Jeffrey Kahane to Conduct Bach at LA Chamber Orchestra's BAROQUE CONVERSATIONS, 2/14

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra's (LACO) five-concert "Baroque Conversations" series showcasing exceptional Baroque music continues with a program of concertos by JS Bach and his second son, CPE Bach, each written for pairs of instruments - particularly fitting for a Valentine's Day concert - on Thursday, February 14, 2013, 7 pm, at Zipper Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles.

Music Director Jeffrey Kahane conducts Principal Keyboard Patricia Mabee, Associate Principal Second Violin Sarah Thornblade and First Violin Cheryl Norman-Brick in a program featuring JS Bach's Concerto No. 2 in C major for Two Harpsichords, BWV 1061, and Concerto in D minor for Two Violins, BWV 1043, as well as CPE Bach's Concerto in E-flat major for Harpsichord and Fortepiano, H.479 (W.47), the latter, a musical milestone that paves the way to the Classical period. A complimentary wine reception for ticket holders begins at 6 pm followed by the 7 pm performance, during which LACO artists share their insights into the music and invite questions from the audience.

LACO's "Baroque Conversations" explores the genesis of orchestral repertoire from early Baroque schools through the pre-classical period, this season spotlighting the legacy of JS Bach and his sons. Three additional concerts in the Baroque Conversations series on Thursdays take place on March 21, April 11 and May 9, 2013.

Tickets for individual concerts ($55) are available online at laco.org, by calling LACO at 213 622 7001, or at the venue box office on the night of the concert, if tickets remain. Student rush tickets ($10), based on availability, may be purchased at the box office the day of the concert.

Equally at home at the keyboard or on the podium, JEFFREY KAHANE has established an international reputation as a truly versatile artist, recognized around the world for his mastery of diverse repertoire ranging from Bach, Mozart and Beethoven to Gershwin, Golijov and John Adams. In 2012-13, Kahane enters his 16th season as the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra's music director. He previously served as music director of the Colorado and Santa Rosa symphonies. He has garnered tremendous critical acclaim for his innovative programming and commitment to education and community involvement and received multiple ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming for his work in both Los Angeles and Denver. In addition to his projects with LACO, he has recently appeared at the Aspen, Mostly Mozart, Blossom, Music@Menlo and Oregon Bach festivals; performed concertos with the Toronto and Houston symphonies; guest conducted the San Francisco, National and Indianapolis symphonies; and play/conducted programs in Europe with the Camerata Salzburg and Hamburg Symphony.

As a gifted solo recitalist, ensemble performer and educator, PATRICIA MABEE is acclaimed by audiences and critics for her virtuosity, flawless technique and outstanding interpretive skills. She has been featured as a soloist with LACO, where she has been principal keyboardist since 1976, and has appeared in more than 20 works from the concerto repertoire under the batons of Sir Neville Marriner, Christopher Hogwood, Helmuth Rilling, Nicholas McGegan and Iona Brown. Mabee is also principal keyboard with the New West Symphony Orchestra. Since her debut at Carnegie Hall in 1982, she has given recitals on four continents. Mabee's career as an ensemble player is equally distinguished. She has made regular appearances at the Oregon Bach Festival with Rilling, as well as at the Casals, Chamber Music Northwest, Ojai and Los Angeles Bach festivals. Specializing in Early Music, Mabee received a Master's degree in keyboard performance from California Institute of the Arts. She is currently on both the CalArts and Colburn School Conservatory of Music faculties. Mabee also performs with the Bach's Circle, which focuses on the music of JS Bach, his sons and contemporaries, and is the music director of Ritornello, a period instrument ensemble that presents educational programs for schools, museums and community groups. The pianist for world premieres by John Adams, Bruce Broughton, Donald Crockett and Libby Larsen, she also performs new works for harpsichord and synthesizer. Mabee can be heard on numerous film soundtracks, including Marie Antoinette and Master and Commander.

CHERYL NORMAN-BRICK has performed in major venues around the world, including Carnegie Hall, the Mann Auditorium in Israel and the Lincoln Center's Alice Tully and Avery Fisher halls. Her numerous honors include first prize in the Musical Merit Foundation of Greater San Diego awards program, as well as an artist grant and Premier Prix avec félicitations from the Conservatory of Lausanne in Switzerland. As the winner of the Millennium Rome Festival Concerto Competition, Norman-Brick gave a series of five recitals, as well as a concerto appearance in Rome. In 2001, she was invited to the Maud Powell Festival in Illinois, where she served as recitalist, teacher, concertmaster and soloist with the Maud Powell Festival Orchestra and was honored with the Emerging Artist Award. In 2003, she recorded her first solo album in Mexico City, featuring unaccompanied violin works by Ysaÿe, Bach and Hindemith. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from USC, where she studied with Alice Schoenfeld. She also received a Diploma of Virtuosity from the Conservatory of Lausanne and a Master of Music degree from the State University of New York at Stonybrook. Norman-Brick joined LACO in 2005. She has been a member of the Pacific Symphony and principal second violin of the Brooklyn Philharmonic and Grant Park Symphony Orchestra. Norman-Brick frequently performs with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and has joined them on six national and international tours, including an eight-city domestic tour under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel in May 2010. Active in the motion picture industry, she recently performed on the soundtracks of The Help, The Smurfs and The Lucky One. Norman-Brick's private teaching studio is The Valencia Suzuki School of Violin and Piano.

SARAH THORNBLADE, who first joined LACO in 1999, is the Orchestra's associate principal second violin. The Los Angeles Times describes her playing as "rapturously winning" and the Santa Barbara News writes that she is a "marvelously versatile violinist." Thornblade is a member of both the Eclipse Quartet and Xtet, both ensembles dedicated to performing 20th century and contemporary music. Eclipse is a visiting artist at Mills College and a resident artist at Villa Aurora in the Pacific Palisades. Recent premiers by the quartet include works by Peter Garland, Chico Mello, Stephen Cohn and Zeena Parkins. The quartet is the recent recipient of an Aaron Copland Fund recording grant and has recorded for Tzadik and for an upcoming release on Bridge records. Thronblade is a former member of the Denali Quartet and a former founding member of the Arianna String Quartet, which has been a grand prize winner at the Fischoff National, Coleman and Carmel chamber music competitions. She has also performed with Camerata Pacifica, Jacaranda Music and Auros Group for New Music (Boston). Thornblade has performed throughout the country and abroad at festivals including the Tanglewood and Spoleto music festivals; the Look & Listen and Oregon Bach festivals; and the Norfolk, Steamboat Springs, Banff and Portland chamber music festivals. She has collaborated with artists such as Gilbert Kalish, Jeffery Kahane, Andres Cardenes, Randall Hodgkinson and Warren Jones. Thornblade is on the faculty of Pomona College and is also an active recording musician for film and television. She holds degrees from Indiana University and Northern Illinois University and studied with Miriam Fried, Mathias Tacke and Shmuel Ashkenasi.

LOS ANGELES CHAMBER ORCHESTRA (LACO), proclaimed "America's finest chamber orchestra" by Public Radio International, has established itself among the world's top musical ensembles. Since 1997, LACO has performed under acclaimed conductor and pianist Jeffrey Kahane, hailed by critics as "visionary" and "a conductor of uncommon intellect, insight and musical integrity." Under Kahane's leadership, the Orchestra maintains its status as a preeminent interpreter of historical masterworks and a champion of contemporary composers. During its 44-year history, the Orchestra has made 30 recordings, toured Europe, South America and Japan, performed across North America and garnered seven ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming. LACO presents its Orchestral Series at both the Alex Theatre and Royce Hall, Baroque Conversations at Zipper Hall, Westside Connections chamber music series at The Broad Stage, and an annual Discover concert at Ambassador Auditorium. LACO also presents a Concert Gala, an annual Silent Film screening and several fundraising salons each year. Additionally, LACO's outreach programs Meet the Music, Community Partners, Campus to Concert Hall and the LACO/USC Thornton Strings Mentorship Program reach thousands of young people annually.

The concert will play Thursday, February 14, 2013, 7 pm at the Zipper Concert Hall, The Colburn School, 200 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, Calif.

PROGRAM:
BACH Concerto No. 2 in C major for Two Harpsichords, BWV 1061
BACH Concerto in D minor for Two Violins, BWV 1043
CPE BACH Concerto in E-flat major for Harpsichord and Fortepiano, H.479 (W.47)

TICKET PRICES: $55; Student rush tickets ($10), based on availability, may be purchased at the box office the day of the concert. Tickets available online at laco.org, by phone 213 622 7001 or by fax 213 626 2157. Tickets also on sale at the theatre box office the night of the concert, if available.

A pre-concert reception, beginning at 6 pm, is free to all ticket holders.

Pictured: Jeffrey Kahane. Photo by Michael Burke.

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