Atlanta Symphony Announces January Concerts

Music Director Robert Spano will lead the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in the world premiere of The Nature of Light, a clarinet concerto by Atlanta School of Composers member Michael Gandolfi, which was written for Principal Clarinet Laura Ardan. The program will also include Rimsky-Korsakov'sScheherazade and the Atlanta Symphony premiere of Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 5 with pianist Juho Pohjonen. Tickets are $23-$67.

Mr. Gandolfi is a member of the Atlanta School of Composers - a continuing commitment by Mr. Spano and the Orchestra to nurture, commission, and record contemporary music through multi-year partnerships with a new generation of American composers. The ASO commissioned Mr. Gandolfi's orchestral work, The Garden of Cosmic Speculation, and gave the world premiere performances at Atlanta Symphony Hall in May 2007. Mr. Spano and the ASO also recorded The Garden of Cosmic Speculation for Telarc Records.

Mr. Gandolfi's recent choral work QED: Engaging Richard Feynman - an ASO commission that was given its world premiere by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in June 2010 - was featured on the Atlanta Symphony's inaugural release on ASO Media alongside fellow Atlanta School of Composers member Jennifer Higdon's concerto, On A Wire, featuring the chamber ensemble eighth blackbird.

Prior to the concert on Thursday, January 10, 2013, Mr. Gandolfi will join ASO Insider and Program Annotator Ken Meltzer for the evening's Concert Preview to discuss the world premiere of The Nature of Light. The concert preview will take place from 7:00-7:30 p.m. in Atlanta Symphony Hall and is free for all concert ticket holders.

January 24 and 26, 2013, 8:00 p.m.: Violinist Vadim Gluzman, an Israeli violinist who appears regularly with major international orchestras, will make his Atlanta Symphony Orchestra debut performing Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1. Japanese guest conductor Kazushi Ono will lead the Orchestra in the Overture to Weber'sEuryanthe and Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3, "Scottish." Tickets are $23-$67.

January 31 and February 2, 2013, 8:00 p.m.: Vilde Frang, a 25-year-old Norwegian violinist, will make her Atlanta Symphony Orchestra debut performing the Korngold Violin Concerto. The program will also include Grieg's Two Elegiac Melodies and Schumann's Symphony No. 3, "Rhenish," led by guest conductor Gilbert Varga. Tickets are $24-$75.