Yan Pascal Tortelier to Lead BSO in THE FIREBIRD QUITE, 2/27-28

One of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's (BSO) favorite guest conductors, Yan Pascal Tortelier returns to the podium to lead the Orchestra in Stravinsky's The Firebird Suite on Friday, February 27 at 8 p.m. at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and Saturday, February 28 at 8 p.m. at The Music Center at Strathmore. Also on the program are Berlioz's Le Corsaire overture ("The Pirate"), Ravel's Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello and Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23, performed by pianist Louis Lortie, hailed by many as an authority on the music of Mozart. Please see below for complete program details.

Igor Stravinsky's The Firebird was composed to accompany one of Serge Diaghliev's dramatic Ballets Russes. Upon its debut in 1910, the instant success of its rich and gorgeously orchestrated score propelled the formerly unknown orchestrator to national stardom. In 1919, Stravinsky paired down the 45 minutes of ballet music to a neat 20-minute orchestra showpiece, providing enough time to showcase in its six movements its mysterious Introduction, sprightly Firebird Dance, traditional Russian Round Dance of the Princesses, syncopated and harsh Infernal Dance of King Kashei, and peaceful Berceuse featuring solo bassoon, culminating in a majestic Finale.

Mozart composed his Piano Concerto No. 23 concurrently while also working on his comedic opera, The Marriage of Figaro. Perhaps the jovial nature of this opera influenced the way that Mozart asks the piano soloist to become a lyrical opera singer, especially in the second movement. The style, too, mimics an opera's plot: it opens brightly, but dissonant chords introduce trouble toward the end of the first movement. The slow, second movement has moments of pure anguish, finally resolved in the sprightly rondo of the finale. This Concerto is the perfect vehicle to showcase the talents of Louis Lortie, whose performances of Mozart's works have gained him international praise as one of the composer's foremost interpreters.

Yan Pascal Tortelier enjoys a distinguished career as guest conductor of the world's most prestigious orchestras. He began his musical career as a violinist and at 14 made his soloist debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He was Principal Conductor of the Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra from 2009-2011, and currently holds the position of Guest Conductor of Honour. Following his outstanding work as Chief Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic he was given the title of Conductor Emeritus and continues to work with the orchestra regularly. He also holds the position of Principal Guest Conductor at the Royal Academy of Music in London

Highlights of the 2014-2015 season and beyond include returns to the United States to conduct the orchestras in Pittsburgh, Montreal, San Francisco, Minnesota, and Baltimore; European performances with the Iceland, Bournemouth symphony orchestras, and the Royal Liverpool and BBC philharmonic orchestra; and Australia to conduct the Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney symphony orchestras.

Pianist Louis Lortie has attracted critical acclaim throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States. He has extended his interpretative voice across a broad range of repertoire rather than choosing to specialize in one particular style. The London Times has described his artistry as "a combination of total spontaneity and meditated ripeness that only great pianists have."

Lortie has performed complete Beethoven sonata cycles at London's Wigmore Hall, Berlin's Philharmonie, and the Sala Grande del Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi. A pianist and conductor with the Montreal Symphony, he has performed all five Beethoven concertos and all of the Mozart concertos. Lortie has also won widespread acclaim for his interpretation of Ravel and Chopin. In 2014-2015, he returns to the Sydney and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras and the Chicago Symphony, the Warsaw Philharmonie, the Toronto Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony, and the San Diego Symphony; and presents recitals in London's International Piano Series, Berlin, Milan, Calgary and Brussels.