Large-Scale Work Also Features Philharmonic Assistant Conductor Lionel Bringuier, Soprano Nancy Gustafson, Tenor Vale Rideout, Baritone Ian Greenlaw, the Los Angeles Master Chorale and the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus

THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, JANUARY 24 - 26, 2008, AT 8 PM

SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2008, AT 2 PM

The January 26 Concert is Generously Sponsored by Acura – All Acura Vehicles Park Free for the Evening

Lorin Maazel, one of today's pre-eminent conductors, leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic in four performances of Britten's epic War Requiem at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, January 24, 25 and 26, at 8 p.m., as well as Sunday, January 27, at 2 p.m. The large-scale work includes a chamber orchestra under the direction of Los Angeles Philharmonic Assistant Conductor Lionel Bringuier and also features soprano Nancy Gustafson, tenor Vale Rideout, baritone Ian Greenlaw, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, directed by Grant Gershon, and the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus with its artistic director, Anne Tomlinson.

Maazel has conducted more than 150 orchestras in over 5,000 opera and concert performances in the last half-century. He has served as Artistic Director of the Deutsche Oper Berlin (1965-1971), Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra (1972-1982), General Manager of the Vienna State Opera (1982-1984), and Music Director of the Pittsburgh Symphony (1988-1996). In 1993, he assumed the position of Music Director of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra of Munich, and in 2002 became the Music Director of the New York Philharmonic. He also holds the titles of Music Director of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in Valencia and of the Symphonica Toscanini.

Bringuier has been Assistant Conductor of the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris since January 2005 and has been "Chef Associé" of the Orchestre de Bretagne since December 2006. He began his two-year appointment as Assistant Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in September 2007.

Internationally acclaimed American soprano Nancy Gustafson has sung leading roles at the Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden, the Vienna State Opera (where she was recently honored with the title Kammersängerin) and La Scala. Tenor Vale Rideout, hailed by Opera News as "exuberant and clear-voiced," delivers acclaimed performances throughout the United States and Europe in such roles as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, the title role in Albert Herring, Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus and Roméo in Roméo et Juliette. Baritone Ian Greenlaw finishes his apprenticeship as a member of the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists (LOCAA) in Chicago this season. Roles he has performed with LOCAA include the title role in Don Giovanni, Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia, and Edgar in a staged reading of Michael John LaChiusa’s Enigma Variations.

The Grammy-nominated Los Angeles Master Chorale is led by Music Director Grant Gershon, who also serves as associate conductor/chorus master of the LA Opera. The Chorale, currently celebrating its 44th season, is in its fifth season as the resident chorus at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The Los Angeles Children's Chorus (LACC) under Artistic Director Anne Tomlinson has become recognized throughout the country for its exceptional artistic quality and technical ability. Founded in 1986, LACC currently performs with leading musical ensembles ranging from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra to the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Pasadena Symphony.

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. Chad Smith, LA Philharmonic Vice President of Artistic Planning, hosts.

LORIN MAAZEL appears regularly at concert and opera houses throughout the world. A second generation American, born in Paris in 1930, Maazel was raised and educated in the United States. He took his first violin lesson at age 5, and conducting lesson at 7. He studied with Vladimir Bakaleinikoff and appeared publicly for the first time at age 8, leading a university orchestra. He made his New York debut at the New York World's Fair at age 9, conducting the Interlochen Orchestra. That same year, he conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, sharing a program with Leopold Stokowski. He was invited by Arturo Toscanini to conduct the NBC Symphony in 1941 at age 11. He made his New York Philharmonic conducting debut in 1942 at Lewisohn Stadium, which was then the New York Philharmonic's summer venue. Maazel's extensive discography includes over 300 recordings. He is best known for symphonic cycles, regarded by some as definitive and treasured by others as collector's items. His recordings of Puccini and Verdi at La Scala and Wagner with the Berlin Philharmonic are a partial documentation of his more than 40-year career as an opera conductor. In 2000, Maazel appeared as violin soloist with many orchestras as part of the "Maazel at Seventy" birthday tour. The celebration included two world premieres of his works: The Empty Pot, which has been performed by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra for the IPO's KeyNote Education Program and Farewells, a symphonic movement commissioned by the Vienna Philharmonic. Maazel has performed regularly with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in Israel and abroad for more than 40 years and in 1985 was named Honorary Life Member of the Orchestra when he conducted its 40th anniversary concert. Maazel conducted the Orchestra at the AFIPO 2001 Benefit Concert, celebrating the IPO's 65th Anniversary, and also led the Orchestra in its European tour in 2001, including concerts in Spain, Italy, and France. In 2003, Zubin Mehta and Lorin Maazel presided over the AFIPO Joint Gala Benefit of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and New York Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall, bringing the two orchestras together again after 20 years. Early in 2008, Maazel returned to the Metropolitan Opera, after 45 years, with a highly acclaimed revival of Die Walküre. Later in 2008, his 1984 opera, based on the George Orwell book, which premiered in 2005 at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, will be revived at La Scala, Milan.

Winner of the 49th Besançon Young Conductors Competition, pianist and cellist LIONEL BRINGUIER was also awarded the “Prix du Public,” as the audience’s favorite, by unanimous decision of the Besançon jury, as well as the top vote of the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, the musicians of the festival. Born in Nice, France in 1986, Bringuier began his musical studies at the Academy of Nice at the age of 5 and gave his first cello recital before the Countess of Paris at the age of 9. At 13, he was admitted to the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris (CNSM) in the cello class of Philippe Muller. There, he furthered his academic work in chamber music, choral singing, and jazz studies. In 2000, he began his conducting studies at the CNSM, where he continues today under the tutelage of Zsolt Nagy. Additionally, he has participated in masterclasses with Peter Eötvös and János Fürst. Performance engagements have included concerts with the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice, the Janác?ek Philharmonic Orchestra in Ostrava, the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, the Ensemble Modern Academy Frankfurt, the Ensemble Aventure Freiburg, the Orchestre National d’Île de France, the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, and the Helsinki Philharmonic. He also made his podium debut with the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, and the Gurzenich Orchestra Cologne, among others, in the 2006/07 season. In June 2004, Bringuier obtained his diploma in cello from the CNSM de Paris with a “Mention Très Bien à l’unanimité” as well as a “Mention Très Bien à l’unanimité” in conducting. Other distinctions include the “Médaille d’or à l’unanimité avec les felicitations du jury à l’Académie Prince Rainier III de Monaco,” the “Médaille d’or” from the Lord Mayor of Nice, and first prize in a competition organized by the Janác?ek Philharmonic Orchestra in Ostrava. He is also a prizewinner of the Swiss Foundation Langart and the Cziffra Foundation. He began his two-year appointment as Assistant Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in September 2007. Bringuier was selected through a competitive process that included over 150 applicants from around the world. In his first season as Assistant Conductor, he will conduct many of the Philharmonic’s education and community concerts as well as subscription concerts at the world-renowned Hollywood Bowl, the Philharmonic’s summer home.

Soprano NANCY GUSTAFSON is especially well known for her highly rated appearances in the operas of Janá?ék, and is an acclaimed exponent of the title role of Katya Kabanova. Since her debut in the part at Glyndebourne Festival Opera under Andrew Davis, she has also sung the role in Vienna and at the Bastille. She sang a much acclaimed Jen?fa at Covent Garden as well as at the Paris Châtelet under the baton of Simon Rattle, and she has returned to Glyndebourne to sing the role of Lisa in Tchaikovsky’s The Queen Of Spades. Gustafson has worked with conductors such as Leonard Slatkin, Sir Colin Davis, Christian Thielemann, Christoph von Dohnányi, Zubin Mehta, Kent Nagano, and Marcello Viotti. Recordings include Das Rheingold (Decca, 1996), Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 (1995) and La bohème (2001) (both for Teldec), The Czarevitch and The Land of Smiles (both for Telarc, 1996), and a live recording of Massenet’s Hérodiade (RCA Red Seal, 1995). Her repertoire also includes the roles of the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier and the title roles in Ariadne and Salomé. Gustafson performed in the world premieres of Deborah Drattell’s Nicholas and Alexandra opposite Plácido Domingo in Los Angeles, and of Lorin Maazel’s 1984 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. She also performed in a new production of Fidelio in Bonn (directed by Günter Krämer), I Pagliacci at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, a new production of Die Fledermaus in Tokyo, and Arabella and Elektra in Dresden. In the U.S., Gustafson has performed in Erwartung in Chicago and Lohengrin with the Dallas Opera.

Hailed for his impressive sound and clear diction, tenor VALE RIDEOUT delivers acclaimed performances throughout the United States and Europe in such roles as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, the title role in Albert Herring, Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus, and Roméo in Roméo et Juliette. Rideout’s engagements in the 2007/08 season include singing Ferrando in Così fan tutte with Boston Baroque; Frank in the world premiere of Elmer Gantry with Nashville Opera; Atis in Keiser’s Croesus with Minnesota Opera; the Male Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia with Central City Opera; and Messiah with the Pensacola Symphony. His 2006/07 season included his debut at the San Francisco Opera performing Alfred in Die Fledermaus. He also sang the roles of Ralph Rackstraw in HMS Pinafore with the Anchorage Opera and Roméo in Roméo et Juliette with the Tampa Performing Arts Center. He collaborated Lorin Maazel as Male Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia, with performances at the conductor’s estate in Virginia, and was asked immediately thereafter to join Maazel as soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in Rome. His extensive experience in musical theater includes Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera (Hamburg, Germany), Tony in West Side Story with Opera Grand Rapids, Tony in Terrence McNally’s Master Class, Maltby and Shire’s musical revue, Closer Than Ever, and the national tour of Cabaret directed by Sam Mendes and Rob Marshall. Rideout’s awards include first prize in Savannah Music Festival’s 2006 American Traditions Competition as well as being named a 2003 regional finalist in the Metropolitan National Council Auditions and a finalist in the Denver Lyric Opera competition. The Colorado native can be heard on the Newport Classics recording of The Ballad of Baby Doe (2003), the world premiere recording of Kurt Weill’s The Eternal Road (2003), and upcoming recordings with Third Angle Ensemble.

American baritone IAN GREENLAW’s prodigious gifts have brought him to center stage of opera companies and orchestras from coast to coast. The Chicago Sun-Times characterized him as “possessing a voice both strong and sweet, and matinée idol good looks…” and the Washington Post noted that he has “elegant stage presence, a subtle sense of humor and a splendid voice.” Greenlaw was recently seen as Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette with Atlanta Opera, Grandfather Clock/Cat in L’enfant et les sortilèges with the New York Philharmonic, and as the soloist in Bartók’s Cantata Profana with the St. Louis Symphony. Additional performances include the title role in Sam Helfrich’s production of Il barbiere di Siviglia with Kentucky Opera and Peter in Hansel and Gretel at Opera Theatre of St. Louis in performances conducted by Stephen Lord. He also performed excerpts from Die Zauberflöte in an all-Mozart program that served as a prelude to the Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ 2006 season. Recent and future performances include the role of the protagonist in Lorin Maazel’s opera,1984, at the Palau des Arts in Valencia, Spain, and appearances with the New York Philharmonic as a soloist in Britten’s War Requiem. Greenlaw will also reprise the role of Winston in 1984 for his La Scala debut. A gifted concert artist and recitalist, Greenlaw has performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Dallas Symphony, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in works such as Orff’s Carmina Burana, Brahms’ Requiem and Rodrigo’s Ausencias de Dulcinea. He has participated at the Ravinia Festival’s Steans Institute for Young Artists and is currently on the roster of the Marilyn Horne Foundation, under whose auspices he made his Carnegie Hall debut. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2002 Richard Tucker Career Grant, a 2001 Sara Tucker Study Grant, and first place in the Heinz Rehfuss Singing Actor Competition. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music and a Master of Music degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Greenlaw is an alumnus of the Pittsburgh Opera Center and the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists at Lyric Opera of Chicago.

The Grammy-nominated LOS ANGELES MASTER CHORALE is led by Music Director Grant Gershon, who also serves as associate conductor/chorus master of the LA Opera. The Chorale, currently celebrating its 44th season, is in its fifth season as the resident chorus at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Among other accolades, the chorus has received the ASCAP/Chorus America Award for Adventurous Programming. Founded in 1964, the Chorale was the first organization in the nation to offer a complete season of great choral masterworks. In addition to presenting its own concert series at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Chorale performs regularly with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The Chorale has recorded three CDs under Gershon's baton, including an RCM recording featuring Esa-Pekka Salonen's first choral work, Two Songs to Poems of Ann Jäderlund, and Philip Glass' Itaipu. It previously released three CDs under the baton of Music Director Emeritus Paul Salamunovich on RCM, including the Grammy-nominated Lauridsen-Lux Aeterna. The Chorale is also featured on the soundtracks of numerous major motion pictures, including License to Wed, Bram Stoker's Dracula, and Waterworld.

The LOS ANGELES CHILDREN’S CHORUS, under Artistic Director Anne Tomlinson, has become recognized throughout the country for its exceptional artistic quality and technical ability. Founded in 1986, LACC currently performs with such leading musical ensembles as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and the Pasadena Symphony. LACC also assists the Los Angeles Opera by providing and training children for opera productions that require children’s chorus or child soloists. LACC’s 2007/08 roster includes 260 choristers from 60 communities across Los Angeles in five choirs: Concert, Chamber Singers, Intermediate, Apprentice, and Preparatory. The intensive training program includes weekly or twice weekly rehearsals, individual vocal coaching and comprehensive musicianship classes. LACC has toured Brazil, Great Britain, Italy, Australia, Germany, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland, as well as many parts of the United States and Canada. In 2008, the Concert Choir will tour China for the first time, prior to the Beijing Summer Olympics. LACC was featured in the Academy Award-nominated documentary, Sing! by Freida Lee Mock and Jessica Saunders. Sing! chronicles a year in the life of the choir and is shown frequently on PBS stations nationwide.

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, JANUARY 24, 2008, at 8 PM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2008, at 8 PM

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 2008, at 8 PM

SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2008, at 2 PM
WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL, 111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles



BRITTEN'S WAR REQUIEM



LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC

LORIN MAAZEL, conductor

NANCY GUSTAFSON, soprano

VALE RIDEOUT, tenor

IAN GREENLAW, baritone

LOS ANGELES MASTER CHORALE, Grant Gershon, music director

LOS ANGELES CHILDREN’S CHORUS, Anne Tomlinson, artistic director



BRITTEN War Requiem

The Jan. 26 concert is generously sponsored by Acura – all Acura vehicles park free for the evening.

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. Chad Smith, LA Philharmonic Vice President of Artistic Planning, 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. 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 all information, please call 323.850.2000.

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