LA Phil Presents AMERICAS AND AMERICANS FEST Beginning 4/6

Music Director Gustavo Dudamel presides over his first major festival with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Americas and Americans, which spotlights music from North and South America, identifying cultural experiences shared across our hemisphere.

"This festival is one that is meant to link us as a people so that borders dissolve, and we find those common threads and musical moments which unite North and South America as one," says Dudamel. "This is our music."

Americas and Americans explores the eclectic musical traditions born from our unique blending of cultures, religions, and landscapes. These roots are exemplified in a masterpiece by the Venezuelan composer Antonio Estévez - the atmospheric, beautiful and folk-inspired Cantata Criolla - directed by the celebrated filmmaker Alberto Arvelo and performed by Dudamel, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and the Schola Cantorum of Venezuela. In this theatrical production, contextualized by works of Ginastera and Copland, Arvelo highlights our shared heritage of the great plains, and how these great expanses defined us culturally using film, costumes and stunning visuals. Cantata Criolla is inspired by "Florentino y el Diablo," a mythic tale of good versus evil deeply rooted in the Venezuelan popular spirit.

Legendary Venezuelan choir master Maria Guinand leads her own celebrated ensemble, Schola Cantorum of Venezuela, in Golijov's exhilarating and moving Pasión según San Marcos. This "masterpiece of enculturation" is an unparalleled theatrical telling of the Passion story that brings together dance and music from across South America, creating a profound and deeply spiritual work. Guinand is widely known for her association with Pasión según San Marcos, which she has performed throughout the world.

Other festival highlights include Dudamel leading the LA Phil in a program of works by Chávez, Lieberson and Bernstein, and Dudamel's Green Umbrella debut concert that includes two new works, one by American composer Derek Bermel, and one by Argentinean composer Esteban Benzecry, both world premieres and commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Dudamel will also lead the Los Angeles Philharmonic in an encore performance of John Adams' City Noir and Mahler's First Symphony, a program which was first performed for the internationally telecast Inaugural Gala at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Americas and Americans also offers a non-subscription concert with Pat Metheny; a Toyota Symphonies for Youth (TSFY) concert, "A Celebration of Dance"; and a special non-subscription performance with "electrotango" collective Bajofondo, featuring Argentine musician, Oscar-winning film composer and producer Gustavo Santaolalla and the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, under the baton of Alondra de la Parra.

Seventeen-time Grammy winner Pat Metheny brings his groundbreaking "The Orchestrion Tour" to Walt Disney Concert Hall, in support of his latest project, Orchestrion (Nonesuch). Metheny will perform original pieces of "solo ensemble" music he dubs "orchestrionics," a new music universe that allows Metheny to control a large ensemble of instruments from his guitar via the technology of solenoid switches and pneumatics. Special Guest Romero Lubambo also performs.

In a special production designed for children and their families, the Toyota Symphonies for Youth (TSFY) concert, "A Celebration of Dance," uses the music of Copland and Ginastera to explore the dance rhythms that inspire these composer's iconic compositions Rodeo and Estancia.

Both Bajofondo and Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas make their Walt Disney Concert Hall debut for a special non-subscription concert that will feature music that celebrates the 200th anniversary of Mexico's Independence, the 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution, as well as the Argentine bicentennial.

Americas and Americans offers other ancillary events including "Magic Realism" at Jacaranda featuring a program of Villa-Lobos, Golijov, and Piazzolla performed by The Denali Quartet; and an a capella program of sacred and secular music, popular music of South America, and Venezuelan madrigals and choral songs, led by Maria Guinand, at The Broad Stage. The Los Angeles Master Chorale also presents its High School Choral Festival at Walt Disney Concert Hall, featuring a program of Latin American music, under the direction of Maria Guinand.

Complete festival programming is as follows:

April 6, 2010
Chamber Music Society series
Members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
HARTKE The Horse with the Lavender Eye
PEREIRA ...alter the way things are with us down here for amplified double
bass quartet
VILLA-LOBOS Quintet in the form of a chôros
KRAFT Encounters XI: The Demise of Suriyodhata
REVUELTAS Homage to Garcia Lorca

April 10 and 17, 2010
Toyota Symphonies for Youth - A Celebration of Dance
COPLAND Rodeo (excerpts)
GINASTERA Estancia (excerpts)

April 16, 2010
Los Angeles Master Chorale - High School Choral Festival
Grant Gershon, Music Director
featuring Maria Guinand
Music of Latin America

April 19, 2010
Pat Metheny
The Orchestrion Tour
Special Guest Romero Lubambo

April 22 - 23, 2010
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Kelley O'Connor, mezzo-soprano
CHÁVEZ Toccata for Percussion
LIEBERSON Neruda Songs
BERNSTEIN Symphony No. 2, The Age of Anxiety

April 24 - 25, 2010
La Pasión Orchestra
Maria Guinand, conductor
Luciana Souza, vocalist
Jessica Rivera, soprano
Schola Cantorum of Venezuela
GOLIJOV Pasión según San Marcos

April 25, 2010
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor
ADAMS City Noir
MAHLER Symphony No. 1

April 29 - May 2, 2010
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor
Alberto Arvelo, director and film
Los Angeles Master Chorale
Grant Gershon, music director
Schola Cantorum of Venezuela
Maria Guinand, music director
ESTÉVEZ Cantata Criolla (A theatrical presentation (with film) of Antonio Estévez' monumental work)
GINASTERA Dances from Estancia
COPLAND Suite from The Tender Land

May 4, 2010
Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor
Andrew McKenna Lee, guitar
Andrew McKenna LEE Five Refractions after a Prelude by Bach, for solo guitar
Andrew Norman Gran Turismo
Derek BERMEL New Work (world premiere, LA Phil commission)
Leo BROUWER Sonata for solo guitar
Esteban BENZECRY Fantasia Mastay (world premiere, LA Phil commission)

May 14, 2010
Bajofondo featuring Gustavo Santaolalla
Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas
Alondra de la Parra, conductor
PROGRAM TBD

OFF-SITE EVENTS

JACARANDA
First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica, 1220 Second Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401

April 17, 2010
"Magic Realism"
The Denali Quartet
VILLA-LOBOS String Quartet No. 5 "La Popular"
VILLA-LOBOS Jet Whistle for flute and cello
GOLIJOV Lullaby and Doina
PIAZZOLLA Chiquilin de Bachín (Little Urchin of the Greasy Spoon)
VILLA-LOBOS Chôros No. 2
GOLIJOV Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind

This concert presents music from Brazil and Argentina. Some of the very best chamber music of the vastly prolific Heitor Villa-Lobos includes the duo for clarinet and flute Choros No 2 from his years in Paris, his Fifth Quartet, aptly name "La Popular" for its Amazonian folk borrowings and dazzling colors, and the high stakes post-war Jet Whistle for flute and cello. Astor Piazzolla is represented by an intimate scene in Buenos Aires called Little Urchin of the Greasy Spoon with actor, string trio and bass. Two contrasting works by Osvaldo Golijov, the intoxicating Lullaby and Doina and the highly charged drama of Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind, a clarinet quintet of enormous power, complete the program.

The Denali Quartet, and three of its members, Joel Pargman, violin, Alma Lisa Fernandez, viola, and Timothy Loo, cello, are joined by the Argentine-American actor Castulo Guerra, Pamela Vilek Martchev, flute, Donald Foster, clarinet, and Nico Abondolo, double bass.

General ticket: $35. Students $15. Please visit www.jacarandamusic.org or call (800) 595-4TIX

THE BROAD STAGE
Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center,1310 11th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401
www.thebroadstage.org

April 26, 2010
Schola Cantorum de Venezuela
Maria Guinand, conductor

Schola Cantorum de Venezuela performs as part of Gustavo Dudamel's Americas and Americans festival with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. This three-part a capella program includes sacred and secular music and popular music of South America, Venezuelan madrigals, and choral songs. This group's repertoire has brought it critical acclaim and rapt audiences around the world. Pre-concert lecture by Robert Winter - 6:30pm.

Tickets: $25-55. Please visit www.thebroadstage.org or call 310-434-3200

To view artist bios, please visit www.LAPhil.com.

The LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC (www.laphil.com), under the vibrant leadership of Gustavo Dudamel, presents the finest in orchestral and chamber music, recitals, new music, jazz, world music and holiday concerts at two of the most remarkable locations anywhere to experience music - Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. In addition to a 30-week winter subscription season at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the LA Phil presents a 12-week summer festival at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and home of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. In fulfilling its commitment to the community, the Association's involvement with Los Angeles extends to educational concerts, children's programming and community concerts, ever seeking to provide inspiration and delight to the broadest possible audience.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:
SATURDAY, TUESDAY, APRIL 6 - TUESDAY, MAY 4, 2010
Walt Disney CONCERT HALL, 111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles
Other Venues where noted

AMERICAS AND AMERICANS
Gustavo Dudamel, Festival Director

Americas and Americans is supported by grants from the James Irvine Foundation
and the National Endowment for the Arts

Tickets [Chamber Music Society: $26 - $51; Toyota Symphonies for Youth: $20; Los Angeles Master Chorale: call 213.972.7282 or visit LAMC.org;Jazz Series/Pat Metheny: $42 - $115; Chávez/Lieberson/Bernstein: $42 - $160; Pasion segun San Marcos: $47 - $160; Adams/Mahler: $43 - $160; Cantata Criolla: $42 - $160; Green Umbrella: $26 - $51; Bajofondo/Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas: $37 - $70; OFFSITE: Jacaranda: call 800.595.4TIX, or visit JacarandaMusic.org; The Broad Stage: visit The BroadStage.org] are on sale now at the Walt Disney Concert Hall box office (unless otherwise indicated), online at LAPhil.com, or via credit card by phone at 323.850.2000. When available, choral bench seats ($17) will be released for sale to selected Philharmonic 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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