PRESS CONTACT:
Laura Farmer, 410.783.8024
Lfarmer@bsomusic.org

Itzhak Perlman Leads and Performs with
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, January 12-15

Legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman performs selections from
Vivaldi's Four Seasons

Baltimore, Md. (December 20, 2012) - Internationally acclaimed violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman will lead and perform with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on Thursday, January 12 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, January 15 at 3 p.m. at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and Saturday, January 14 at 8 p.m. at the Music Center at Strathmore. The concert includes a diverse program of audience favorites, opening with violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman performing excerpts from Vivaldi's famous Four Seasons, after which he takes the podium to conduct Mozart's Symphony No. 25 followed by Brahms' Fourth Symphony. Please see below for complete program details.

Vivaldi's most popular work, The Four Seasons, is a collection of violin concertos that depict spring, summer, fall and winter. Legendary violinist and 15-time Grammy Award-winner Itzhak Perlman will perform the "Winter" and "Summer" concerti.  Abounding in wildlife and activity, Summer's solo violin imitates birds like the cuckoo, turtledove, and goldfinch, whereas the orchestra takes on the buzz of insects and the rumbles of a distant thunderstorm. While the first movement of "Winter" adopts the bitter, ice-cold nature of the season, the slow movement evokes the warm, cozy atmosphere that is found indoors by fire, with a pitter-patter of raindrops against the windowpane voiced by delicate pizzicato in the strings.

Maestro Perlman will also lead the BSO in Mozart's Symphony No. 25, "Little G minor." Out of Mozart's 41 symphonies, "Little G minor" is one of two minor-key symphonies he composed. "Little G minor" is a fine example of the Sturm und Drang (Storm and Stress) movement of the 18th century with its emotional turbulence and furious opening music, prominently featured in the film Amadeus.  Perlman, who is internationally recognized as one of the pre-eminent violinists of our time, is also an in-demand conductor, having led the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic and Boston Symphony, among many others. 

The evening will culminate in Brahms' final symphonic masterpiece the Fourth Symphony, the most complex and mature of his symphonies, filled with warmth and humanity.   Thought to be Brahms' greatest symphony, Symphony No. 4 achieved overwhelming success at its premiere under the composer's baton with the Meiningen Symphony and subsequent tour in 1885.

Itzhak Perlman, conductor and violin
Itzhak Perlman is beloved for his charm and humanity as well as his talent. In January 2009, Mr. Perlman was honored to take part in the Inauguration of President Barack Obama, premiering a piece written for the occasion by John Williams and performing with clarinetist Anthony McGill, pianist Gabriela Montero, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. In December 2003, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts granted Mr. Perlman a Kennedy Center Honor celebrating his distinguished achievements and contributions to the cultural and educational life of our nation. In May 2007, he performed at the State Dinner for Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, hosted by President George W. Bush and Mrs. Bush at the White House.

Mr. Perlman is a frequent presence on the conductor's podium. He was Music Advisor of the St. Louis Symphony from 2002 to 2004, where he made regular conducting appearances, and he was Principal Guest Conductor of the Detroit Symphony from 2001 to 2005. This season he conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic, as well as the San Francisco, Cincinnati, Baltimore and Seattle symphonies. Internationally, Mr. Perlman has conducted the Berlin Philharmonic, Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Philharmonic, the English Chamber Orchestra, and the Israel Philharmonic.

In Mr. Perlman's 2011-12 season he joins the San Francisco Symphony at Davies Hall under Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas in a gala concert to open their centennial season, and returns to the same orchestra in April 2012 on a play/conduct program. In October 2011, Mr. Perlman will travel to Asia for recitals in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau. Other highlights of his 2011-12 season include the gala opening of the new Kaufman Center in Kansas City, Missouri with the Kansas City Symphony, a play/conduct performance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, and recitals across North America including Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Diego and Washington, DC.
 
COMPLETE PROGRAM DETAILS
BSO Classical Concert: Itzhak Perlman
Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 8 p.m. - Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall (JMSH)
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 8 p.m. - Music Center at Strathmore
Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 3 p.m. - JMSH

Itzhak Perlman, violin and conductor

Vivaldi: "Winter" from The Four Seasons
Vivaldi: "Summer" from The Four Seasons
Mozart: Symphony No.25
Brahms: Symphony No. 4

Tickets range from $50 to $108 and are available through the BSO Ticket Office, 410.783.8000 or BSOmusic.org.

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