German Cellist Johannes Moser Joins in a Program that Includes
Dvorák’s Cello Concerto and Strauss' Symphonia domestica

THURSDAY - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13 – 15, 2007, AT 8 PM
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2007, AT 2 PM

The December 15 Concert is Generously Sponsored by Acura – All Acura Vehicles Park Free for the Evening

Former Los Angeles Philharmonic Music Director Zubin Mehta leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic in four concerts at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, December 13, 14 and 15, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, December 16, at 2 p.m. German cellist Johannes Moser, recently added to the performance, joins in a program that features Webern’s Six Pieces for Orchestra, Dvorák’s Cello Concerto and Strauss' blatantly personal Symphonia domestica.

Music Director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra since 1969, Mehta ranks among the most internationally acclaimed orchestral and operatic conductors of our time. He served as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic from 1962 until 1978, after which he served as music director of the New York Philharmonic for 13 years. During his decades as a conductor, Mehta has been hailed not only as a masterful musician but also as an important humanitarian ambassador, bringing together cultures and countries in conflict through the power of music. In 1981, his appointment with the Israel Philharmonic was extended for life.

Moser, who came to international attention in 2002 after winning the 12th Tchaikovsky Competition and receiving the special prize for his interpretation of the Rococo Variations, began playing the cello at the age of 8. The 28-year-old last performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl in 2005.

An Upbeat Live pre-concert event takes place in BP Hall at Walt Disney Concert Hall one hour prior to each concert, and is free to all ticket holders. KUSC-FM radio host, Alan Chapman, hosts.

Music Director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra since 1969, ZUBIN MEHTA ranks among the most internationally acclaimed orchestral and operatic conductors of our time. In 1981, his appointment was extended for life and he is an honorary member of the IPO. Mehta’s unprecedented affection and dedication to the IPO, the State of Israel and its people has endured, and indeed flourished, throughout his brilliant career. He has been the music director of the Montreal Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, as well as general music director of the Bavarian State Opera – all without wavering from his constant loyalty to the IPO. Mehta is considered one of the world’s foremost interpreters of the great symphonic literature. His vast repertoire ranges from Bach to contemporary music, and audiences worldwide are thrilled by his sensitive, yet powerful, musical statements. A truly universal personality, Mehta is equally renowned for his brilliant operatic performances. Mehta was born in Bombay and trained in Vienna. He first appeared in Israel with the IPO in 1961 at age 25. In times of war and crisis in Israel, Mehta feels his place is with the Israeli people and he does not hesitate to cancel other obligations, rushing to be with the IPO performing special concerts and for soldiers at the front lines. Mehta has been awarded many international distinctions including India’s prestigious “Padma Vibhusan.” A wing of the Musicology Department of the Hebrew University has been named after him and his late father, conductor Mehli Mehta. At the Israel Prize ceremony in 1991, he was awarded a special prize in recognition of his unique devotion to Israel and to the IPO. He is the recipient of the 1995/96 Wolf Foundation Prize for Music and is an honorary citizen of Tel Aviv-Yafo. Mehta is honorary conductor of the Vienna and Munich Philharmonic orchestras, and in 2006 he received the Distinguished Service Award of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

German-born cellist JOHANNES MOSER has performed with many of the leading orchestras in Europe and throughout the world. Highlights include performances with the Chicago Symphony under Pierre Boulez, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra under Riccardo Muti and the London Symphony Orchestra under Valery Gergiev. His most recent success came in 2007 with the Cleveland Orchestra under Franz Welser-Möst at the Blossom Festival, where the Cleveland Plain Dealer described Moser as having “played with agile brilliance and vast expressive character.” For the 2007/08 season, Moser continues with a busy recital schedule and performances with the Tonhalle Orchestra, the Malmö Symphony Orchestra, the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. International highlights of Moser’s previous seasons include appearances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the New York Philharmonic, the Vancouver Symphony, the Colorado Symphony, the Munich Philharmonic, the Deutsche Symphony Orchestra, the SWR Stuttgart, the Munich Radio Orchestra, the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra and the Radio Symphony Orchestra of Saarbrücken, as well as a tour of Italy with Riccardo Muti and the Cherubini Orchestra. He has also performed at many festivals, including the Verbier Festival, the Schleswig-Hostein Festival, the Kissinger Summer Festival, the Gstaad Festival and the Rheingau Music Festival. Born in 1979, Moser became a student of Professor David Geringas in 1997. He won first prize in the 2000 Davidoff Competition in Riga and in the 2001 Mendelssohn competition in Berlin. His first recital disc was released by Hänssler Classics in summer 2006 with sonatas by Shostakovich, Weinberg, and Boris Tchaikovsky and was awarded the ECHO Klassik 2007 award for Young Artist (cello). A second disc, Brahms and his Contemporaries Vol. 1, features sonatas by Brahms, Fuchs and Zemlinsky, and was released in summer 2007.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, under Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen, presents the finest in orchestral and chamber music, recitals, new music, jazz, world music and holiday concerts at two of the most remarkable places anywhere to experience music — Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. In addition to a 30-week winter subscription season at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the LA Phil presents a 12-week summer festival at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and home of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. In fulfilling its commitment to the community, the Association’s involvement with Los Angeles extends to educational programs, community concerts and children's programming, ever seeking to provide inspiration and delight to the broadest possible audience.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2007, AT 8 PM
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2007, AT 8 PM
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2007, AT 8 PM
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2007, AT 2 PM
WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL, 111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles

ZUBIN MEHTA CONDUCTS STRAUSS

LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC
ZUBIN MEHTA, conductor
JOHANNES MOSER, cello

WEBERN Six Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 6
DVORÁK Cello Concerto
STRAUSS Symphonia domestica

The December 15 concert is generously sponsored by Acura – all Acura vehicles park free for the evening.

Upbeat Live pre-concert events take place in BP Hall at Walt Disney Concert Hall one hour prior to each concert, and are free to all ticket holders. KUSC-FM radio host, Alan Chapman, hosts.

Tickets ($40 - $142) are on sale now online at LAPhil.com, at the Walt Disney Concert Hall Box Office, 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 10 or more may be eligible for special discounts for selected concerts and seating areas. For information, please call 323.850.2000.

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