNG has already established herself as one of the most exciting artists of her generation. In the past few seasons, she has been seen on the concert platforms of some of the world's most illustrious orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Concertgebouworkest, and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. A graduate of the Metropolitan Opera's Lindemann Young Artists Development Program, DeYoung most recently made debuts with the Houston Grand Opera as Venus in Tannhäuser in the fall of 2001 and at the Glimmerglass Opera during the summer of 2001 as the title role in Christopher Alden's critically acclaimed production of Britten's The Rape of Lucretia. DeYoung is also known for her success with recitals as well as her recorded works.
Now in its 39th season, the LOS ANGELES MASTER CHORALE, under Music Director Grant Gershon, maintains a unique and distinguished position as one of the largest independent choral organizations in the United States. Recognized not only as one of Los Angeles' premier choruses, the Grammy-nominated Chorale has played a leading role in the ongoing resurgence of interest in choral music.
The LOS ANGELES CHILDREN'S CHORUS provides an opportunity for talented young singers of Los Angeles County to participate in a choral organization of the highest quality, and provides a comprehensive music education and performance program serving children from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds. Now in its 17th season, the Chorus has 200 member choristers in five choirs. The Concert Choir has sung with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and has appeared at the Hollywood Bowl. Members of the Chorus have also sung in Los Angeles Opera productions.
EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 8 PM
SATURDAY, MAY 10, 8 PM
SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2:30 PM
ESA-PEKKA SALONEN, conductor
MICHELLE DeYOUNG, mezzo-soprano
WOMEN OF THE LOS ANGELES MASTER CHORALE
LOS ANGELES CHILDREN'S CHORUS
MAHLER: Symphony No. 3
Upbeat Live, a free pre-concert event with musicologist Michael Steinberg, takes place in the Pavilion's Grand Hall one hour before each of these performances.
Tickets ($14 - $82) 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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Elizabeth Hinckley, 323.850.2047; Melanie Gravdal, 323.850.2021; for photos: Scalla Sheen, 323.850.2015