West Virginia University is hosting the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra with world-renowned pianist Yefim Bronfman at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre of the Creative Arts Center.

Orchestra conductor Peter Oundjian will welcome pianist Bronfman, who is widely regarded as one of the most talented virtuoso pianists performing today. The pianists commanding technique and exceptional lyrical gifts have won him consistent critical acclaim and enthusiastic audiences worldwide.

Additionally, a pre-concert lecture about the program by WQED -FM senior executive producer Jim Cunningham will be at 7:15 p.m.

During the performance, the orchestra will treat the audience to music by Ludwig Van Beethoven, Gustav Mahler and Christopher Theofanidis. The concert is the third performance at WVU of the Torray Symphony Series.

The program includes several prominent musical compositions.

Rainbow Body,written by Theofanidis, combines Tibetan Buddhism and the chants by the visionary and mystic Hildegard von Bingen from the 12th century.

The title comes from a concept in Tibetan Buddhism that when an enlightened being dies, that person is absorbed as light and energy back into the universe rather than decaying in a physical way,said Theofandidis, who is Composer of the Year for the orchestras 2006-07 season; made possible, in part, by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

BeethovensPiano Concerto No. 1,composed in 1796-97, is in fact the composers third attempt at the genre.

MahlersSymphony No. 1 in D Majorwas composed between 1884 and 1888 and subsequently revised. For the first three performances, there was an additional movement (about ten minutes in length), known asBlumine.

When Oundjian last conducted the Pittsburgh orchestra in December 2005, the concert program included the rediscoveredBluminemovement as a stand-alone piece. This is the first performance of Mahlers completeSymphony No. 1by the orchestra.

The Torray Symphony Series is presented by title sponsors Robert and Nancy Torray with additional support from William and Loulie Canady in memory of Valerie. This concert is also sponsored by March-Westin Company, Inc.

Tickets are available for $38 and can be ordered by calling 800-743-8560 or online at http://www.pittsburghsymphony.org . Tickets will also be available at the door the night of the concert. There is a special ticket price of $12 for all students (with ID).