John Nelson News

From simple beauty to dazzling grandeur, Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5, "Emperor" requires extreme virtuosity from its soloist, making it an ideal centerpiece for Pacific Symphony's upcoming concert, "Beethoven's 'Emperor.'" Pianist Barry Douglas, gold medal winner at the 1986 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition, travels from Ireland to tackle this famous concerto under the direction of Grammy-winning guest conductor John Nelson. Nelson, a Costa Rican native, also leads the orchestra in a performance of Schumann's alternately broody and ebullient Symphony No. 2 in C Major, which was premiered in October 1846 under the direction of another well-known composer, Felix Mendelssohn. The Symphony opens the concert with Carl Maria von Weber's imaginative Overture to "Oberon," an opera of magic and elves.

From simple beauty to dazzling grandeur, Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor” requires extreme virtuosity from its soloist, making it an ideal centerpiece for Pacific Symphony's upcoming concert, “Beethoven's 'Emperor.'” Pianist Barry Douglas, gold medal winner at the 1986 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition, travels from Ireland to tackle this famous concerto under the direction of Grammy-winning guest conductor John Nelson. Nelson, a Costa Rican native, also leads the orchestra in a performance of Schumann's alternately broody and ebullient Symphony No. 2 in C Major, which was premiered in October 1846 under the direction of another well-known composer, Felix Mendelssohn. The Symphony opens the concert with Carl Maria von Weber's imaginative Overture to “Oberon,” an opera of magic and elves.

When a play weaves in watershed moments in American history, there's sure to be connectivity and enlightenment. Before Obama and the Change movement, there was Maynard Jackson. Jackson was the first black mayor of Atlanta. He would go on to serve three terms, during which he made huge strides in improving race relations and development in the city. Pearl Cleage's play WHAT I LEARNED IN PARIS serves up a history lesson, a powerful story, and a witty cast of characters. Cleage is an Atlanta-based writer with an impressive literary imprint. She is a best-selling author with Oprah Winfrey book club accolades. There is no denying her literary significance to the world. Cleage is not only a novelist, but a playwright of great works such as FLYIN' WEST, A SONG FOR CORETTA and WHAT I LEARNED IN PARIS. I had the esteemed honor to see Houston's Ensemble Theatre's Regional Premier and I have to say, I am glad that I was in the building.

The New York Philharmonic will present the U.S. Premiere of director Co?me de Bellescize's staging of Honegger's dramatic oratorio Joan of Arc at the Stake in season-finale performances conducted by Alan Gilbert and starring Academy Award-winning actress Marion Cotillard as Joan of Arc.

Classical sacred music foundation Soli Deo Gloria, Inc.'s 2015 Chicago Bach Project features J. S. Bach's dramatic St. John Passion, BWV 245, with Grammy Award-winner John Nelson conducting an international cast of soloists and the Chicago Bach Choir and Orchestra. The one-night-only performance will be at 7:30 p.m. tonight, March 20, 2015, at the Harris Theater at Millennium Park in downtown Chicago.

PITTSBURGH – Captain's Log, Stardate November 2014. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, conductor Jack Everly and host George Takei take audiences to galaxies far, far away to explore new worlds with lights, music and lots of action during PNC Pops “Sci-Fi Spectacular” at Heinz Hall on November 14-16.

Two of the most renowned artists active in historical performance today have chosen Salon/Sanctuary Concerts as the presenter for their only New York recitals of the 2014-2015. The recitals will take place in the beautiful and acoustically resonant Abigail Adams Smith Auditorium.

In celebration of the Rameau year, Grammy®-nominated harpsichordist Jory Vinikour opens the season with an all-Rameau recital at the Abigail Adams Smith Auditorium.

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra opens the 2014.15 Classics series with Don Giovanni tonight, September 13-14 & 16, 2014, led by Music Director Edo de Waart. This concert production features an international cast alongside the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra for an unforgettable operatic event.

In celebration of the Rameau year, Grammy®-nominated harpsichordist Jory Vinikour opens the season with an all-Rameau recital at the Abigail Adams Smith Auditorium.

The Colony Theatre will present the second production of its historic 40th Anniversary season, the West Coast Premiere of WHAT I LEARNED IN PARIS by Pearl Cleage. The production stars Tony winner L. Scott Caldwell, and is directed by Saundra McClain. WHAT I LEARNED IN PARIS will preview tonight, September 3; Thursday, September 4; and Friday, September 5 at 8:00pm. It will open on Saturday, September 6 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, October 5 at The Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street in Burbank.

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra opens the 2014.15 Classics series with Don Giovanni on September 13-14 & 16, 2014, led by Music Director Edo de Waart. This concert production features an international cast alongside the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra for an unforgettable operatic event.

The Colony Theatre will present the second production of its historic 40th Anniversary season, the West Coast Premiere of WHAT I LEARNED IN PARIS by Pearl Cleage. The production stars Tony winner L. Scott Caldwell, and is directed by Saundra McClain. WHAT I LEARNED IN PARIS will preview on Wednesday, September 3; Thursday, September 4; andFriday, September 5 at 8:00pm. It will open on Saturday, September 6 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, October 5 at The Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street in Burbank.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced today the second edition of Sound + Vision, the annual documentary series that explores a diverse range of music, artists, genres, and styles from all over the world.

Two of the most renowned artists active in historical performance today have chosen Salon/Sanctuary Concerts as the presenter for their only New York recitals of the 2014-2015. The recitals will take place in the beautiful and acoustically resonant Abigail Adams Smith Auditorium.

The esteemed classical sacred music foundation Soli Deo Gloria-'to God alone be the Glory'-named for the Latin inscription frequently used by Johann Sebastian Bach on his manuscripts, has chosen to celebrate its 20th anniversary in early May in New York City with major performances of two significant commissions.

Soli Deo Gloria, Inc.'s annual Chicago Bach Project will come full circle this season when Grammy Award-winning conductor John Nelson conducts J. S. Bach's massive St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244.

Soli Deo Gloria, Inc., the nonprofit organization that funded production of the recent DVD of John Nelson conducting J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion, has announced that a Blu-ray disc version will be released in the U.S. on March 25, 2014.

Pacific Symphony announces what is perhaps its most significant season to date for the 36-year-old orchestra-the 2014-15 Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation Classical Series and special events, celebrating Music Director Carl St. Clair's 25 years at the helm. Filled with giant stars and giants of the repertoire that have moved listeners for centuries, the season is pure St. Clair-embracing and celebrating all that great music can mean to the human heart.

Today, December 7 marks the cultural high point of Rhode Island's holiday season, when the RHODE ISLAND PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA joins forces with THE PROVIDENCE SINGERS, CHRISTINE NOEL, artistic director, in their seventh annual performance of George Frideric Handel's MESSIAH. Soloists include soprano MARTHA GUTH, mezzo-soprano ABIGAIL FISCHER, tenor CHRISTOPHER HUTCHINSON, and bass-baritone MATTHEW BURNS . The Philharmonic's Resident Conductor FRANCISCO NOYAconducts. The perennial favorite holiday concert features a family-friendly start time of 7:00pm today December 7 at The Vets in Providence. WPRO News Talk 630 is the media sponsor. Tickets (starting at $15) are available at www.riphil.org/tickets and the RIPO box office at 401.248.7000.