Itzhak Perlman to perform with Colorado Symphony 4/27/11

March 31, 2011 - PRLog -- Itzhak Perlman will join the Colorado Symphony, led by resident conductor Scott O'Neil, for a spectacular evening of Mozart on Wednesday, April 27 at Boettcher Concert Hall. Widely regarded as the reigning virtuoso of the violin, Perlman will perform Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major, as well as the Adagio in E for Violin and Orchestra and Rondo for Violin and Orchestra in C Major. Arguably the most popular of Mozart's violin concerti, the No. 3 in G Major is resplendent with rich musical colors and intimate lyricism. This spectacular evening begins with Weber's riveting Overture to the opera "Der Freischütz" and Schumann's evocative Fourth Symphony. Remaining tickets currently start from $150 and less than 30 seats remain. Patrons are encouraged to contact the Colorado Symphony Box Office for additional information regarding seating options.

About Itzhak Perlman
Beloved for his charm and humanity as well as his talent, Itzhak Perlman is treasured by audiences throughout the world who respond not only to his remarkable artistry, but also the way he illustrates his irrepressible joy of making music. In January 2009, 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 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.

Born in Israel in 1945, Perlman completed his initial training at the Academy of Music in Tel Aviv. He came to New York and was soon propelled into the international arena with an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1958. Following his studies at The Juilliard School with Ivan Galamian and Dorothy DeLay, Perlman won the prestigious Leventritt Competition in 1964, which led to a burgeoning worldwide career. Since then, Perlman has appeared with every major orchestra and in recitals and festivals around the world.

Perlman is also a frequent presence on the conductor's podium, and through this medium he is further delighting his audiences. This season, he conducts the Indianapolis, Atlanta, Toronto and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras.

A major presence in the performing arts on television, Perlman has been honored with four Emmy Awards, most recently for the PBS documentary "Fiddling for the Future," a film about the Perlman Music Program and his work as a teacher and conductor there. In July of 2004, PBS aired a special entitled "Perlman in Shanghai," which chronicled a historic and unforgettable visit of the Perlman Music Program to China. Perlman's third Emmy Award recognized his dedication to Klezmer music, as profiled in the 1995 PBS television special "In the Fiddler's House," which was filmed in Poland and featured him performing with four of the world's finest Klezmer bands.

Perlman has entertained and enlightened millions of TV viewers of all ages on popular shows as diverse as "The Late Show with David Letterman," "Sesame Street," the PBS series "The Frugal Gourmet," the "Tonight Show," the Grammy® Awards telecasts, and numerous "Live From Lincoln Center" broadcasts and PBS specials. One of Perlman's proudest achievements is his collaboration with film score composer John Williams in Steven Spielberg's Academy Award-winning film "Schindler's List," in which he performed the violin solos. He can also be heard as the violin soloist on the soundtrack of Zhang Yimou's film "Hero" (music by Tan Dun) and Rob Marshall's "Memoirs of a Geisha" (music by John Williams).

In February 2008, Perlman was honored with a Grammy® Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in the recording arts. His recordings regularly appear on the best-seller charts and have garnered fifteen Grammy® Awards. His most recent releases include an all-Mozart recording with the Berlin Philharmonic (EMI) with Perlman performing as both soloist and conductor and a recording for Deutsche Grammophon with Perlman conducting the Israel Philharmonic.

Perlman has a long association with the Israel Philharmonic, and he has participated in many groundbreaking tours with this orchestra from his homeland. In November 1987, he joined the Israel Philharmonic for history-making concerts in Warsaw and Budapest, representing the first performances by this orchestra and soloist in Eastern bloc countries. He again made history as he joined the orchestra for its first visit to the Soviet Union in April/May of 1990, and was cheered by audiences in Moscow and Leningrad who thronged to hear his recital and orchestral performances.

Over the past decade, Perlman has become more actively involved in educational activities. He has taught full time at the Perlman Music Program each summer since it was founded and currently holds the Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation Chair at The Juilliard School.

Numerous publications and institutions have paid tribute to Perlman for the unique place he occupies in the artistic and humanitarian fabric of our times. Harvard, Yale, Brandeis, Roosevelt, Yeshiva and Hebrew universities are among the institutions that have awarded him honorary degrees. He was awarded an honorary doctorate and a centennial medal on the occasion of Juilliard's 100th commencement ceremony in May 2005. President Reagan honored Perlman with a "Medal of Liberty" in 1986, and in December 2000, President Clinton awarded Perlman the "National Medal of Arts." His presence on stage, on camera and in personal appearances of all kinds speaks eloquently on behalf of the disabled, and his devotion to their cause is an integral part of Perlman's life.

About the Colorado Symphony
The region's only full-time professional orchestra, the Colorado Symphony embraces a tradition of musical excellence by presenting a wide variety of symphonic performances. Established in 1989 as the successor to the Denver Symphony, the Colorado Symphony is Colorado's only resident orchestra composed of professional musicians employed to play symphonic music on a full-time basis. From classical repertoire to innovative new forms, the Symphony performs in Boettcher Concert Hall and throughout the Front Range presenting outstanding education and outreach programs, and free summer parks concerts in addition to season-long Masterworks, Pops, Holiday, Family and "Inside the Score" series. Presenting music that is timeless and performing in ways that are forever new - the Colorado Symphony exists to bring music to life. Full of energetic new programs, exciting guest artists and a brand new roster of guest conductors from around the globe, the 2010/11 season offers something for everyone. For more information about the Colorado Symphony, visit www.coloradosymphony.org.

Artists:
Colorado Symphony Orchestra
Scott O'Neil, resident conductor
Itzhak Perlman, violin

Program:
WEBER: Overture to the opera, "Der Freischütz"
SCHUMANN: Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120
MOZART: Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major, K. 216
MOZART: Adagio in E for Violin and Orchestra, K. 261
MOZART: Rondo for Violin and Orchestra in C Major, K. 373

Performance:
Wednesday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets:
Tickets are on sale now at www.coloradosymphony.org, the Colorado Symphony Box Office: (303) 623-7876 or (877) 292-7979 or in-person in the lobby of Boettcher Concert Hall in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Hours are Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Full artist biographies and photos available upon request.

Media Contact:
Margaret A. Williams
Office: 303.308.2472
mwilliams@coloradosymphony.org

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Colorado Symphony is the region’s only full-time professional orchestra, performing in dowtown Denver at Boettcher Hall and across the Front Range. Presenting timeless music performed in new ways, the Colorado Symphony brings music to life.