Pablo Heras-Casado to Debut as Orchestra of St. Luke's Principal Conductor 7/15

Pablo Heras-Casado will perform for the first time as Orchestra of St. Luke's (OSL) new Principal Conductor at the orchestra's birthplace and summer home Caramoor International Music Festival. On July 15, 2012 Heras-Casado will lead the orchestra in a program of Beethoven and Ravel with one of the world's most renowned pianists, Emanuel Ax.

The program begins with the orchestrated version of Maurice Ravel's Le tombeau de Couperin, followed by Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 and Beethoven's Symphony No. 7.

"Something about the freshness of Le tombeau de Couperin and a summer concert spoke to me-warm and heavy, complicated, refined, classic and also sophisticated," Heras-Casado said. "Beethoven then presents a deeper, more dramatic perspective. We will begin with a suite of dances, and then end with one of the most kinetic, energetic pieces of music ever written. At the end of the Symphony No. 7, you can not sit still in your seat if you have blood in your veins."

Heras-Casado first performed with OSL last summer at Caramoor. "After last year's concert, I knew there was something special, and something I wanted to continue, with this orchestra," he said. "Making music together was a joy." In addition to marking his debut as OSL Principal Conductor, this performance will also be Heras-Casado's first time conducting the Beethoven Symphony No. 7 professionally.

Maestro Heras-Casado, who hails from Granada, Spain, is OSL's fourth titled conductor, joining company with Roger Norrington (1990-1994), Charles Mackerras (1998-2001) and Donald Runnicles (2001-2007). A remarkable musician who has won praise for his conducting across a broad range of musical styles, Heras-Casado has performed with many of the world's finest orchestras. His position with OSL is his first titled appointment with a major international orchestra.

Earlier this year Heras-Casado and Emanuel Ax performed a series of concerts together with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. The July 15 Caramoor concert marks Mr. Ax's first performance with OSL at Caramoor in 25 years.