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  • ESA-PEKKA SALONEN LEADS RARE PERFORMANCE OF SCHOENBERG'S "GURRELIEDER"
  • Feb. 6, 2005
  • Soprano Angela Denoke, Mezzo-Soprano Lilli Paasikivi,
    Tenors Anthony Dean Griffey and John Treleaven, Baritone Christopher Maltman, and Narrator Barbara Sukowa Join Philharmonic, Los Angeles Master Chorale
    For Landmark Work

    SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6 AT 2 PM

    On February 6 at 2 pm, Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a special, one time-only, concert event at Walt Disney Concert Hall - Arnold Schoenberg's rarely-performed Gurrelieder. The cast includes soprano Angela Denoke, in her Philharmonic debut, as Tove; mezzo-soprano Lilli Paasikivi as the Wood Dove; tenor Anthony Dean Griffey as Klaus-Narr; tenor John Treleaven, in his Philharonic debut, as Waldemar; baritone Christopher Maltman, in his Philharmonic debut, as the Peasant; narrator Barbara Sukowa; and the Los Angeles Master Chorale.
    Begun in March 1900, Gurrelieder is a setting of Jens Peter Jacobsen's Gurre-Lieder. Schoenberg originally wrote it as a song cycle for voice and piano; however, he spent years orchestrating it for six soloists, double chorus, and a 150-piece orchestra that includes four piccolos, four harps, ten horns, and a massive array of percussion. Requiring some of the largest orchestral forces ever assembled, Gurrelieder presents the legend of 12th-century King Waldemar and his passionate love for Tove. His jealous Queen kills Tove, leaving a grief-stricken King who renounces God and is ultimately destined to ride the earth with his vassals every night.
    Upbeat Live pre-concert events take place in BP Hall one hour prior to the start of each concert and are free to ticket holders.

    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 now records exclusively for the Deutshce Grammophon label. 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.

    ANGELA DENOKE was a member of the Stuttgart Opera for four years, appearing as Alice in Falstaff, Eva in Die Meistersinger, Marschallin in Rosenkavalier, Lisa in Pique Dame, Marie in Wozzeck, and Agathe in Der Freischütz. Denoke made a triumphant first appearance at the 1997 Salzburg Festival as Marie in Alban Berg's Wozzeck with the Vienna Philharmonic under Claudio Abbado. She returned to the festival in 1998 as Kata Kabanova, and, that same year, she reprised her role as Marie in Wozzeck in Hamburg. In 1999 she appeared in the double part of Venus/Elisabeth in Tannhauser under the baton of Daniel Barenboim in Berlin and as Sieglinde in Walküre in Stuttgart. Other special achievements were her portrayals of Jenufa under Seiji Ozawa in 2002 and Kundry in Parsifal in 2004 under Donald Runnicles, both at the Vienna State Opera. She has also appeared at the Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin, the Staatsoper Dresden, the Théâtre du Châtelet, San Francisco Opera. Denoke made her U.S. debut in 2001 under Daniel Barenboim, as Sieglinde in a concert version of Act I of Die Walkure with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in Chicago and at Carnegie Hall.

    After completing his studies at London College of Music and the London Opera Centre Covent Garden, JOHN TRELEAVEN performed in all the major opera houses in Great Britain, making his débuts at the Royal Opera Covent Garden, Welsh National Opera, and English National Opera. In 1991, Treleaven made his debut in Germany at the Mannheim National Theater in Peter Grimes and since then has been a permanent guest in many German opera houses. At the beginning of the millennium he made his debut at the Vienna State Opera under Peter Schneider in Lohengrin with great success. Shortly afterwards he sang the same role at the Hamburg State Opera. In April 2000, he sang his first Siegfried in Götterdämmerung and in July 2000 sang Tristan in a new production in Karlsruhe.

    LILLI PAASIKIVI has won several national and international awards. While studying at the Royal College of Music in London, she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother's scholarship. Paasikivi's discography includes Sibelius' Kullervo Symphony for BIS with Osmo Vänskä and the Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Sibelius' Maiden in the Tower with Paavo Järvi for EMI/Virgin, Mahler's Symphony No. 3 with the Philharmonia Orchestra under Benjamin Zander for Telarc, and her critically acclaimed recording of Alma Mahler's Complete Songs with Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra under Jorma Panula for Ondine. In 1998, Paasikivi joined Finnish National Opera where roles have included Carmen, Angelina (La cenerentola), Cordelia (Sallinen's King Lear), Dorabella (Così fan tutte), Marguerite (La damnation de Faust), Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Marchesa Melibea (Il viaggio a Reims) and Aleksandra Fjodorovna (Rautavaara's Rasputin). Elsewhere she made her debut at the Châtelet in the role of The Pilgrim in Saariaho's opera L'amour de loin and sang the role of Jitsuko Honda in the world premiere of Toshio Hosokawa's Hanjo at Festival d'Art Lyrique d'Aix-en-Provence.

    A native of North Carolina, tenor ANTHONY DEAN GRIFFEY has captured critical and popular acclaim with opera companies and symphony orchestras worldwide. The 2004-05 season finds Griffey traversing the Atlantic many times, while visiting a host of the premier opera houses and concert halls, including Carnegie's Zankel Hall, where he premieres a set of four songs composed for him by Sir André Previn. Britten's War Requiem is next at Carnegie Hall with Robert Bass leading the Collegiate Chorale. Appearances follow with the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, the Atlanta Symphony (Das Lied von der Erde/Robert Spano), and the London Philharmonic (War Requiem/Kurt Masur). With the San Francisco Symphony he performs Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, marking Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas' 10th year with the orchestra. Griffey's season comes to a close with his Santa Fe Opera debut in the title role of Britten's Peter Grimes.

    A baritone noted for his thoughtful programming and rich, elegant voice, CHRISTOPHER MALTMAN has enjoyed a flourishing and wide-ranging career since he won the Lieder Prize at the 1997 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition. Having displayed flair in operatic, recital and symphonic performances, this young British singer in known for a range of talent, from theatrical, cutting-edge presentations to probing lieder recitals. Maltman's North American engagements in the 2004-2005 season include orchestral performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra and travels to Washington and San Francisco for recitals at the Kennedy Center and Herbst Theatre. Abroad recently, the vocalist has enjoyed success in his first roles at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden: Sebastian in the world premiere of Thomas Adés's The Tempest, Guglielmo in Mozart's Così fan Tutte. Maltman also gave two solo recitals to astonishing acclaim at the Salzburg Mozarteum this year. Additional engagements this season include performances of the title role in Britten's Billy Budd at the Turin Opera, Ned Keene in Peter Grimes at the Salzburg Easter Festival, orchestral performances with the Strasbourg and Berlin Philharmonics and a return to the Glyndebourne Festival in his role debut as Papageno in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte.

    The Grammy Award-nominated LOS ANGELES MASTER CHORALE, currently celebrating its 41st season, is recognized as one of Los Angeles' cultural treasures, and has received accolades for its innovative and dynamic programming and its commitment to commissioning new works. Music Director Grant Gershon has launched the Chorale onto a new tier of musical importance with his gifted leadership and unique artistic sensibilities. Reaching into the community, the Master Chorale presents an annual High School Choir Festival. In addition, the Master Chorale's Chamber Singers present in-school performances, and the Chorale offers a comprehensive eight-week elementary school residency program, Voices Within.

    EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

    SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2005 AT 2 PM

    Walt Disney Concert Hall

    111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles

    LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC

    ESA-PEKKA SALONEN, conductor

    ANGELA DENOKE, soprano - Tove

    JOHN TRELEAVEN, tenor - Waldemar

    LILLI PAASIKIVI, mezzo-soprano - The Wood Dove

    ANTHONY DEAN GRIFFEY, tenor - Klaus Narr

    CHRISTOPHER MALTMAN, baritone - Peasant

    BARBARA SUKOWA, Narrator

    LOS ANGELES MASTER CHORALE

    SCHOENBERG Gurrelieder


    Upbeat Live pre-concert events take place in BP Hall one hour prior to the start of each concert and are free to 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:

    Adam Crane, 213.972.3422; Rachelle Roe, 213.972.7310; photos: 213.972.3034