The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Yan Pascal Tortelier with pianist Stephen Hough as soloist, returns to the Creative Arts Center for the final Canady Symphony concert of the year on Saturday, April 10.
The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre.
Opening the concert is Tchaikovsky’s “Piano Concerto No. 2,” featuring Hough. This concert will mark the PSO’s first performance of this work. Although less well-known than Tchaikovsky’s “Piano Concerto No. 1,” it is arguably a better piece, requiring extraordinary poetry and technique from the soloist.
Prokofiev’s “Symphony No. 5,” one of his most popular works, will also be performed.
Born into an intensely musical family, Yan Pascal Tortelier, son of the late Paul Tortelier, studied piano and violin from age 4, and at 14 won first prize for violin at the Paris Conservatoire.
Following general musical studies with Nadia Boulanger, Tortelier studied conducting with Franco Ferrara in Siena. Since then, Tortelier’s career has included engagements with leading orchestras throughout Europe, North America, Japan and Australia.
In recognition of his outstanding work as chief conductor of the BBC Philharmonic between 1992 and 2003, Tortelier has been given the title of Conductor Laureate and continues working with the orchestra regularly.
Stephen Hough is widely regarded as one of the most important and distinctive pianists of his generation.
In recognition of his achievements, he was awarded a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship in 2001, joining prominent scientists, writers and others who have made unique contributions to contemporary life.
Hough is also the 2008 winner of Northwestern University School of Music’s Jean Gimbel Lane prize in piano performance.
The Canady Symphony Series is the cornerstone of a partnership between the WVU College of Creative Arts and the PSO, and is made possible, in part, through the generosity of title sponsors Dr. William and Loulie Canady, in memory of their daughter Valerie.
The PSO also recognizes and thanks BB&T for the 2009-2010 series sponsorship, as well as concert sponsors for this event, Alison H. and Patrick D. Deem of Bridgeport, W.Va.
The PSO has been a vital part of the City of Pittsburgh’s heritage for more than 100 years. With its noble history of the finest conductors and musicians and its strong commitment to artistic quality and excellence, audiences around the world have claimed the PSO as their orchestra of choice.
Beginning in the early 1900s with frequent performances in Canada, the PSO confirmed its ranking as a world-class orchestra, earning critical acclaim for each tour abroad. Its 34 international tours include 18 European tours, eight trips to the Far East and two to South America. In January 2004, the PSO became the first American orchestra to perform at the Vatican for Pope John Paul II, as part of the Pontiff’s Silver Jubilee celebration.
Tickets to the April 10 concert can be purchased by calling the Heinz Hall box office at 412-392-4900, or by visiting the PSO online at www.pittsburghsymphony.org.
Regular admission is $39, but there are special ticket prices for students, starting at $5 on a first-come, first-serve basis, and for WVU faculty, starting at $17.
Unsold tickets, if any, will be available at the door on the evening of the concert.
-WVU-
04/05/10
CONTACT: Nicole Philipp, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
412-392-4827, nphilipp@pittsburghsymphony.org
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