CONDUCTOR LEONARD SLATKIN LEADS THE LA PHIL IN TWO CONCERTS AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL

Photo: Leonard Slatkin conducts the Academy Festival Orchestra during a rehearsal at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. Credit: Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times

Pianists André Watts (Tuesday) and Olga Kern Perform (Thursday) Perform as Soloists

TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2011, AT 8 PM - THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, AT 8 PM

The August 23 Concert is Generously Sponsored by Fidelity Investments, Preferred Financial Services Company of the Hollywood Bowl; August 23 Media Sponsor: KUSC

WHAT:
Former Principal Guest Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl Leonard Slatkin returns for a pair of programs, Tuesday, August 23, at 8 pm, and Thursday, August 25, at 8 pm. In Tuesday’s program, Slatkin leads the orchestra in a double dose of Liszt and Ravel, and is joined by pianist André Watts, making a welcome return in a performance of Liszt’s Second Piano Concerto. Slatkin continues his week at the Bowl with pianist Olga Kern, in her long-awaited second appearance at the Bowl, performing Rachmaninoff’sRhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Thursday’s program also includes Carter’s Holiday Overture and Brahms’ Fourth Symphony.

Internationally-acclaimed American conductor Leonard Slatkin began his appointment as Music Director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in September of 2008. He was named Music Director of the Orchestre National de Lyon (ONL), France, beginning with the 2011/12 season. In addition, Slatkin continues to serve as Principal Guest Conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, a post that began in the fall of 2008. Following a 17-year tenure as Music Director of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, he became Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. in 1996. Other positions in the U.S. have included Principal Guest Conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra, where he founded their “Sommerfest;” first Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra’s summer series at the Blossom Music Festival, a post he held for nine years; Principal Guest Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl for three seasons; and additional positions with the New Orleans Philharmonic and the Nashville Symphony Orchestra.

André Watts burst upon the music world at the age of 16 when Leonard Bernstein chose him to make his debut with the New York Philharmonic in their Young People's Concerts, broadcast nationwide on CBS-TV. Only two weeks later, Bernstein asked him to substitute at the last minute for the ailing Glenn Gould in performances of Liszt's E-flat Concerto with the New York Philharmonic, thus launching his career in storybook fashion. More than 45 years later, André Watts remains one of today's most celebrated and beloved superstars, is a perennial favorite with orchestras throughout the U.S., and is also a regular guest at the major summer music festivals including Ravinia, the Hollywood Bowl, Saratoga, Tanglewood and the Mann Music Center. He was inducted into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame during Opening Night, June of 2006 and will perform with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall in March 2012.

Olga Kern is now recognized as one of her generation’s great pianists; her career began one decade ago with her award-winning gold-medal performance at the Eleventh Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2001. Her second triumph came in New York City on May 4, 2004, with a highly acclaimed New York City recital debut at Carnegie’s Zankel Hall. In an unprecedented turn of events, Olga gave a second recital eight days later in Isaac Stern Auditorium at the invitation of Carnegie Hall. She made her Hollywood Bowl debut in August of 2005. Of her, Slatkin states, “She plays with power and assurance, superb technique and musicality, individual flair and passion.”

WHEN/WHO:

TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2011, AT 8 PM
LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC
LEONARD SLATKIN, conductor
ANDRÉ WATTS, piano

LISZT Les Préludes
LISZT Piano Concerto No. 2
RAVEL Mother Goose Suite
RAVEL Daphnis et Chloé, Suite No. 2


THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011, AT 8 PM 
LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC
LEONARD SLATKIN, conductor
OLGA KERN, piano

CARTER Holiday Overture
RACHMANINOFF Rhapsody on a Theme of PaganiniBRAHMS Symphony No. 4

WHERE:
HOLLYWOOD BOWL
2301 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068