Jean-Yves Thibaudet to Join ASO, 4/30-5/2

Piano virtuoso Jean-Yves Thibaudet returns to Atlanta Symphony Hall to perform Ravel's Piano Concerto. Music Director Robert Spano will lead the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) in Stravinsky's The Firebird Suite and Gershwin's An American in Paris, and a soon-to-be-classic, the world premiere of Atlanta School of Composers member Michael Gandolfi's Imaginary Numbers. The performances will take place April 30, 2015, at 8:00 p.m., May 1, 6:30 p.m. and May 2, 2015, 7:30 p.m.

Considered one of the best pianists in the world, Jean-Yves Thibaudet will delight patrons with his rare ability to combine poetic musical sensibilities with dazzling technical prowess. Mr. Thibaudet is world famous for his interpretation of the Ravel Concerto, but this will mark the first time in his three decades playing with the ASO that he will perform the Ravel.

The world premiere of Michael Gandolfi's Imaginary Numbers was commissioned by Paul and Linnea Bert in honor of their long-time friendship with Dede and Tony Spano and their son, ASO Music Director Robert Spano. The performance features ASO Principals Elizabeth Koch Tiscione, oboe, Laura Ardan, clarinet, Keith Buncke, bassoon and Brice Andrus, horn.

The concert will also feature Stravinsky's The Firebird Suite, a signature work of the ASO, featured on their very first digital recording in 1978 under Robert Shaw.

On Friday, May 1, 2015, Jean-Yves Thibaudet will join Music Director Robert Spano and the ASO in an abbreviated version of the subscription weekend's performances as part of the Orchestra's "First Friday" concert series. The concert will feature Stravinsky's The Firebird Suite, Ravel's Piano Concerto and Gershwin's An American in Paris. The concert begins at 6:30 p.m. and lasts approximately one hour without intermission. All tickets are $25. Additional details are available at aso.org.

Single tickets for this performance (excluding the "First Friday" performance) are $25-$104. More details are available at aso.org.