Violinist Itzhak Perlman to Conduct and Perform with Atlanta Symphony, 4/25-28

Acclaimed violinist Itzhak Perlman will take center stage as violinist and the podium as guest conductor to lead the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in a program including "Summer" and "Winter" from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons and Mahler's Symphony No. 1, "Titan." The performances will take place April 25 and 27, at 8:00 p.m., and April 28, 2013, at 3:00 p.m., in Atlanta Symphony Hall at the Woodruff Arts Center.

A frequent guest of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra since 1974, Mr. Perlman will make his 13th appearance as a soloist and his fifth appearance as a guest conductor of the Orchestra.

Undeniably the reigning virtuoso of the violin, Itzhak Perlman enjoys superstar status rarely afforded a classical musician. Beloved for his charm and humanity as well as his talent, he is treasured by audiences throughout the world who respond not only to his remarkable artistry, but also to the irrepressible joy of making music, which he communicates. In January 2009, Mr. Perlman was honored to take part in the Inauguration of President Barack Obama, premiering a piece written for the occasion by John Williams and performing with clarinetist Anthony McGill, pianist Gabriela Montero, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. In December 2003 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts granted Mr. Perlman a Kennedy Center Honor celebrating his distinguished achievements and contributions to the cultural and educational life of our nation. In May 2007, he performed at the State Dinner for Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, hosted by President George W. Bush and Mrs. Bush at the White House.

Mr. Perlman's 2011-12 season will take his performances as soloist to both new and familiar major centers throughout the world. In fall of 2011, he joins the San Francisco Symphony at Davies Hall under Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas in a gala concert to open their centennial season, and returns to the same orchestra in April 2012 on a play/conduct program. In October 2011, Mr. Perlman will travel to Asia for recitals in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau with pianist and frequent collaborator, Rohan De Silva. Other highlights of his 2011-12 season include the gala opening of the new Kaufman Center in Kansas City, Missouri with the Kansas City Symphony, a play/conduct performance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, and recitals across North America including Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Diego and Washington, DC. Mr. Perlman also appears with students and alumni from the Perlman Music Program at the Arsht Center in Miami, Florida and Koerner Hall in Toronto, Ontario.

In addition to his many orchestral and recital appearances throughout the world, Mr. Perlman performs as conductor with leading orchestras. He was Music Advisor of the St. Louis Symphony from 2002 to 2004, and he was Principal Guest Conductor of the Detroit Symphony from 2001 to 2005. He has performed as conductor with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Symphony, National Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the symphony orchestras of San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Montreal, Atlanta and Toronto, as well as at the Ravinia and OK Mozart festivals. Internationally, Mr. Perlman has conducted the Berlin Philharmonic, Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Philharmonic, the English Chamber Orchestra, and the Israel Philharmonic.

He proudly possesses four Emmy Awards and fifteen Grammy awards. He performed at the 2006 Academy Awards and at the Juilliard School Centennial gala, broadcast nationally on Live from Lincoln Center. One of Mr. Perlman's proudest achievements is his collaboration with film score composer John Williams in Steven Spielberg's Academy Award winning film Schindler's List, in which he performed the violin solos.

Mr. Perlman devotes considerable time to education, both in his participation each summer in the Perlman Music Program and his teaching at the Juilliard School, where he holds the Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation Chair. He was awarded an honorary doctorate and a centennial medal on the occasion of Julliard's 100th commencement ceremony in May 2005.

Mr. Perlman records for EMI/Angel, Sony Classical/Sony BMG Masterworks, Deutsche Grammophon, London/Decca, Erato/Elektra International Classics, and Telarc. For more information, visit www.itzhakperlman.com.

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, currently in its 67th season, consistently affirms its position as one of America's leading Orchestras by performing great music, presenting great artists, educating, and engaging.

The Orchestra is known for the excellence of its live performances, presentations, renowned choruses, and its impressive list of GRAMMY Award-winning recordings. The leading cultural organization in the Southeast, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra serves as the cornerstone for artistic development and music education in the region. Since September 2001, the Orchestra and audiences together explore a creative programming mix, recordings, and visual enhancements, such as the Theater of a Concert, the Orchestra's continuing exploration of different formats, settings, and enhancements for the musical performance experience. Another example is the Atlanta School of Composers, which reflects Mr. Spano, and the Orchestra's commitment to nurturing and championing music through multi-year partnerships defining a new generation of American composers. Since the beginning of his tenure (to date), Mr. Spano and the Orchestra have performed over 100 concerts containing contemporary works (composed since 1950), including 15 ASO-commissioned world premieres.

During its 32-year history with Telarc, the Orchestra and Chorus has recorded more than 100 albums and its recordings have won 27 GRAMMY Awards in categories including Best Classical Album, Best Orchestral Performance, Best Choral Performance, and Best Opera Performance.

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performs more than 200 concerts each year for a combined audience of more than a half million in a full schedule of performances which also features educational and community concerts. A recognized leader and supporter of contemporary American music, the Orchestra recently received the 2007 award for Strongest Commitment to New American Music from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. In addition, Music Director Robert Spano was named Musical America 2008 Conductor of the Year. With the opening of the 12,000-seat Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park (vzwamp.com) in May 2008, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra became the first U.S. orchestra to annually perform and present in its concert hall, and in two amphitheaters. In Summer 2008, the Orchestra celebrated 35 years at legendary Chastain Park Amphitheater, the award-winning 6,500 seat venue in Atlanta, during the Orchestra's annual Delta Classic Chastain concert series (deltaclassicchastain.com).

Concert Previews: Audiences have the opportunity to learn more about the music they'll be hearing at concerts with free Concert Previews given by composers, conductors, educators, and musical experts, all hosted by ASO Insider and Program Annotator Ken Meltzer. Thursday evenings, 7:00-7:30 p.m. in Atlanta Symphony Hall (unless otherwise noted). Concerts previews are free and open to all concert ticketholders. Speakers and locations are subject to change.

Single tickets for this performance are $32-$84. All single tickets for the 2012-2013 season are on sale now, and available online at atlantasymphony.org, or by calling 404.733.5000. Tickets may also be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com, all ticketmaster outlets, and the Woodruff Arts Center Box Office, located in the Woodruff Arts Center at 15th and Peachtree Streets. Box office hours are Monday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Itzhak Perlman PLAYS AND CONDUCTS
Delta Classical Series
Atlanta Symphony Hall, Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center

Thursday, April 25, 2013, 8:00 p.m. Saturday, April 27, 2013, 8:00 p.m. Sunday, April 28, 2013, 3:00 p.m.

Itzhak Perlman, conductor and violin Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

VIVALDI "Summer" and "Winter" from The Four Seasons MAHLER Symphony No. 1, "Titan"