Festival Coincides with Release of Salonen's First CD on Deutsche Grammophon Label, Featuring Three of His Own Orchestral Works
Repertoire Also Part of Week-Long Residency in Cologne
THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10 AND 11, AT 8 PM
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12 AT 8 PM AND SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13 AT 2 PM
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24 AT 8 PM AND FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25 AT 11 AM
AT WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL
Los Angeles Philharmonic Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen, who has established himself in the forefront of highly respected composers of today, is honored by the Philharmonic during February with a special festival entitled 3 x Salonen. The festival includes three programs with the orchestra, each featuring one of his major works: Wing on Wing, Mania, and Insomnia.
Each program pairs a work of Salonen's with masterworks from the orchestral repertoire: Wing on Wing is featured with Stravinsky's Rite of Spring on February 10 and 11; Mania (for cello and orchestra - written for Anssi Karttunen), with Kartunnen as soloist, is paired with Berlioz' Symphonie fantastique on February 12 and 13. Insomnia is scheduled with Bruckner's Seventh Symphony (February 24 and 25).
These programs are repeated in March when Salonen and the orchestra travel to Cologne, Germany for a week-long residency, which includes orchestral and chamber music performances.
Wing on Wing (2004) was written as a gift for the Los Angeles Philharmonic in honor of the opening of Walt Disney Concert Hall; it received its premiere in May 2004. Mania (1999) was written for Salonen's friend and cellist, Anssi Karttunen, and premiered by him and the Philharmonic in 2000. Insomnia (2002) for orchestra, was co-commissioned by Suntory Hall, Tokyo and the Norddeutscher Rundfunk in Hamburg, and is dedicated to Christoph Eschenbach.
Also in February, this celebration on Esa-Pekka Salonen as a composer is enhanced when the Deutsche Grammophon label releases the first disk under contract with Salonen, featuring the world premiere recordings of three of Salonen's orchestral works: Foreign Bodies, Wing on Wing, and Insomnia, recorded with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. The disk is released in the United States on February 8.
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, critically acclaimed international tours, and his extensive discography with the Philharmonic for Sony Classical. Salonen was born in Helsinki, Finland in 1958. He made his conducting debut with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra in 1979, and he has been one of the world's most sought-after conductors since his debut in London with the Philharmonia Orchestra in September 1983. He served as principal guest conductor of the Philharmonia from 1985 to 1994 and as principal conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1985 to 1995.
EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:
Thursday, February 10, at 8 PM
Friday, February 11, at 8 PM
Walt Disney Concert Hall
LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC
- 3X SALONEN -
Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor
Emanuel Ax, piano
Hila Plitman, soprano
Cyndia Sieden, soprano
SALONEN Wing On Wing
DEBUSSY Fantaisie
STRAVINSKY The Rite of Spring
Upbeat Live: Esa-Pekka Salonen and Steven Stucky
Saturday, February 12, at 8 PM
Sunday, February 13, at 2 PM
Walt Disney Concert Hall
LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC
- 3X SALONEN -
Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor
Anssi Karttunen, cello
STRAVINSKY Pulcinella Suite
SALONEN Mania
BERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique
Upbeat Live: Esa-Pekka Salonen and Christopher Russell
Thursday, February 24, at 8 PM
Friday, February 25, at 11 AM
Walt Disney Concert Hall
LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC
- 3X SALONEN -
Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor
SALONEN Insomnia
BRUCKNER Symphony No. 7
Upbeat Live pre-concert events take place one hour prior to each concert in BP Hall at Walt Disney Concert Hall, and are free to all ticket holders.
Tickets ($15 - $125) are on sale now at the Walt Disney Concert Hall box office, online at LAPhil.com, 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 12 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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Adam Crane, 213.972.3422; Rachelle Roe, 213.972.7310; photos: 213.972.3034