Princeton Symphony Orchestra Announces Violinist Ilya Kaler And World Premiere Performance Of Saad Haddad's Risala

On Sunday, May 20 at 4 pm, the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) performs the world premiere of composer Saad Haddad's Risala, a PSO co-commission, and welcomes award-winning soloist Ilya Kaler onstage for Johannes Brahms' Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77. Music Director Rossen Milanov takes the podium for these works and Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 9 in E-Flat Major, Op. 70. The concert takes place at Richardson Auditorium on the campus of Princeton University. Early-arriving patrons will benefit from a discussion of the program at the 3pm Pre-Concert Talk with Mr. Milanov, Mr. Kaler, and Haddad.

Haddad's piece is a recent composition, co-commissioned by the PSO with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, of which Rossen Milanov is music director. (Mr. Milanov is conducting world premiere performances with both orchestras). The work's title Risala (pronounced ree-SA-leh) is "message" in Arabic and aims to convey how we, as a society, portray meaning through message.

Saad Haddad is a composer of orchestral, chamber, vocal, and electroacoustic music who achieves a "remarkable fusion of idioms" (New York Times), most notably in his work exploring the disparate qualities inherent in Western art music and Middle Eastern musical tradition. His music delves into that relationship by transferring the performance techniques of traditional Arab instruments to Western symphonic instruments, while extending their capabilities through the advancement of technology.

Ilya Kaler is the only violinist in the world to win the Gold Medal at three of the world's most prestigious international violin competitions: the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow (1986), the Sibelius Competition in Helsinki (1985), and the Paganini Competition in Genoa (1981). Praised by Gramophone magazine as "the magician, bewitching our ears," he has earned rave reviews for his solo appearances with distinguished orchestras in Europe, Russia, Canada, and most major American orchestras. Well known for his violin pedagogy, Mr. Kaler gives a PSO BRAVO! masterclass on Saturday, May 19, at 2pm at Hillman Hall on the campus of Westminster Choir College. Observation of the class is open to the public.

The Violin Concerto in D Major is Brahms' only concerto written for the instrument. The work was inspired in part by Hungarian folk music and its rousing finale includes a fast tempo and syncopated rhythms. Dmitri Shostakovich's bravely understated and melodic ninth symphony, banned by Stalin and his Party, completes the concert program.

Tickets are on sale starting at $35. Pricing includes admission to the 3 pm Pre-Concert Talk. Purchase at www.princetonsymphony.org or call (609) 497-0020.