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  • WDCH
  • ESA-PEKKA SALONEN AND PIANIST MITSUKO UCHIDA TEAM UP FOR COMPLETE BEETHOVEN PIANO CONCERTOS WITH LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC
  • Jan. 6, 2005
  • Each of Four Concerto Programs is Paired with a Haydn Symphony

    THURSDAY, JANUARY 6 and SATURDAY, JANUARY 8 AT 8 PM;

    SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, AT 2 PM;

    THURSDAY, FRIDAY, & SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 14, AND 15, AT 8 PM;

    SUNDAY, JANUARY 16, AT 2 PM

    AT WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL

    Esa-Pekka Salonen and pianist Mitsuko Uchida team up for a challenging run of four programs over two weeks in January, surveying the complete cycle of Beethoven's five Piano Concertos with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Each program pairs two of the concertos (except for the January final three concerts, which feature the famed "Emperor" Concerto, No. 5,) with a Haydn Symphony (No. 6, 7, and 8) known as "Morning," "Noon," and "Evening."

    One of the greatest composers in the western musical tradition, Ludwig van Beethoven revolutionized virtually every form of music that he composed. This collaboration and exploration of these five works brings together two remarkable artists - Salonen and Uchida -in a cycle such as this one for the first time.


    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.

    MITSUKO UCHIDA's interpretations of a wide range of repertoire have gained her a formidable reputation as a pianist who brings intellectual acuity and musical insight to her performances. She is particularly noted for her interpretations of Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert but is also a dedicated performer of the music of Berg, Webern, Schoenberg, Debussy, and Messiaen. In 2002 Mitsuko Uchida became Artist in Residence at the Cleveland Orchestra, initiating a long-running project in which she directs from the keyboard all of Mozart's piano concertos. Following a series of solo recitals in the U.S. (in St. Paul, Chicago, Philadelphia and New York) in February 2003, the Chicago Tribune commented;

    "Uchida is, simply, Uchida - an elegant, deeply musical interpreter who strikes an inspired balance of head and heart in everything she plays". Mitsuko Uchida records exclusively for Philips. She has recorded all of Mozart's piano sonatas and concerti, and the sonatas (which won the 1989 Gramophone Award) form part of Philips' legendary 'Mozart Edition' released in the composer's bicentenary year. Other recordings include the complete Beethoven concerti with Sanderling, as well as works by Debussy, Chopin, and Schumann, while her Schubert piano sonata series has continued with a disc of the Piano Sonata D568 and the Six Moments Musicaux. Her 2001 recording of the Schoenberg Piano Concerto with the Cleveland Orchestra and conductor Pierre Boulez has won four awards including a Gramophone Award for the best concerto recording. This year she was awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society's Instrumentalist Award. Mitsuko Uchida has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to aiding the development of young musicians and is a trustee and active supporter of the Borletti-Buitoni Trust. She is also co-director, with Richard Goode, of the Marlboro Music Festival.

    EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

    Thursday, January 6, 2005, at 8 PM

    Walt Disney Concert Hall

    111 S Grand Ave., Los Angeles

    LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC

    Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor

    Mitsuko Uchida, piano

    BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 2

    HAYDN Symphony No. 6, "Morning"

    BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No.1

    Saturday, January 8, 2005, at 8 PM

    Sunday, January 9, 2005, at 2 PM

    Walt Disney Concert Hall

    111 S Grand Ave., Los Angeles

    LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC

    Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor

    Mitsuko Uchida, piano

    BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 3

    HAYDN Symphony No. 7, "Noon"

    BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4

    Thursday, January 13, 2005, at 8 PM

    Walt Disney Concert Hall

    111 S Grand Ave., Los Angeles

    LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC

    Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor

    Mitsuko Uchida, piano

    BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 2

    HAYDN Symphony No. 7, "Noon"

    BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 3

    Friday, January 14, 2005, at 8 PM

    Saturday, January 15, 2005, at 8 PM

    Sunday, January 16, 2005, at 2 PM

    Walt Disney Concert Hall

    111 S Grand Ave., Los Angeles

    LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC

    Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor

    Mitsuko Uchida, piano

    BEETHOVEN Namensfeier Overture

    HAYDN Symphony No. 8, "Evening"

    BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5, "Emperor"

    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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  • Contact:

    Rachelle Roe 213.972.7310; photos: 213.972.3034