Wednesday, February 26, 2003

Christoph Eschenbach announces his inaugural season
Long awaited concerto gets Orchestra premiere
2003 Absolutely Mozart Festival announced
A view of Sawallisch, a window on Schumann
Philadelphia lures Morales from Met
Four young winners named in Orchestra's Student Competition

Christoph Eschenbach announces his inaugural season
Embarking on what he characterized as a "spiritual journey" and "voyage of discovery," Christoph Eschenbach marked a new beginning in The Philadelphia Orchestra's esteemed 103-year history with his announcement on Tuesday of the 2003-04 concert season. Before an audience of journalists, subscribers, Board members, and friends, Mr. Eschenbach introduced the upcoming season and outlined an artistic vision founded on his spirit of innovation, creative energy, and passion for all arts. Mr. Eschenbach's inaugural season as music director strikes a dynamic balance between traditional Classical- and Romantic-period orchestral repertoire and significant works from the 20th and 21st centuries, including important Philadelphia Orchestra firsts. A highlight of Mr. Eschenbach's own 12 weeks of subscription programs will be a month-long Mahler Festival entitled "Mahler's World," which introduces The Philadelphia Orchestra's first-ever, multi-season Mahler cycle. The new season also focuses on composer Olivier Messiaen through performances of four of his major orchestral works, two of which will be first hearings for Philadelphia Orchestra audiences. The announcement took place in the Orchestra's home, Verizon Hall, at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Subscription ticket packages for the 2003-04 season are now on sale. For more information please visit www.philorch.org or call Ticket Philadelphia at 215.893.1955.

Long awaited concerto gets Orchestra premiere
The Orchestra's concerts this week feature a new work by Oliver Knussen, his Violin Concerto, with soloist Pinchas Zukerman, the Concerto's dedicatee. The new work is the outcome of a longstanding friendship between the composer and violinist. More than 20 years ago, when the two were introduced in New York, Zukerman - already an admirer of Knussen's work - asked the composer to write a piece for him. The idea for the work persisted, but it took many years - and a joint commission from The Philadelphia Orchestra and Pittsburgh Symphony - for the Concerto to come to fruition. The Pittsburgh Symphony premiered the Concerto on April 5, 2002, under Knussen's baton. Christoph Eschenbach will conduct the performances with The Philadelphia Orchestra, but not without Knussen's guidance - the composer is in town for the week to attend the performances and present PreConcert Conversations, among other speaking engagements. "[The Concerto] is just the sort of music a violinist would want to play," commented Andrew Druckenbrod, classical music critic at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The Concerto will be performed at concerts at Verizon Hall, February 27 through March 1, and Carnegie Hall, March 4. Composer Oliver Knussen will participate in PreConcert conversations one hour before each concert in Philadelphia.

2003 Absolutely Mozart Festival announced
The Philadelphia Orchestra's second Absolutely Mozart Festival, June 26 through July 2, 2003, celebrates music long distinguished by its elegance, beauty, and enduring ability to touch listeners. With three programs over six concerts, the Festival offers an opportunity to hear The Philadelphia Orchestra perform exclusively music from the Classical period. Following the success of the Orchestra's first Absolutely Mozart Festival in 2002, the number of performances this year has been doubled. Pianist Emanuel Ax, one of the most admired and loved musicians in the world, serves as guest artistic director and appears as piano soloist on all three programs. Peter Oundjian returns as guest conductor after his hugely successful debut in last year's Festival, with featured soloists soprano Christine Brandes and pianist Shai Wosner. For more information please visit www.philorch.org or call Ticket Philadelphia at 215.893.1955.

A view of Sawallisch, a window on Schumann
Following a recent Orchestra performance of Schumann's Third Symphony at Carnegie Hall, Bernard Holland of the New York Times noted that Mr. Sawallisch's unassuming personality has made him a conductor who is sometimes dismissed in The Philadelphia Orchestra's "star-heavy history." Holland continued, "I think, on the other hand that he is one of the best things ever to happen to [The Philadelphia Orchestra]. With a crook of his finger and a nod of the head, he brings music directly to us. Listeners forget he is there, which is perhaps the greatest compliment that could be paid."