Orli Shaham to Perform with the Spokane Symphony

Jan 9, 2009

For Immediate Release

Contact: Annie Matlow 464-7071

SPOKANE—Pianist Orli Shaham will perform with the Spokane Symphony in a concert highlighting a composer’s journey back to his musical roots at the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 8 pm, and again on Sunday, Jan. 18, at 3 pm.

Orli Shaham is a consummate performer recognized for her grace, subtlety, and vitality. Hailed by critics on four continents, Shaham has most recently performed with the orchestras of Cleveland, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Chicago. Internationally, Shaham has performed with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Taiwan Philharmonic and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. She is also a frequent guest at summer festivals including Ravinia, Verbier, Mostly Mozart, and Aspen. She is driven by a passion to bring classical music to new audiences and maintains an active parallel career as a respected broadcaster, music writer, and lecturer. Shaham has also been honored with several prestigious awards including the Gilmore Young Artist Award and the Avery Fisher Career Grant.

The concert originally featured Grammy-nominated pianist, Gabriela Montero. However, Montero has been invited to perform at Barack Obama’s presidential inauguration. She will join cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Itzhak Perlman, and clarinetist Anthony McGill, to perform a new work composed for the inauguration by John Williams.

The Spokane Symphony program will begin with Bartok’s Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta. This unique piece dives into stylized folk-dance rhythms and fantastic colors. Written in 1936, Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta is widely recognized as Bartok’s best-known composition. Music begins as a slow fugue, and as more voices enter, the texture thickens until the climax. The piece transitions from its slow fugue through several emotions ending on the finale, which has the character of a lively folk dance.

Shaham will play Piano Concerto No. 2 by Ludwig von Beethoven as a replacement for the Liszt Piano Concerto originally planned.  The final piece of the program is Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8. This turbulent piece shows that Dvořák’s musical style never left his homeland of Bohemia. His talent for melody and lyricism is always followed by vital, fiery displays of folk music influences.

This concert has been underwritten by Paine & Hamblen Attorneys and Washington Trust Bank.

Tickets on Saturday are $22, $32, $40, and $44. Tickets on Sunday are $18, $28, $36, and $41. Tickets are available in advance at the Spokane Symphony Ticket office, 1001 W. Sprague, or by calling 509-624-1200. Tickets are also available at all TicketsWest outlets or by calling 1-800-325-SEAT, or at spokanesymphony.org.

CALENDAR LISTING:

Back To Their Roots Classics Concert; Music Director Eckart Preu conducts the Spokane Symphony, Orlo Shaham; piano; Jan. 17 at 8:00 p.m. and Jan. 18 at 3:00 p.m. in the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox. Tickets are $18 to $44; call the Spokane Symphony Ticket Office at (509) 624-1200; tickets are also available at www.spokanesymphony.org and through all TicketsWest outlets or by calling 325-SEAT or 1-800-325-SEAT.