Yan Pascal Tortelier To Replace Maestro Yuri Temirkanov in April 2008 Subscription Program

Baltimore, Md. (June 29, 2007)-The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra has announced a conductor change for its April 2008 subscription program featuring Music Director Emeritus Yuri Temirkanov. Maestro Temirkanov, who was slated to conduct four concerts, April 24-27, 2008, featuring pianist Yuja Wang, will be replaced by French conductor Yan Pascal Tortelier. Temirkanov has withdrawn from his appearance with the BSO due to scheduling conflicts resulting from his recent appointment as Principal Guest Conductor of the Bolshoi Theatre in Russia. Temirkanov is scheduled to return to the BSO podium in the 2008-2009 season.

Yan Pascal Tortelier drew rave reviews for his recent conducting appearance with the BSO in April, prompting Baltimore Sun music critic Tim Smith to write, "Tortelier enjoys an unusually vibrant rapport with the BSO that would be worth cultivating every year." The Washington Post praised Tortelier's performance of Vaughan Williams' Fourth Symphony as one "that sparked with immaculately controlled chaos and transparency."

Appointed the Bolshoi's Principal Guest Conductor beginning with the 2007-2008 season, Yuri Temirkanov will conduct the Bolshoi Theater in a multiple-week production of Carmen, thus preventing him from traveling to Baltimore. In a prepared statement, Maestro Temirkanov said, "It is with deep regret that I must give up my Baltimore program next season as a result of my new position with the Bolshoi. Carmen is a commitment requiring intense rehearsal and planning, making it impossible to allow for travel to the United States. I look forward to reuniting with the musicians of the BSO and making music together with them in the very near future."

As scheduled, pianist Yuja Wang will perform Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 1 on the BSO program, and the remainder of the program is left unchanged. Complete updated program information is listed below.

About Yan Pascal Tortelier
Born into an intensely musical family, son of the late Paul Tortelier, conductor Yan Pascal Tortelier studied piano and violin from the age of four and, at 14, won first prize for violin at the Paris Conservatoire. Following general musical studies with Nadia Boulanger, Tortelier studied conducting with Franco Ferrara in Siena.

In recognition of his outstanding work as Chief Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic between 1992 and 2003, Yan Pascal Tortelier has been given the title of the Conductor Laureate and continues working with the Orchestra regularly. He currently holds the position of Principal Guest Conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

During recent seasons Yan Pascal Tortelier has worked with such orchestras as the London Symphony, Philharmonia and London Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Oslo Philharmonic, Filarmonica della Scala Milan, Radio Filharmonische Orkest Holland, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and in North America with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco, Baltimore and Pittsburgh Symphony orchestras, Montreal Symphony and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Favorites Series (Baltimore)/Classical Thursdays (Strathmore)-Symphonie Fantastique
Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 8:00 p.m.-The Music Center at Strathmore
Friday, April 25, 2008 at 8:00 p.m.-Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall (JMSH)
Saturday, April 26, 2008 at 8:00 p.m.-JMSH
Sunday, April 27, 2008 at 3:00 p.m.-JMSH

Yan Pascal Tortelier, conductor
Yuja Wang, piano  

Yardumian: Armenian Suite
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 1
Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique

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