April 6, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 6, 2015
For more information, contact:
Rachel Dellinger, KSO Director of Communications
Direct: 865-521-2317 Cell: 865-660-3037
[email protected]
The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra welcomes two talented guest artists for the next Moxley Carmichael Masterworks Series performances of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, “Pastorale.” Guest conductor Vladimir Kulenovic leads the Orchestra in music of Beethoven and Smetana, featuring pianist Antti Siirala for Rachmaninoff’s First Piano Concerto. The concert will take place on Thursday, April 16 and Friday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Tennessee Theatre. Tickets start at just $15. View concert details here.
The program includes the Overture to Smetana’s comic opera, The Bartered Bride, and Rachmaninoff’s First Piano Concerto which he composed at the young age of 18, featuring soloist Antti Siirala. The Orchestra will perform Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, known as “Pastorale.” In this work, Beethoven illustrates in five movements, a walk in the countryside, a walk by the brook, gathering with country folk, a thunderstorm, and cheerful feelings of gratitude and calmness after the storm is over.
Antti Siirala
Finnish pianist Antti Siirala was the first prize winner of three international piano competitions, including the prestigious Leeds International Piano Competition. He has performed with the Mostly Mozart Orchestra at Lincoln Center and other American engagements include the Detroit Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony and the Jacksonville Symphony among others. An enthusiastic recitalist, Antti Siirala was recently selected as one of four pianists to perform on the piano recital series of the Berlin Philharmonic. His debut recording of Schubert transcriptions for Naxos (2003) and his subsequent recording of works by Brahms for Ondine both received Gramophone Magazine’s “Editor’s Choice” award.
Maestro Vladimir Kulenovic was recently named the 2015 Solti Conducting Fellow, one of the most prestigious conducting recognitions in the industry. It is awarded to a single conductor each year under the age of 38 who shows promise in the field. Vladimir is currently the Music Director of the Lake Forest Symphony in Illinois, the Associate Conductor of the Utah Symphony in Salt Lake City, and the Resident Conductor for the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra in Belgrade, Serbia.
Vladimir Kulenovic
Patrons can attend pre-concert chats at 6:30 p.m. in the concert hall before each performance. Guest performers will offer their personal perspective and audience members will have a chance for Q&A with the artists. This is a unique get-to-know-you opportunity.
Tickets may be purchased by calling 865-291-3310 or visiting the KSO website. Single tickets start at just $15.00! Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets at a discounted rate by calling 865-521-2337.
The KSO has contributed to the cultural life in East Tennessee since 1935 as the oldest continually operating orchestra. Under the leadership of Lucas Richman, the orchestra consists of 80 professional musicians and performs more than 250 programs throughout East Tennessee each season, including non-traditional places like hospitals, school classrooms, nursing homes, city parks and churches in addition to the concert hall. The KSO reaches more than 200,000 people throughout the region each year. More information about the KSO including the calendar of events can be found at www.knoxvillesymphony.com.
