Garrison Keillor Performs with NY Philharmonic Tonight, 10/16

Versatile raconteur Garrison Keillor will return to the New York Philharmonic as narrator and vocalist for Mr. Keillor at 70 with pianist Richard Dworsky and vocalist Christine DiGiallonardo tonight, October 16, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. in an evening conducted by conductor and pianist Rob Fisher.

With his characteristic narration woven throughout the evening, Mr. Keillor will present his “Seven Love Sonnets” with original music by Mr. Keillor, Mr. Dworsky, and frequent collaborator Andy Stein, in addition to “Hot Bananas: A Game of Poetry/Piano/Orchestra Ping- Pong,” in which Mr. Keillor and the Orchestra alternate short segments of poetry and musical responses. The performance will conclude with the World Premiere of “Over & Over & Ever Again,” which Mr. Keillor describes as “an improvisation with orchestra, singers, and piano of images and musical themes in the mind of a person of a certain age.”

Tickets start at $55. All tickets may be purchased online at nyphil.org or by calling (212) 875- 5656, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets may also be purchased at the Avery Fisher Hall Box Office. The Box Office opens at 10:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and at noon on Sunday. On performance evenings, the Box Office closes one-half hour after performance time; other evenings it closes at 6:00 p.m. To determine ticket availability, call the Philharmonic’s Customer Relations Department at (212) 875-5656. Ticket prices are subject to change.

Garrison Keillor is the host and writer of the radio program "A Prairie Home Companion" and the author of numerous books, including "Lake Wobegon Days," "The Book of Guys," "Love Me," and "Homegrown Democrat." He was born in Anoka, Minnesota, in 1942 and graduated from the University of Minnesota. Mr. Keillor lives in St. Paul with his wife and daughter. He has two grandsons. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts & Letters and St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church. With conductor Philip Brunelle he has performed with many orchestras, including the Minnesota Orchestra; the Los Angeles Philharmonic; the Chicago, Milwaukee, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Dallas, and National symphony orchestras; and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. He made his New York Philharmonic debut in March 2006.

Rob Fisher — internationally distinguished artistic director, conductor, and pianist — is a leading figure in American music and musical theater. He was founding music director and conductor of Encores! at New York City Center until 2005, a series that earned a 2000 Tony Award. Mr. Fisher was awarded the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Special Achievement in 1997 for his work on Encores! and he conducted the series’ Grammy Award–winning "Chicago" cast album. Currently, he is music supervisor of the Tony-winning Broadway revival of "Anything Goes." Mr. Fisher has been producer/music director of Lincoln Center’s American Songbook Series’ tributes to Gershwin, Porter, and Bernstein. Recent collaborations have included performances with such artists as Kristin Chenoweth, Kelli O’Hara, Idina Menzel, and David Hyde Pierce. Within the past decade Mr. Fisher has been a guest conductor or pianist of virtually every major orchestra in the U.S. In 2007 he led "My Fair Lady" with the New York Philharmonic, and he is returning this season for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s "Carousel." Mr. Fisher was music director and conductor for “Ira at 100,” a gala concert at Carnegie Hall broadcast on PBS’s "Great Performances," and he appeared twice on the PBS series "In Performance at the White House" for President and Mrs. Clinton. For four seasons Mr. Fisher was music director for Garrison Keillor’s American Radio Company and remains a frequent guest on "A Prairie Home Companion."

For the past 20 years Richard Dworsky has served as the pianist and music director for Garrison Keillor’s radio program "A Prairie Home Companion." He leads the house band, composes, plays songs and script underscores, and accompanies Mr. Keillor and guests ranging from Yo-Yo Ma and Rene?e Fleming to James Taylor and Elvis Costello. He appeared in Robert Altman’s film "A Prairie Home Companion" and was the film’s arranger and composer. Mr. Dworsky has accompanied Garrison Keillor in concerts with many orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He contributed an arrangement for "A Night at the Fitz," Keillor’s concert CD with The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Mr. Dworsky has recorded several CDs of his own compositions and has been a studio musician for 40 years, recording music for CDs, television, and film. He composed music for "The Marvelous Land of Oz" (Children’s Theatre Company/MCA/Showtime). Mr. Dworsky worked with jazz vocalist Al Jarreau for years, and he wrote the song "Goin’ to the Dance With You," which Broadway legend Kristin Chenoweth recorded on a CD for Sony Classical.

Christine DiGiallonardo is a New York–based vocalist whose performances range from early- music chamber ensembles to jazz and rock bands. Her theater credits include "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (City Center Encores!), "Two Gentlemen of Verona" (Shakespeare in the Park), "The Sound of Music" (Carnegie Hall), and "My Fair Lady" (Avery Fisher Hall) with Rob Fisher and the New York Philharmonic. Ms. DiGiallonardo also performs with her sisters, Daniela and Nadia, as The DiGiallonardo Sisters, singing tight three-part harmonies in styles ranging from the Boswell Sisters and Andrews Sisters to the Beatles and the Eagles. She has been featured numerous times on "A Prairie Home Companion" with Garrison Keillor, both as a soloist and with her sisters. The DiGiallonardo Sisters will return to the Town Hall in New York City to sing on "A Prairie Home Companion" on December 8 and 21. Christine DiGiallonardo graduated from Vassar College with a degree in music. She has spent the past six years working full-time as a jingle singer and can be heard on many commercials, including spots for Aquafresh, Mr. Clean, Playtex, and Febreze.

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