Kurt Masur Leads LA Phil & Violinist Sarah Chang at Walt Disney Concert Hall 3/24-27

Conductor Kurt Masur makes his Walt Disney Concert Hall debut leading the Los Philharmonic in four performances, Thursday, March 24, at 8 p.m., Friday, March 25, at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 26, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, March 27, at 2 p.m. Celebrity violinist Sarah Chang performs Johannes Brahms' Violin Concerto, which was written for the composer's long-time close friend Joseph Joachim. Also on the program are Felix Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture, one of the composer's greatest successes, and Antonin Dvo?ák's Symphony No. 8.

Also on Friday, March 25, from 7 to 9 p.m., Masur leads a reading session in Olive Rehearsal Hall at the Colburn School, located at 200 S. Grand Avenue in Los Angeles. The school's Conservatory orchestra will perform Brahms' Second Symphony with the conductor followed by a Q & A session.

Kurt Masur is well-known to orchestras and audiences as both a distinguished conductor and humanist. In September 2002, he became Music Director of the Orchestre National de France in Paris and in September 2008, he assumed the title of Honorary Music Director for Life ensuring his close and active involvement with this Orchestra for many more years to come. Of him, the Financial Times has stated that he is the "picture of benevolent authority: his platform persona is gracious, his gestures are few but decisive."

Sarah Chang is a regular guest artist with the LA Phil at both Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. She is recognized as one of the world's great violinists, and, since her debut with the New York Philharmonic at the age of 8, she has performed with the greatest orchestras, conductors and accompanists internationally in a career spanning more than two decades. The New York Times states, "Her gifts are at a level so removed from the rest of us that all we can do is feel the appropriate awe and then wonder on the mysteries of nature. The ancients would certainly have had Ms. Chang emerging fully formed from some Botticellian scallop shell."

Complete Program:

MENDELSSOHN Hebrides Overture
BRAHMS Violin Concerto
DVO?ÁK Symphony No. 8

Upbeat Live pre-concert events take place in Walt Disney Concert Hall's BP Hall one hour prior to the Thursday, Saturday and Sunday concerts, and on stage one hour and 15 minutes prior the to the Friday concert, and are free to all ticket holders. Russell Steinberg, UCLA faculty, Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra, composer, conductor and performer, hosts.

WHO: LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC
Kurt Masur, conductor
SARAH CHANG, violin

For full artist biographies, please visit: http://www.laphil.com/

WHEN: Thursday, March 24, 2011, at 8 PM
Friday, March 25, 2011, at 11 AM
Saturday, March 26, 2011, at 8 PM
Sunday, March 27, 2011, at 2 PM

WHERE: Walt Disney CONCERT HALL
111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles

HOW TO
PURCHASE: Tickets ($44 - $167) are on sale now at the Walt Disney Concert Hall Box Office, online at LAPhil.com, or via credit card by phone at 323.850.2000. When available, choral bench seats ($18) will be released for sale to selected Philharmonic, Colburn Celebrity Series, and Baroque Variations performances beginning at noon on the Tuesday of the second week prior to the concert. A limited number of $10 rush tickets for seniors and full time students may be available at the Walt Disney Concert Hall box office two hours prior to the performance. Valid identification is required; one ticket per person; cash only. Groups of 12 or more may be eligible for special discounts for selected concerts and seating areas. For information, please call 323.850.2000.

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