Columbus ProMusica's 2015 Soiree Features Igudesman & Joo and More Tonight

The ProMusica Chamber Orchestra is beating the doldrums of winter by moving its annual Soirée up in the calendar to February. This year, ProMusica will be joined by Igudesman & Joo, a violin and piano duo who have fused classical music and sketch comedy theatrics in the style of Victor Borge and Dudley Moore. Igudesman & Joo have performed their theatrical shows with orchestras worldwide, including their "BIG Nightmare Music" show that they are bringing to ProMusica.

The Annual Soirée Benefit & Concert will take place tonight, February 13th beginning at 6:00 p.m. at The Westin Columbus. The pre-concert cocktail reception held in the historic ballroom of The Westin will feature a selection of hors d'oeuvres and desserts, and eight exclusive raffle prizes.

The concert starts at 8:00 p.m. in the adjacent Southern Theatre, as Music Director David Danzmayr leads the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra with Igudesman & Joo and their uproarious and virtuosic "BIG Nightmare Music" program.

"Aleksey Igudesman and Hyung-ki Joo are both hilarious and extremely talented. We are thrilled to have them join us for our 2015 Soirée, which will certainly be a fun night for our audience and musicians alike," said ProMusica Chamber Orchestra's Executive Director Janet Chen. "It will be just the ticket to kick the wintertime blues."

Igudesman & Joo will be performing in Columbus for the first time. To date, their clips on YouTube, have garnered more than 35 million hits, and the duo has appeared on television in numerous countries. Many of clas­si­cal music's biggest names, such as Emanuel Ax, Joshua Bell, Janine Jansen, Gidon Kre­mer, Mis­cha Maisky, Vik­to­ria Mullova, and Julian Rach­lin, have joined them in their musi­cal sketches. Some of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, have shared the stage with them for their show "BIG Nightmare Music".

'BIG Nightmare Music' boasts uproarious sketches tailor-made for an orchestra -- in this case, the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra -- alongside a few priceless adaptations from their duo show, 'A Little Nightmare Music.' Experts in the art of classical music 'mash-ups', they incorporate pop songs and folk tunes with classical music masterpieces. Audiences will experience these talented musicians performing well-known, popular classical pieces delivered with their own unique twist in a program to include works such as 'From Mozart with Love', 'Rachmaninoff by Himself' and 'A Very Blue Danube'.

Tickets for the concert alone range from $28 to $80. Patron packages for the ProMusica Benefit, which include the pre-concert cocktail reception, range from $350 for the Gold Level, $275 for the Silver Level, and $200 for the Bronze Level.

SEASON TICKET SUBSCRIPTION (AND SINGLE TICKET) INFORMATION - Subscriptions with savings up to 20 percent for new and returning patrons are available for the 2014-15 concert season, including a flexible "Compose-Your-Own" option and Josephinum performances. Single tickets to any regular season concert cost $10 to $49 ($10 for students with valid ID). Subscriptions and single tickets are on sale through the ProMusica office (614-464-0066; www.promusicacolumbus.org) or Ticketmaster.

ABOUT PROMUSICA - ProMusica Chamber Orchestra delivers a unique classical music experience that enriches and inspires people in Central Ohio and beyond - through innovative chamber orchestra programming, educational outreach, audience intimacy, and artistic excellence. Recognized for its commitment to performing new and contemporary repertoire, ProMusica has commissioned 61 new works and has presented more than 100 premieres.

Bringing worldwide talent to Columbus since 1978, ProMusica offers an adventurous musical experience through intimate performances on the stages of the Southern Theatre and the Pontifical College Josephinum. The orchestra, comprised of 35musicians, showcases homegrown talents, rising stars, and guest artists of international acclaim. Beyond the concert hall, the orchestra is equally at home throughout the community, serving thousands of individuals through key education and outreach programs. Known for its dual traditions of artistic integrity and fiscal responsibility, ProMusica is now in its 36th season.