LA Chamber Orchestra Presents Andrew Norman's MUSIC IN CIRCLES III World Premiere, 4/20-21

By: Apr. 20, 2013
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The highly anticipated world premiere of Music in Circles III, a new piece by Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) Composer-in-Residence Andrew Norman, is the centerpiece of LACO's "Concertos: Handel & Mozart" orchestral concert tonight, April 20, 2013, 8 pm, at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, and Sunday, April 21, 2013, 7 pm, at Royce Hall, UCLA.

Illustrating perfectly the Orchestra's unique artistic sensibilities, dazzling technical skills and astonishing versatility across a wide spectrum of musical idioms, the evening also features Music Director Jeffrey Kahane, hailed as one of the world's foremost Mozart interpreters, conducting and playing the composer's towering Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-flat major, K. 482. In addition, Handel's virtuosic Concerto Grosso in A major, Op. 6, No. 11, is led by LACO Concertmaster Margaret Batjer from the first chair, as was standard practice during the Baroque era, and Kahane assumes the podium to conduct Ginastera's Variaciones concertantes, Op. 23, a chamber orchestra tour de force.

"Music in Circles III is about gradual transformation - from one sound into another, from one instrument to another, from one kind of music to another," says Norman, whose music, described as "Chaplinesque" (Los Angeles Times), is critically acclaimed for its "daring juxtapositions and dazzling colors" (The New York Times). "Over the course of ten minutes, the piece moves on a multi-layered journey from stillness to frenzy and back again; and from the most intimate, isolated sounds that an orchestra can make to the most expansive and communal. Along the way it features every single one of LACO's phenomenal players in a moment of solo playing, showing the orchestra to be both a collection of different, unique voices and a powerful, collective whole."

Norman's work is presented as part of LACO's innovative "Sound Investment" commissioning initiative, now in its 12th year. The program gives investor members the rare opportunity to create a legacy in music and to observe first-hand the development of a new work from the composer's earliest ideas to the finished composition. Participants invest $150 to $300 for a membership, which includes salons throughout the season that feature in-depth discussion with the composer about his creative process and previews of the final work.

A graduate of USC and Yale, Norman currently lives and works in Brooklyn. The LACO concerts featuring Norman's world premiere are included in the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Brooklyn Festival, which highlights the creative energy and compelling music emerging from New York's most dynamic borough that blurs the lines between classical and popular, between rock and experimental, and between the concert hall and the nightclub.

Norman discusses his new piece and creative process at LACO's Concert Preludes, pre-concert talks held one hour before curtain and free for ticket holders.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra is considered one of the world's premier chamber orchestras as well as a leader in presenting wide-ranging repertoire and adventurous commissions. Its 2012-13 season, the Orchestra's 44th, features a compelling mix of beloved masterpieces and genre-defying premieres from firmly established and notable up-and-coming composers programmed by Jeffrey Kahane, one of the world's foremost conductors and pianists, who marks his 16th season as LACO's music director.

Andrew Norman's residency is funded in part through New Music USA's MetLife Creative Connections program.

Tickets ($25 - $110) are on sale now and may be purchased online at laco.org, by calling LACO at 213 622 7001, or at the venue box office on the night of the concert, if tickets remain. Discounted tickets are also available by phone for seniors 65 years of age and older and groups of 12 or more. College students may purchase student rush tickets ($10), based on availability, at the box office the day of the concert; also available for college students is the $25 "Campus to Concert Hall All Access Pass" - good for all seven of LACO's Orchestral Series concerts at either the Alex Theatre or UCLA's Royce Hall, LACO's Discover Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 at Ambassador Auditorium and for all three Westside Connections concerts at The Broad Stage, plus other benefits.

Equally at home at the keyboard or on the podium, JEFFREY KAHANE has established an international reputation as a truly versatile artist, recognized around the world for his mastery of diverse repertoire ranging from Bach, Mozart and Beethoven to Gershwin, Golijov and John Adams. The 2012-13 season marks Kahane's 16th season as the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra's music director. He previously served as music director of the Colorado and Santa Rosa symphonies. He has garnered tremendous critical acclaim for his innovative programming and commitment to education and community involvement and received multiple ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming for his work in both Los Angeles and Denver. In addition to his projects with LACO, he has recently appeared at the Aspen, Mostly Mozart, Blossom, Music@Menlo and Oregon Bach festivals; performed concertos with the Toronto and Houston symphonies; guest conducted the San Francisco, National and Indianapolis symphonies; and play/conducted programs in Europe with the Camerata Salzburg and Hamburg Symphony.

MARGARET BATJER has served as concertmaster of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra since 1998. Throughout her successful career as soloist, chamber musician, teacher and concertmaster, she has established herself as a versatile and respected artist worldwide. Batjer made her first solo appearance at the age of 15 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO). She has since returned to the CSO and soloed with a succession of major orchestras, including The Philadelphia Orchestra and the St. Louis, Seattle and Dallas symphony orchestras. Batjer has performed with such European ensembles as the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Prague Chamber Orchestra and Berlin Symphony Orchestra. As an esteemed chamber musician, she appears regularly at the Marlboro Music Festival, La Jolla Summerfest, Salzburg Festival, and Italy's Naples and Cremona festivals. In 2008, she developed LACO's acclaimed chamber music series, Westside Connections. Among her many noteworthy recordings, Batjer has twice recorded Bach's Concerto for Two Violins: for the Philips label with Salvatore Accardo and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and in 2003, paired as soloist with Hilary Hahn for Deutsche Grammophon with Jeffrey Kahane conducting the LA Chamber Orchestra. Batjer is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music where she studied with Ivan Galamian and David Cerone. She joined the faculty of the USC Thornton School of Music in 2005.

Andrew Norman has emerged as one of the most compelling and interesting musical voices of his generation. Drawing on an eclectic mix of instrumental sounds and notational practices, his music has been cited in The New York Times for its "daring juxtapositions and dazzling colors" and in the Los Angeles Times for its "Chaplinesque" wit. He studied the piano and viola before attending USC and Yale. His teachers include Donald Crockett, Stephen Hartke, Martin Bresnick, Aaron Jay Kernis, Ingram Marshall and Martha Ashleigh. An enthusiast for all things architectural, Norman writes music inspired by forms and textures he encounters in the visual world. The Los Angeles and Royal Liverpool philharmonics, Grand Rapids and Oakland East Bay symphonies, Minnesota Orchestra and Aspen Music Festival have commissioned orchestral works from Norman, and his chamber works are performed internation¬ally. Norman was a fellow at the American Academies in Rome and Berlin and he held residencies with the Des Moines Symphony and Young Concert Artists. Norman begins his three-year tenure as LACO composer-in-residence in the 2012-13 season and received LACO's 2012-13 Sound Investment commission.

LOS ANGELES CHAMBER ORCHESTRA (LACO), proclaimed "America's finest chamber orchestra" by Public Radio International, has established itself among the world's top musical ensembles. Since 1997, LACO has performed under acclaimed conductor and pianist Jeffrey Kahane, hailed by critics as "visionary" and "a conductor of uncommon intellect, insight and musical integrity." Under Kahane's leadership, the Orchestra maintains its status as a preeminent interpreter of historical masterworks and a champion of contemporary composers. During its 44-year history, the Orchestra has made 31 recordings, toured Europe, South America and Japan, performed across North America and garnered seven ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming. LACO presents its Orchestral Series at both the Alex Theatre and Royce Hall, Baroque Conversations at Zipper Hall, Westside Connections chamber music series at The Broad Stage, and an annual Discover concert at Ambassador Auditorium. LACO also presents a Concert Gala, an annual Silent Film screening and several fundraising salons each year. Additionally, LACO's outreach programs Meet the Music, Community Partners, Campus to Concert Hall and the LACO/USC Thornton Strings Mentorship Program reach thousands of young people annually.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
"Concertos: Handel & Mozart"
Jeffrey Kahane, conductor and piano
Margaret Batjer, leader* and violin

PROGRAM:
HANDEL *Concerto Grosso in A major
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-flat major, K. 482
Andrew Norman Music in Circles III (Sound Investment commission & world premiere)
GINASTERA Variaciones concertantes

Saturday, April 20, 2013, 8 pm
Alex Theatre
216 North Brand Boulevard, Glendale CA 91203

Sunday, April 21, 2013, 7pm
Royce Hall, UCLA
340 Royce Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095

Tickets are $25, 55, 90, 110; Student rush tickets ($10), based on availability, may be purchased at the box office the day of the concert; (Discounts for groups of 12 or more, seniors 65+ and college students, if available; also available to students: $25 "Campus to Concert Hall All-Access Pass" - good for all 7 of LACO's Orchestral Series concerts at either the Alex Theatre or UCLA and for all 3 Westside Connections concerts at The Broad Stage, plus other benefits).

For information or to purchase tickets, call Andrew or Megan in the box office at 213 622 7001 × 1. For further information about the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra's 2012-13 season or to order tickets, please call 213 622 7001, or visit www.laco.org.

CONCERT PRELUDES:
7 pm (Alex Theatre)
6 pm (Royce Hall)
One hour before curtain, pre-concert talks provide insights into the music and artists. Free for ticket holders.

Pictured: Andrew Norman. Photo courtesy of Andrew Norman.



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