Famed Organist/Conductor/Composer Performs All-Liszt Program

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, at 7:30 PM

Media support provided by K-MOZART

Multi-talented artist Martin Haselböck showcases his organ-playing prowess in recital at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Sunday, February 20, at 7:30 p.m. His vast repertoire includes the entire range of organ and harpsichord compositions; for this program, performs five pieces by Franz Liszt. Haselböck's appearance is the fourth of six performances presented by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association in its Organ Recital series which debuted early in the 2004 season.

The all-Liszt program begins with two transcriptions of music from cantatas by J.S. Bach: Introduction and Fugue from Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis, and Variations on the Basso Continuo from the First Movement of the Cantata "Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen." The first half ends with Les morts, oraison, and the Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H (the German notation for B-flat, A, C, and B natural). The program ends with Fantasy and Fugue on the Chorale "Ad nos, ad salutarem undam," a melody from Meyerbeer's opera The Prophet.

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. Christoph Bull, UCLA's University organist, hosts, along with Haselböck.

A visual centerpiece in the auditorium of Walt Disney Concert Hall, the organ was designed by architect Frank Gehry and built by Manuel J. Rosales of Rosales Organ Builders. The 6,134 pipes range in size from a pencil to a telephone pole, and are voiced with a wide dynamic range from super pianissimo to a breathtaking fortissimo.

The specially curved wood façade pipes were made and installed by Glatter-Götz Orgelbau, Germany of solid, vertical-grain Douglas fir that comprise the Violone and Basson basses. Behind the façade are three levels of pipes, including metal pipes made of tin and lead alloys and wood pipes made of Norwegian pine.

The Organ Recital Series continues April 3 with Thomas Murray (University Organist and Professor of Music at Yale University), and finishes on May 8 with Olivier Latry (organist, Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris).

As a conductor, organist, and composer, MARTIN HASELBÖCK has distinguished himself in many diverse ways in international music life. After studies in Vienna and Paris, and winning international competitions, he earned first an outstanding reputation as a solo organist, performing under the direction of conductors Abbado, Maazel, Muti, and Stein, as well as a successful recording career. His vast repertoire includes the entire range of organ and harpsichord repertoire from the Middle Ages to Contemporary. Numerous prominent contemporary composers have written compositions for Martin Haselböck, among them Ernst Krenek, who dedicated his two organ concertos to him. Martin Haselböck is Professor for Organ at the University of Vienna, and gives master classes in Europe, the USA and Japan on a regular basis. He also regularly serves on the juries of the world's most prominent organ competitions. Over 60 CDs, with repertoire from Baroque to 20th century vocal and instrumental works under the direction of Martin Haselböck, have been released. Such a prodigious output of excellent recordings has earned him the Deutsches Schallplatten critics' prize as well as the Hungarian Liszt Prize.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:


SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20 at 7:30 PM

Walt Disney Concert Hall

111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles

MARTIN HASELBÖCK, organ

LISZT  Introduction and Fugue from the Cantata "Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis"

LISZT   Variations on a Basso Continuo from the Cantata "Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen"

LISZT   Les morts, oraison (The Dead, Oration)

LISZT   Prelude and Fugue on the Name B-A-C-H

LISZT   Fantasy and Fugue on the Chorale "Ad nos, ad salutarem undam"

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. Christoph Bull, UCLA's University organist, hosts, along with Haselböck.

Tickets ($15-$41) 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. 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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