Rhode Island Philharmonic to Perform BOLERO in Concert, 4/11

March 30, 2015 - East Providence, RI ? On Saturday, April 11, Music Director LARRY RACHLEFF and the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra will pull out all the stops with Ravel's popular Boléro. Cellist ALBAN GERHARDT returns to perform Saint- Sa?ns' Cello Concerto No.1 in A minor. The program also features the "Queen Mab" Scherzo from Berlioz' Romeo & Juliet and Ravel's Mother Goose Suite. Robert and Lynn Manning and Taco/The White Family Foundation are Concert Sponsors, and Mr. Gerhardt's appearance is sponsored by Barbara J. Dreyer. Tickets (starting at $15) are available at tickets.riphil.org, and the RIPO box office at 401.248.7000.

The Amica Rush Hour concert takes place Friday April 10 at 6:30pm, and features the annual "side-by-side" performance with the RI Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (RIPYO).

"We welcome back the great German cellist ALBAN GERHARDT, one of the great cellists of the world, "says LARRY RACHLEFF, Music Director. "We're so blessed that he loves to come back to Rhode Island, this time to play Saint-Sa?ns' first cello concerto. This all-French program has such diversity within the language of these composers, starting with Berlioz's lively 'Queen Mab' Scherzo, a work our orchestra has never played. Berlioz was a crazy figure of the 19th century: his Symphonie Fantastique and overtures suggest a wonderful maniacal behavior." Rachleff continues: "Our program offers two sides of Maurice Ravel: Mother Goose, a dark fairy-tale landscape, where you'll hear Ravel's brooding qualities in a solo for contrabassoon and exotic French sounds influenced from the Orient. Closing the concert is Ravel's his famous romp Boléro - beginning with the incessant rhythm of the snare drum and building to an apocalyptic conclusion."

Cellist ALBAN GERHARDT has established himself among the greatest cellists of our time. His sound is unmistakable and his interpretations of the repertoire are distinguished in their originality. The cello starts to sing under his hands, standard works are newly discovered and unknown pieces are brought to life again. Gerhardt fascinates audiences with the combination of an unerring musical instinct, intense emotionality and a natural, arresting stage presence. Of particular concern for him is his desire to help audiences break with old listening and concert habits and to open classical music to younger audiences. Gerhardt plays a unique instrument from the renowned maker Matteo Gofriller. He writes about his travelling and performing experiences in his blog, at albangerhardt.com

Season 70 offers symphonies by Beethoven, Prokofiev and Sibelius; concerti by Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Saint-Sa?ns and Tchaikovsky; and popular favorites Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, Ravel's Boléro and Orff's Carmina Burana. Twentieth-century highlights include works by Adams, Orff, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Ravel, Sibelius, Strauss, Stravinsky, and Weill. The season's final concert features the world premiere of a commissioned work by the New England native composer Pierre Jalbert in honor of the Orchestra's 70th Anniversary. Several well-known guest artists perform with the orchestra, including returning violinists Augustin Hadelich and Jennifer Koh, cellist Alban Gerhardt, mezzo-soprano Susan Lorette Dunn, and pianists Ilya Yakushev and Joyce Yang. Pianist Jon Nakamatsu made his debut with the Rhode Island Philharmonic. The Providence Singers, Christine Noel, artistic director, share two performances with the Philharmonic: Handel's Messiah and Carmina Burana, which also features the Rhode Island Children's Chorus (also directed by Ms. Noel). Capping off this anniversary season, world-renowned violinist Joshua Bell appears with the Philharmonic in a Gala Celebration of Season 70! on Friday March 6 at The Vets.

The Philharmonic's season features eight Classical concerts on Saturday nights at The Vets. Four are preceded by Amica Rush Hour concerts on Friday, and four have Friday Open Rehearsals. The Amica Rush Hour Series offers an early start time - 6:30pm - on remaining Fridays April 10 and May 8. These shorter, informal, accessible concerts feature full performances of select repertoire from the Saturday Classical concerts. Open Rehearsals, on remaining Friday March 20 at 5:30pm, offer insight into the collaboration between the conductor, guest artists and orchestra musicians as they prepare for the upcoming classical concert. Special events include the perennial holiday favorite Handel's Messiah with The Providence Singers, conducted by the Singers' former artistic director Andrew Clark, and the Philharmonic Pops showcasing Cirque de la Symphonie and appearing with the Indigo Girls, both conducted by Resident Conductor Francisco Noya. Mr. Noya also conducts our Education Concerts and Summer Pops Concerts. Subscriptions and individual concert tickets are on sale now. Call the Philharmonic box office at 401.248.7000, or visit tickets.riphil.org.