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  • MARTIN CHALIFOUR JOINS LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC MEMBERS IN CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY CONCERT
  • Apr. 3, 2007
  • TUESDAY, APRIL 3 AT 8 PM

    Supported by a Generous Grant from the Norman and Sadie Lee Foundation

    Los Angeles Philharmonic Principal Concertmaster Martin Chalifour joins the members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a wide-ranging chamber music program at Walt Disney Concert Hall Tuesday, April 3, at 8 p.m. The program includes Handel's Violin Sonata in D Major, HWV 371; Beethoven's Violin Sonata No. 9 in A Major, Op. 47, "Kreutzer"; Mozart's Violin Sonata in E Minor, K. 304; and Richard Strauss' Piano Quartet.

    Handel's Violin Sonata in D Major, HWV 371, is one of the composer's finest chamber works - the very beginning is striking, offset by the long slow movement, which gives the piece strength. Beethoven's Violin Sonata No. 9 in A Major, Op. 47, was initially to have been dedicated to violinist George Polgreen Bridgetower, but due to a quarrel the composer named it instead for French violinist Rudolph Kreutzer. Ironically, Kreutzer had difficulty comprehending the sonata named for him - described by Beethoven as "very concertante in style" - and he never performed it. Mozart's Violin Sonata in E Minor, K. 304, one of approximately 35 sonatas the composer wrote for keyboard and violin, is the only one in a minor key. Written when the composer was just 22 years old, it is regarded as one of his finest chamber works. Richard Strauss began developing his Piano Quartet as a teenager and the music reflects an interesting fusion of the grandeur of Brahms, whose music he was studying at the time, with his own impetuous virtuosity.

    Chalifour has held the position of Principal Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic for more than a decade, and is also a professor at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music.

    MARTIN CHALIFOUR began his tenure as Principal Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1995. The recipient of various grants and awards in his native Canada, he graduated with honors from the Montreal Conservatory at the age of 18, and then moved to Philadelphia to pursue studies at the Curtis Institute of Music. In 1986, Chalifour received a Certificate of Honor at the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow; he was a laureate of the Montreal International Competition the following year. Since then he has concertized extensively, playing hundreds of concerto performances from a repertoire of more than 50 works. He has appeared as soloist with conductors such as Pierre Boulez, Andrew Davis, Charles Dutoit, Christoph Eschenbach and Esa-Pekka Salonen. Outside the U.S., he has appeared as a guest soloist with the Auckland Philharmonic, the Montreal Symphony, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, the Queensland Symphony (Brisbane, Australia) and the Malaysian Philharmonic, among others. Chalifour is a frequent guest at several summer music festivals, including the Mainly Mozart Festival in San Diego, the Sarasota Music Festival and the Ottawa International Music Festival. Maintaining close ties with his native Quebec, he recently appeared as soloist with the Quebec Symphony, with Yoav Talmi conducting. For the past two summers he has performed several chamber music concerts with cellist Lynn Harrell at the Amelia Island Festival in Florida and at the Madison Chamber Music Festival in Georgia. Chalifour and two of his Philharmonic colleagues, Joanne Pearce Martin and Peter Stumpf, recently joined forces and formed the Los Angeles Philharmonic Piano Trio to explore the wonderful repertoire written for this combination. The trio performed Beethoven's Triple Concerto at the Hollywood Bowl in September 2005. Chalifour is a professor at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music.

    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:

    TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2007 AT 8 PM

    WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL, 111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles

    Chamber Music Society

    MARTIN CHALIFOUR, violin

    MEMBERS OF THE LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC

    HANDEL Violin Sonata in D Major, HWV 371

    BEETHOVEN Violin Sonata No. 9 in A Major, Op. 47 ("Kreutzer")

    MOZART Violin Sonata in E Minor, K. 304

    STRAUSS Piano Quartet

    Tickets ($21-$45) 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 all information, please call 323.850.2000.

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  • Contact:

    Adam Crane, 213.972.3422, acrane@laphil.org; Lisa White, 213.972.3408, lwhite@laphil.org; Photos: 213.972.3034