LACO Brings 8 Superstar Stradivarius Violins Together for First Time in STRAD FEST, Now thru 3/29

Imagine a festival with some of the world's most illustrious superstars of a certain age gathered together in one room. But instead of classics like Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman and Vivien Leigh - all unquestionably stars for the ages - the marquee names are eight of the world's most celebrated and rare Stradivarius violins brought together for the first time ever.

This remarkable gathering of instruments comes courtesy of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO), which transforms the Southland into "Strad Central" with STRAD FEST LA from today, March 26 to 29, 2014, an unprecedented showcase for eight of luthier Antonio Stradivari's most divine creations and played over four days at one private and three public events in venues throughout the area. With approximately 650 surviving Stradivarius violins, violas, cellos, harps and guitars in the world, this feat is akin to assembling a musical instrument "dream team."

"We may never see a gathering of Stradivarius violins like this again in our lifetime," says LACO Executive Director Rachel Fine. "With eight of the finest Strads in the world on display and being played in such an eclectic range of events, it is truly an extraordinary celebration."

Uniting the "crème de la crème" of these musical siblings, all from the Strad's Golden Period handcrafted some 300 years ago during the late 1600's and early 1700's in Cremona, Italy, LACO's STRAD FEST LA features the 1666 "SERDET," the earliest known of the Stradivarius violins; the 1708 "RUBY," named for its rich, extremely well preserved ruby-tinted varnish and owned by The Stradivari Society, which lends great instruments to leading emerging artists; the 1711 "KREISLER," formerly owned by the great Fritz Kreisler and currently owned by the LA Phil and played by its Concertmaster Martin Chalifour; the 1714 "LEONORA JACKSON," named for prominent American violinist Leonora Jackson, who died in 1969 in obscurity; the 1715 "TITIAN," considered among the finest violins of the maker's Golden Period and revered for its unusual power, scope and focus, which was named "Titian" by a French dealer who said its orange-red color reminded him of the paintings of the famed artist; the 1716 "MILSTEIN," played for nearly 40 years by virtuoso Nathan Milstein and currently owned by Southern California philanthropists Jerry and Terri Kohl, who loan it frequently to LACO Concertmaster Margaret Batjer; the c. 1720 "BEECHBACK," whose simple understated dark exterior belies its rich tone and full sound; and the 1720 "RED MENDELSSOHN," which surfaced in the 1930's in Berlin and is the inspiration for the 1999 Academy Award-winning film The Red Violin that speculates on the instrument's mysterious history after it disappeared for more than 200 years following its debut (currently owned by Elizabeth Pitcairn).

STRAD FEST LA's opening event is a private, invitation-only scholarly discussion forum with violin demonstration on Wednesday, March 26 jointly presented by LACO and The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. KUSC Classical 91.5 FM Executive Producer Gail Eichenthal is the moderator.

The other three events are all open to the public, beginning with a LACO BAROQUE CONVERSATIONS series concert on Thursday, March 27, 7 pm, at Zipper Concert Hall in downtown LA, spotlighting the Strads in Georg Philipp Telemann's Concerto for Four Violins in D major and featuring the 1708 "Ruby," 1716 "Milstein," and 1715 "Titian" and c. 1720 "Beechback" played by critically acclaimed artists Margaret Batjer, LACO's Concertmaster, Chee-Yun, Cho-Liang Lin and Philippe Quint. The program also includes LACO Principal Oboe Allan Vogel, leader and host, soprano Elissa Johnston, bass Steve Pence and LACO musicians who perform three Bach cantatas - "Ich bin vergnügt mit meinem Glücke" ("I am content in my good fortune"), from Cantata No. 84; "Es ist vollbracht" ("It is accomplished"), from Cantata No.159; and "Tritt auf die Glaubensbahn" ("Walk in the way of faith"), from Cantata No. 152. Tickets begin at $65 and include a complimentary wine reception at 6 pm.

The Strad "extravaganza" continues with STRADIVARIUS FIDDLEFEST, on Friday, March 28, 7:30 pm, at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica, a dazzling once-in-a-lifetime fiddle "face-off" starring five of the Stradivarius violins played by world-class violinist virtuosos attempting to outplay one another in an acrobatic program of solos, duos, trios and quartets. Trading the exquisite one-of-a-kind Stradivarius instruments throughout this fun-filled display of edge-of-your-seat one-upmanship are LACO Concertmaster Margaret Batjer, Chee-Yun, Cho-Liang Lin, Philippe Quint and Xiang Yu, joined by LACO Music Director Jeffrey Kahane on piano and LACO Principal Double Bass Nico Abondolo. The repertoire includes such showpieces as Telemann's Concerto in D major for Four Violins, TWV 40:202; Moszkowski's Suite in G minor, Op. 71; Kreisler's, Mélodie (from Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice) and Tambourin Chinois, Op. 3; Brahms's Scherzo in C minor, "Sonatensatz"; John Corigliano's The Red Violin Caprices; and Franck's Sonata in A major. Also featured are Saint-Saëns' Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28; de Sarasate's Navarra ("Spanish Dance"), Op. 33; Ravel's Pièce en Forme de Habanera; Bartók's Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 56; and two works by Piazzolla, Oblivion for Four Violins and Bass, and Libertango for Four Violins and Bass. Tickets begin at $45.

Concluding STRAD FEST LA is STRADOSPHERE: A STRAD-STUDDED GALA EVENING, on Saturday, March 29, at 5:30 pm, at The California Club in downtown Los Angeles. Rather than honoring a celebrated artist or philanthropist at its annual fundraiser, LACO instead fetes all eight STRAD FEST LA violins. Taking center stage on the Strads are noted violinists Margaret Batjer, Martin Chalifour, Chee-Yun, Cho-Liang Lin, Philippe Quint, Xiang Yu and 12-year-old prodigy Ray Ushikubo. LACO Music Director Jeffrey Kahane is conductor and harpsichord for the evening's breathtaking program of violin works by Bach, Vivaldi, Maurer and Piazzolla, joined by Principal Bass Nico Abondolo and members of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Guests also enjoy a sumptuous dinner, auctions of one-of-a-kind items and a unique opportunity to visit with knowledgeable luthiers and experience the "Red Mendelssohn" up close with owner/violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn. The cocktail attire/black-tie optional Gala is chaired by Pat and Sandy Gage. Tickets begin at $750 per person.

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 2013-14 season, the Orchestra's 45th, features a compelling mix of beloved masterpieces and genre-defying premieres from firmly established as well as notable up-and-coming composers programmed by Jeffrey Kahane, one of the world's foremost conductors and pianists, who marks his 17th season as LACO's music director.

For STRAD FEST LA tickets and more information, visit www.laco.org or call 213 622 7001.

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 the baton of acclaimed conductor and pianist Jeffrey Kahane, hailed by critics as "visionary" and "a conductor of uncommon intellect, insight and musical integrity" with "undeniable charisma." Under Kahane's leadership, the Orchestra maintains its status as a preeminent interpreter of historical masterworks and a champion of contemporary composers. During its 45-year history, the Orchestra has made 31 recordings, toured Europe, South America and Japan, performed across North America and garnered eight ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming. Headquartered in downtown Los Angeles, LACO presents its Orchestral Series at Glendale's Alex Theatre and UCLA's Royce Hall; Baroque Conversations at downtown Los Angeles' Zipper Concert Hall; Westside Connections chamber music series, designed to illustrate the relationship between music and other artistic disciplines, at the Moss Theater in Santa Monica; and an annual Discover concert, which features an in-depth examination that sheds new light on a single piece of music, at Pasadena's Ambassador Auditorium. LACO also presents a Concert Gala, an annual Silent Film screening and several fundraising salons each year. Additionally, LACO 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, nurturing future musicians and composers as well as inspiring a love of classical music.

STRAD FEST LA ARTISTS:

MARGARET BATJER, concertmaster of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra since 1998, has soloed with such major orchestras as the Philadelphia Orchestra and the St. Louis, Seattle and Dallas symphony orchestras, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Prague Chamber Orchestra and Berlin Symphony Orchestra. She appears regularly at the Marlboro Music Festival, La Jolla Summer¬fest, Salzburg Festival, and Italy's Naples and Cremona festivals.

MARTIN CHALIFOUR, principal concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since 1995, is a native of Québec, Canada, who came to wide prominence upon receiving a Certificate of Honor at Moscow's International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1986, with a laureate at the Montréal International Musical Competition the following year. He has maintained the career of a much sought after orchestral violinist, soloist and chamber musician ever since.

CHEE-YUN's flawless technique, dazzling tone and compelling artistry have enraptured audiences on five continents. Winner of the 1989 Young Concert Artists International Auditions and the 1990 Avery Fisher Career Grant, the Seoul, Korean-native performs regularly with the world's foremost orchestras, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, the London Philharmonic, and the Toronto, Houston, Seattle, Pittsburgh and National symphony orchestras.

CHO-LIANG LIN, Music Director of La Jolla Music Society's SummerFest, is lauded the world over for the eloquence of his playing and for the superb musicianship that marks his performances. In a concert career spanning the globe for more than thirty years, he is equally at home with orchestra, in recital, playing chamber music, and in a teaching studio.

ELIZABETH PITCAIRN made her New York debut at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall in 2000 with the New York String Orchestra. She also teaches at The Colburn School in Los Angeles and is president, CEO and artistic director of the Luzerne Music Center Festival in New York. She has generously agreed to provide Gala attendees with the unique opportunity to visit up close with one of the world's most legendary instruments, the "Red Mendelssohn" Stradivarius of 1720, said to have inspired the Academy award-winning film The Red Violin.

PHILIPPE QUINT, a multi-faceted Grammy Award-nominated artist who has performed with major orchestras throughout the world at venues ranging from the Gewandhaus in Leipzig to Carnegie Hall in New York, is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Mineria Chamber Music Festival in Mexico City, explores tango with his band The Quint Quintet and also played a leading role in a major independent film called Downtown Express. Quint plays the 1708 "Ruby" Antonio Stradivari violin on loan to him through the generous efforts of The Stradivari Society.

RAY USHIKUBO, age 12, from Riverside, California, appeared on From the Top and is a recipient of the show's Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, appeared with world-renowned pianist Lang Lang at Segerstrom Hall, performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, was a featured speaker at TEDxRedmond in 2011, and was a 2009 Gold Prizewinner at the AADGT International Music Competition for both piano and violin. He is a student at The Colburn Young Artists Academy, where he studies piano and violin.

XIANG YU, known for his solo recitals, orchestral engagements and chamber music performances, is the First Prize winner of the prestigious Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition 2010, together with the Bach Prize and the Audience Prize, as well as many other competitions. His "Xiang Quartet" not only won the First Prize of Bode Cup Chamber Music Competition, but also premiered many contemporary chamber music masterpieces in China.

Pictured: SERDET STRADIVARIUS. Photo © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford. Photography by Tucker Densley.