acclaimed pianist emanuel ax to join the eugene symphony on ...

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Contact: Lisa Calevi - Communications Coordina<strong>to</strong>r - lisa.calevi@<strong>eugene</strong><strong>symphony</strong>.org - Ph: 541-687-9487 X 115
Cell: 541-515-8908
ACCLAIMED PIANIST EMANUEL AX TO JOIN
THE EUGENE SYMPHONY ON MARCH 8
The Eugene Symphony Chorus also performs with <strong>the</strong> orchestra in a performance of Mozart’s Requiem
during <strong>the</strong> second half of <strong>the</strong> concert.
______________________________________________________________________________
EUGENE, OR (February 21, 2012)—Emanuel Ax, one of <strong>the</strong> world’s most accomplished living
<strong>pianist</strong>s, <strong>join</strong>s <strong>the</strong> Eugene Symphony <strong>to</strong> perform Brahms’s Piano Concer<strong>to</strong> No. 1 on March 8 at 8
p.m. at <strong>the</strong> Hult Center.
Admired for his crystalline sound and brilliant technique, Ax is among <strong>the</strong> most
celebrated living concert <strong>pianist</strong>s. His online blogs reveals a jovial artist who doesn’t mind if <strong>the</strong>
audience applauds between movements when he performs. "Just one favor," he writes: "Even if
you don't like a concert of mine, please, please applaud at <strong>the</strong> end anyway." A native of Poland,
Ax began <strong>to</strong> study <strong>the</strong> piano in Canada, where his parents, both Holocaust survivors, had moved
when he was a young boy. He later studied at The Juilliard School, where he has been a faculty
member since 1990. At age 25, Ax won <strong>the</strong> first Arthur Rubinstein International Piano
Competition in Tel Aviv, catapulting him <strong>to</strong> international attention. A seven-time Grammy
award winner, Ax is a Fellow of <strong>the</strong> American Academy of Arts and Sciences and holds
honorary doc<strong>to</strong>rates of music from Yale and Columbia Universities.
On March 7 at 1:30 p.m., Ax will conduct a piano master class in Beall Hall on <strong>the</strong>
University of Oregon campus. He and Rachev will present a pre-concert lecture on March 7 at
noon, in The Studio of <strong>the</strong> Hult Center. Both events are free and open <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> public. As part of
<strong>the</strong> Eugene Symphony Sound Perspectives series, principal flautist Kristen Halay will perform
her special transcription of Brahms’s Violin Sonata in G Major in a free, pre-concert
performance on March 8 at 7:00 p.m., also in The Studio.

Following Ax’s solo performance, conduc<strong>to</strong>r Danail Rachev will lead <strong>the</strong> orchestra in a
program that features <strong>the</strong> Eugene Symphony Chorus in a performance of Mozart’s Requiem, <strong>the</strong>
composer’s deeply expressive, almost mystical, final work. Four soloists—soprano Christina
Pier, tenor Benjamin Butterfield, mezzo-soprano Amanda Crider, and bass Robert Gleadow—are
featured in this monumental piece, which celebrates <strong>the</strong> repose of <strong>the</strong> soul. Though Requiem was
not performed at Mozart’s funeral, it has inspired countless listeners <strong>to</strong> contemplate <strong>the</strong>
composer’s enigmatic death at <strong>the</strong> age of 35 while listening <strong>to</strong> it.
Tickets <strong>to</strong> Emanuel Ax Plays Brahms start at $15 and are available through <strong>the</strong> Hult
Center box office, at 541-682-5000, or online at <strong>eugene</strong><strong>symphony</strong>.org. Concert support provided
by Oakmont Family Dental, Dr. Mat<strong>the</strong>w McLaughlin.
# # #
Related Calendar Events
FORTHCOMING CONCERTS –Emanuel Ax Plays Brahms, March 8, 8 pm; A Special Evening with <strong>the</strong> Baltimore
Symphony and Marin Alsop, April 2, 8 pm; Midori & The Eugene Symphony, April 26, 8 pm; Liszt Piano
Concer<strong>to</strong>, May 17, 8 pm.
FREE PRE-CONCERT LECTURE – Wednesday, March 7, Noon – The Studio | Hult Center
Conduc<strong>to</strong>r Danail Rachev and guest artist Emanuel Ax provide an overview of <strong>the</strong> <strong>symphony</strong>’s March performance.
Sponsored by <strong>the</strong> Eugene Symphony Guild.
FREE MASTER CLASS – Wednesday, March 7, 1:30 p.m. – Beall Hall | University of Oregon
Pianist Emanuel Ax leads a master class. Part of <strong>the</strong> Laura Avery Visiting Masters program.
KRISTEN HALAY PLAYS BRAHMS – Thursday, March 8, 7:00 p.m. – The Studio | Hult Center
Eugene Symphony Principal flutist Kristen Halay plays Brahms. Part of <strong>the</strong> Eugene Symphony Sound Perspectives
series. FREE.

EUGENE, OR (February 21, 2012)—Emanuel Ax, one of <strong>the</strong> world’s most accomplished living
<strong>pianist</strong>s, <strong>join</strong>s <strong>the</strong> Eugene Symphony <strong>to</strong> perform Brahms’s Piano Concer<strong>to</strong> No. 1 on March 8 at 8
p.m. at <strong>the</strong> Hult Center.
Admired for his crystalline sound and brilliant technique, Ax is among <strong>the</strong> most
celebrated living concert <strong>pianist</strong>s. His online blogs reveals a jovial artist who doesn’t mind if <strong>the</strong>
audience applauds between movements when he performs. "Just one favor," he writes: "Even if
you don't like a concert of mine, please, please applaud at <strong>the</strong> end anyway." A native of Poland,
Ax began <strong>to</strong> study <strong>the</strong> piano in Canada, where his parents, both Holocaust survivors, had moved
when he was a young boy. He later studied at The Juilliard School, where he has been a faculty
member since 1990. At age 25, Ax won <strong>the</strong> first Arthur Rubinstein International Piano
Competition in Tel Aviv, catapulting him <strong>to</strong> international attention. A seven-time Grammy
award winner, Ax is a Fellow of <strong>the</strong> American Academy of Arts and Sciences and holds
honorary doc<strong>to</strong>rates of music from Yale and Columbia Universities.
On March 7 at 1:30 p.m., Ax will conduct a piano master class in Beall Hall on <strong>the</strong>
University of Oregon campus. He and Rachev will present a pre-concert lecture on March 7 at
noon, in The Studio of <strong>the</strong> Hult Center. Both events are free and open <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> public. As part of
<strong>the</strong> Eugene Symphony Sound Perspectives series, principal flautist Kristen Halay will perform
her special transcription of Brahms’s Violin Sonata in G Major in a free, pre-concert
performance on March 8 at 7:00 p.m., also in The Studio.
Following Ax’s solo performance, conduc<strong>to</strong>r Danail Rachev will lead <strong>the</strong> orchestra in a
program that features <strong>the</strong> Eugene Symphony Chorus in a performance of Mozart’s Requiem, <strong>the</strong>
composer’s deeply expressive, almost mystical, final work. Four soloists—soprano Christina
Pier, tenor Benjamin Butterfield, mezzo-soprano Amanda Crider, and bass Robert Gleadow—are
featured in this monumental piece, which celebrates <strong>the</strong> repose of <strong>the</strong> soul. Though Requiem was
not performed at Mozart’s funeral, it has inspired countless listeners <strong>to</strong> contemplate <strong>the</strong>
composer’s enigmatic death at <strong>the</strong> age of 35 while listening <strong>to</strong> it.
Tickets <strong>to</strong> Emanuel Ax Plays Brahms start at $15 and are available through <strong>the</strong> Hult
Center box office, at 541-682-5000, or online at <strong>eugene</strong><strong>symphony</strong>.org. Concert support provided
by Oakmont Family Dental, Dr. Mat<strong>the</strong>w McLaughlin.