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Nicholas McGegan and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale open 36th season with ‘All Beethoven’ program with fortepianist Robert Levin.
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Dianne Provenzano
Marketing & Communications Director
press@philharmonia.org
(415) 252-1288 x 315
SAN FRANCISCO – BERKELEY – PALO ALTO
September 6, 2016, San Francisco – America’s largest and foremost period-instrument orchestra – Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale – will return for its 2016/17 season in mid-October with an “All Beethoven” program featuring, Harvard professor of musicology and fortepianist, Robert Levin.
In his 5th appearance with PBO since 1998, Levin will perform Beethoven’s Concerto for Fortepiano No. 3 with the Orchestra for the first half of the program. This is the only one of Beethoven’s concertos Philharmonia has not previously performed. Renowned for his improvised embellishments and cadenzas, Robert Levin has performed on period pianos in the past with the Academy of Ancient Music, English Baroque Soloists, Handel & Haydn Society, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, with Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Christopher Hogwood, Sir Charles Mackerras and others.
For the second half of the program Nicholas McGegan and the Orchestra will apply their distinct take on Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral.” McGegan has chosen to include an extra measure that Beethoven had originally composed for the second movement but later removed. The musical “aviary” that Beethoven includes in this work will sound particularly unique when performed by PBO. Period wind instruments provide different colors than their modern counterparts. Their use in this concert will undoubtedly provide a richer sound as well as a more historically accurate interpretation of this masterwork.
This season opener can be seen October 16-22 throughout the bay area. See “All Beethoven” on Sunday October 16 at 4 pm at First Congregational Church in Berkeley; on Wednesday October 19 at 7:30 pm at Bing Concert Hall in Palo Alto; on Friday October 21 at 8 pm at Herbst Theatre in San Francisco; and on Saturday October 22 at 8 pm at First Congregational Church in Berkeley.
Tickets range from $27 to $108. For more information about this and other Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale concerts, visit philharmonia.org. For tickets, visit cityboxoffice.com or call 415-392-4400.
These concerts are the first set in a series of six regular 2016-17 season concerts that take place throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
Program Notes for “All Beethoven” by PBO Scholar in Residence Bruce Lamott here.
Classical KDFC is the radio home of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale. KDFC broadcasts an unreleased live Philharmonia concert recording the second Sunday of every month from 8-9 PM.
CALENDAR EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:
WHO:
Nicholas McGegan, conductor
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale (Chorale not performing)
Robert Levin, Fortepiano
PHOTOGRAPHY: (Click to download)
Nicholas McGegan, conductor
Robert Levin, Fortepiano
WHAT: Concert Performance
All Beethoven with Robert Levin
BEETHOVEN Concerto for Fortepiano No. 3
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral”
PRICE: Range from $27 to $108.
TICKETS: Available at City Box Office 415-392-4400 or cityboxoffice.com
WHEN/WHERE:
Sunday October 16 @ 4 PM
First Congregational Church, Berkeley
Wednesday October 19 @ 7:30 PM
Bing Concert Hall, Palo Alto
CURRENTLY AT CAPACITY
Friday October 21 @ 8 PM
Herbst Theatre, San Francisco
Saturday October 22 @ 8 PM
First Congregational Church, Berkeley
Short Description:
Nicholas McGegan and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale open their 2016/17 season with an “All Beethoven” program featuring Harvard professor of musicology and fortepianist Robert Levin performing Beethoven’s Concerto for Fortepiano No. 3. The Orchestra then performs Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral.”
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