Lionel Bringuier Leads the LA Phil and Violinist Julian Rachlin at Walt Disney Concert Hall

LA Phil Associate Conductor Lionel Bringuier leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic and charismatic violinist Julian Rachlin in three performances of Jean Sibelius' Violin Concerto, Friday, May 28, at 8 p.m., as well as Saturday and Sunday, May 29 and 30, at 2 p.m. All three dates also feature Igor Stravinsky's Firebird Suite (1919 version), and the Saturday and Sunday program includes Henri Dutilleux's Métaboles. The concerts mark Rachlin's Walt Disney Concert Hall debut. Friday's concert is part of the LA Phil's Casual Fridays series.

All three concerts open with Sibelius' Violin Concerto, his only concerto, though his contribution to the genre counts as among the most musically satisfying examples in the repertory. The concerto also marks a turning point in the composer's career as a work of fantasy and farewell, giving in to his dream to become a violin virtuoso and the acknowledgement that it would never happen.

Next on the Saturday and Sunday program, after intermission, is Dutilleux's Métaboles. The noted obsessive perfectionist composer paid painstaking attention to each of his compositions, perhaps the reason his catalogue of works is so modest despite the fact that he continues to create into his 90s. Métaboles was written for the Cleveland Orchestra and George Szell over a span of five years and represents the composer's search for a new kind of internal logic and musical form.

All three concerts close with Stravinsky's Suite from The Firebird. The young, relatively unknown (at the time) composer was chosen by ballet impresario Sergei Diaghilev to create the score for his Ballets Russes, and The Firebird was the first production by the emerging ballet company to feature an entirely new score. Stravinsky remained fond of the music and created three different concert versions that he conducted himself - with the most popular, introduced in 1919, presented in these LA Phil concerts.
Lionel Bringuier continues as LA Phil Associate Conductor and as Chef associé of the Orchestre de Bretagne, and began his tenure as Music Director of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León in Valladolid, Spain in the 2009/10 season. Despite his youth, the 23-year-old has been acclaimed for the maturity of his conducting and has been called a natural communicator. Bringuier recently stepped in for LA Phil Music Director Gustavo Dudamel when he injured himself mid-concert.

Though making his Walt Disney Concert Hall debut, Julian Rachlin has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic frequently, most recently at the Hollywood Bowl in 2008. He has also performed with most of the world's leading orchestras and conductors and has been praised for his powerful and refreshing interpretations.

The Friday, May 28 performance is part of the LA Phil's 2009/10 Casual Fridays series. The series encourages audiences and orchestra members to attend in comfortable attire. These programs feature free post-concert activities for all ticket-holders to enjoy including a TalkBack discussion with musicians held on stage after the performance and a chance to mingle with members of the orchestra in the Concert Hall Café.

Each concert is preceded by Upbeat Live discussions which are free to ticket-holders, and occur in BP Hall one hour prior to the performances. Alan Chapman, KUSC-FM radio host, composer-lyricist and pianist, hosts.

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

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, 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:
FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2010, AT 8 PM (Casual Fridays)
SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2010, AT 2 PM
SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2010, AT 2 PM
Walt Disney CONCERT HALL
111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC
LIONEL BRINGUIER, conductor
JULIAN RACHLIN, violin

SIBELIUS Violin Concerto
DUTILLEUX Métaboles (except Friday)
STRAVINSKY Firebird Suite (1919 version)

Each concert is preceded by Upbeat Live discussions which are free to ticket-holders, and occur in BP Hall one hour prior to the performances. Alan Chapman, KUSC-FM radio host, composer-lyricist and pianist, hosts.

Tickets ($42 - $160) 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 ($17) 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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