Las Vegas Philharmonic to Present GREAT EUROPEAN MASTERY Concert, 11/22

The Las Vegas Philharmonic will present its second Masterworks Series performance, "Great European Mastery," on Saturday, November 22nd, in Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts at 7:30PM. The program will feature Weber's Overture to Oberon, Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto, and Brahms First Symphony. The concert will be conducted by Music Director and Conductor of the Eugene Symphony, Danail Rachev. Tickets are priced from $26 to $96 and are available from The Smith Center box office, phone 702.749.2000 or online from lvphil.org.

The evening will open with Weber's Overture to the English opera, Oberon. The story tells the tale of a fairy king and queen who will not speak to each other until two faithful lovers, shipwrecked and captured by pirates, have been found. The overture was composed in traditional sonata form and highlights the horns and woodwinds. Following the overture, the orchestra will perform Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 featuring guest pianist, Markus Groh. Although the work was not performed publicly for almost 30 years after its premiere, the concerto is frequently performed today and is considered an integral work in the piano concerto repertoire. The orchestra will conclude the concert with Brahm's popular Symphony No. 1. This will be the Las Vegas Philharmonic's first time performing this symphony, which is known for its technicality, emotion and beautiful melody.

Rachev will present a pre-concert conversation in Reynolds Hall at 6:45PM which is open to all ticketholders. Rachev is in his fourth season as Music Director and Conductor for the Eugene Symphony. Prior to his current position, he was Assistant Conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra from 2008 - 2010 and the Dallas Symphony from 2005 - 2008. He was the first Conducting Fellow of the New World Symphony where he studied with Michael Tilson Thomas from 2002 - 2003. Rachev was born in Bulgaria and trained at the State Musical Academy in Sofia, receiving degrees in orchestral and choral conducting. He moved to the United States to study at the Peabody Conservatory on a full scholarship, graduating in 2001.

Groh has performed with symphonies all over the world including New York, Berlin, San Francisco, Beijing, and St. Petersburg. He made recent debuts with the National Symphony in Washington, D.C., and the Cleveland Orchestra. He is much admired for his interpretations of Franz Liszt and received "Editor's Choice" in Gramophone Magazine for his all-Liszt CD. Born in Southern Germany, Groh gained worldwide attention at age 25 when he won the prestigious Queen Elisabeth International Competition in Brussels.

The Las Vegas Philharmonic offers four ticket price levels: $96, $66, $46 and $26. Tickets are available from The Smith Center Box Office, phone 702.749.2000 or online from lvphil.org. A 50% student discount is available on all single ticket purchases (ID required.) Groups of 10 or more receive a 20% discount off the ticket price. Group sales are available by calling the Las Vegas Philharmonic at 702.462.2009. The Smith Center ticket link. Las Vegas Philharmonic ticket link.