Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Presents Pianist Emanuel Ax and More in November Concerts

For Immediate Release

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Presents Pianist Emanuel Ax, Pianist George Li and a Commission by Lera Auerbach in November Concerts

Baltimore (October 24, 2019) The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) presents distinguished pianist Emanuel Ax, Tchaikovsky Competition silver medalist George Li, Off The Cuff performances of Stravinsky’s Pulcinella and a Lera Auerbach commission this November at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore and The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda.

Having studied with Music Director Marin Alsop, conductor Ruth Reinhardt leads the Orchestra in Lotta Wennäkoski’s Hava on Friday, November 8 and Sunday, November 10 at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and Saturday, November 9 at Strathmore. Also on the program is Schubert’s Symphony No. 6, and Emanuel Ax performs Brahms’ mighty Second Piano Concerto.

In a program highlighted by Chinese artistry, Xian Zhang leads Chen Yi’s Antiphony, inspired by South China’s Zhuang minority, on Friday, November 15 and Sunday, November 17 at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall and Saturday, November 16 at Strathmore. Silver medalist of the 2015 Tchaikovsky Competition, George Li performs one of Mozart’s best-loved piano concertos, Piano Concerto No. 23. Zhang also leads Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5.

On Friday, November 22 at Strathmore and Saturday, November 23 at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, Music Director Marin Alsop continues her popular Off The Cuff series with performances of Stravinsky’s Pulcinella, exploring the collaboration of Diagilev’s Ballet Russes, Stravinsky’s compositions and Picasso’s sets, followed by a Q&A and an after-party with local food and drink specials. On Thursday, November 21 at the Meyerhoff and Sunday, November 24 at Strathmore, Alsop leads full programs, including a BSO commission and U.S. premiere by Lera Auerbach, Eve’s Lament – O Flowers, That Never Will Grow, alongside Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture and Prokofiev’s “Classical” Symphony.

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PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Emanuel Ax Performs Brahms
Fri, November 8, 2019 8 pm – Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
Sat, November 9, 2019 8 pm – The Music Center at Strathmore
Sun, November 10, 2019 3 pm – Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall

Ruth Reinhardt, conductor
Emanuel Ax, piano

LOTTA WENNÄKOSKI Hava
SCHUBERT Symphony No. 6
BRAHMS Piano Concerto No. 2

Distinguished pianist Emanuel Ax returns to perform Brahms’ mighty Second Piano Concerto, notable for its formidable demands. A scintillating work by Finnish-born composer Lotta Wennäkoski, Hava, is paired with Schubert’s Sixth Symphony.

Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23
Fri, November 15, 2019 8 pm – Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
Sat, November 16, 2019 8 pm – The Music Center at Strathmore
Sun, November 17, 2019 3 pm – Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall

Xian Zhang, conductor
George Li, piano

CHEN YI Ge Xu (Antiphony)
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major
PROKOFIEV Symphony No. 5

A wealth of talent fills this program led by the fast-rising young conductor Xian Zhang. Celebrated female composer Chen Yi’s Antiphony opens the program, inspired by the antiphonal singing of South China’s Zhuang minority and featuring extraordinary drumming passages. Tchaikovsky Competition silver medalist George Li performs one of Mozart’s best-loved piano concertos, and Prokofiev’s Fifth symphony concludes the program.

Stravinsky Pulcinella
Thu, November 21, 2019 8 pm – Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
Sun, November 24, 2019 3 pm – The Music Center at Strathmore

Marin Alsop, conductor
BRAHMS Academic Festival Overture

LERA AUERBACH Eve’s Lament – O Flowers, That Never Will Grow
PROKOFIEV Symphony No. 1, “Classical”
STRAVINSKY Pulcinella – Ballet in One Act

Written for a trio of singers and orchestra, Stravinsky’s Pulcinella is a sparkling evocation of the world of commedia dell’arte clowns. Marin Alsop introduces us to Russian-American composer and pianist Lera Auerbach, who brings grandeur and intensity to her large-scale orchestra music. The program also includes Prokofiev’s witty “Classical” Symphony and Brahms’ boisterous Academic Festival Overture.

Off The Cuff: Stravinsky Pulcinella
Fri, November 22, 2019 8:15 pm – The Music Center at Strathmore
Sat, November 23, 2019 7 pm – Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall

Marin Alsop, conductor
STRAVINSKY Pulcinella – Ballet in One Act

Pulcinella brought together Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, Stravinsky and Picasso—who created sets and costumes—in a whole new direction after the riotous premiere of the Rite of Spring. Discover how Stravinsky fell in love with the forgotten music and world of commedia dell’arte clowns. These performances will be followed by a Q&A with Marin Alsop.

VENUE INFORMATION
Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
1212 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
The Music Center at Strathmore
5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852

TICKETS
Tickets on sale through the BSO Ticket Office at 410.783.8000 or BSOmusic.org. For press comps, additional artist bios or media materials, please contact the PR Department at tkopasek@BSOmusic.org.