Chattanooga Symphony & Opera To Open 84th Season With Pianist Ning An

The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera opens the season on Thursday, September 22nd at 7:30pm in the Tivoli Theatre with guest artist Ning An.

The concert opens with Joan Tower's Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 2. Tower is a Grammy-winning contemporary composer lauded by the New Yorker as "one of the most successful woman composers of all time." This second of five Fanfares was commissioned by Absolut Vodka and premiered at Lincoln Center in 1989. The Fanfares were written as a tribute to women who are risk-takers and adventurers.

Strauss' Don Juan is a tone-poem based on Don Juan Tenorio, the legendary skirt-chaser that inspired Moliere, Mozart, and Da Ponte. Don Juan's passion is evident from the first bars of Strauss' score, which is one of the great symphonic openings of all time.

The feature of the performance is the well-known Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2. Listeners will immediately recognize its emotional melodies, particularly the 2nd movement, due to its popularity in films and modern music. The piece will be performed by Ning An, a visiting artist at Lee University and the Artistic Director for the school's International Piano Festival held in June. An made his concerto debut at the age of 16, performing the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Cleveland Orchestra and has since appeared with the London Symphony Orchestra, the Warsaw Philharmonic, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Stuttgart Philharmonic, the Taipei Symphony Orchestra, and more. He has won numerous awards for his playing and the New York Concert Review acclaims "Ning An combines a flawless technique and the mastery of the instrument with an expressive power that is fueled by profound and insightful understanding."

"I'm really looking forward to opening night" said Kayoko Dan, Music Director for the CSO. "The musicians and I will be inspired from our work at festivals and summer performances and there is a natural excitement that comes through the audience on opening night. There will be a lot of energy in the concert hall."

Tickets range from $21 to $83 with discounts for students and educators and can be purchased by calling the CSO Box Office at 423.267.8583or online at www.chattanoogasymphony.org. Following the concert, ticket-holders are invited to Postlude - a sparkling wine reception held in the lobby with a chance to meet the musicians and guest artists.

About Us

The Chattanooga Symphony and Opera continues to inspire, engage, and enrich the greater Chattanooga community as it enters its 84thseason. In addition to Masterworks, Pops, Chamber, and special event concerts, the CSO will produce their first fully-staged opera in 7 yearswith Puccini's Madame Butterfly. Conducted by Music Director Kayoko Dan, the CSO consists of top players from the Chattanooga area as well as from across the southern region. Well known for its education and engagement events, the musicians of the CSO perform to more than 20,000 students each year throughout the greater Chattanooga Community.