Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Presents BEETHOVEN'S SYMPHONY NO. 9 THE CHORAL, 4/22

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Music Director Jeffrey Kahane, presents Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, "The Choral" with the Los Angeles Master Chorale and guest soloists Kathryn Mueller, soprano; Suzanna Guzman, mezzo-soprano; Paul Appleby, tenor; and Justin Hopkins, bass, on Saturday, April 22, 2017, 8 pm, Alex Theatre, and Sunday, April 22, 2017, 7 pm, Royce Hall. LACO's version of the monumental work, traditionally presented by massive forces, is performed by LACO with a smaller contingent of singers and instrumentalists, which allows for different sonorities and a different light to be shed on the masterpiece, according to Kahane. While the music of Beethoven has been a mainstay of LACO's repertoire since its inception, the Orchestra has performed the 9th Symphony only once previously during its nearly five decades.

Mueller, a Grammy-nominated singer praised for her "lovely tone and easy agility" (San Francisco Classical Voice), has previously appeared with LACO as well as American Bach Soloists, Pacific Symphony, Portland Baroque Orchestra, Santa Fe Pro Musica and Eastern Music Festival. A featured soloist on recordings by New Trinity Baroque, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Tucson Chamber Artists and Seraphic Fire, she earned prizes from the Oratorio Society of New York's Solo and Early Music America's Baroque Performance competitions and was a vocal fellow at the Carmel Bach Festival. Mueller is on the voice faculties at East Carolina and North Carolina State universities.

Guzmán appears on the stages of many of the world's leading opera companies, including the Metropolitan, Los Angeles, San Diego, Washington National, Houston Grand, Dallas, Montpellier, Geneva, Nice, Townsend, Pittsburgh, Columbus and Orlando operas, as well as the Edinburgh and Spoleto USA festivals. She has also appeared in musical theater equity productions across the country. In addition, Guzmán is a noted host on such television and radio programs as KCET's Open Call, K-Mozart, Sunday Evening Opera and LA Opera Live, which she writes and produces. Her screen credits include CSI: New York, and several feature films.

Appleby, heralded for his "excellent voice" (The New York Times) and one of the most sought-after voices of his generation, has earned critical accolades for his interpretive depth, vocal strength and range of expressivity. He is equally in demand on the world's leading concert, recital and opera stages. Highlights of his 2016-17 season include two company debuts: a reprise of the role of Belmonte with Dutch National Opera in Mozart's The Abduction from the Seraglio and a return to the role of Tom Rakewell with Festival Aix-en-Provence in Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress. Appleby's discography includes albums for Delos, Virgin Classics, EMI's Juilliard Sessions and Nonesuch. He is featured in Nico Muhly's opera, Two Boys, recorded live during the Metropolitan Opera's 2013 production and released by Nonesuch. In 2009 he won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

Hopkins, a versatile artist praised for his "beautifully focused bass" (Los Angeles Times), has been featured at Carnegie and Queen Elizabeth halls and Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie and performed for numerous dignitaries and heads of state, most notably a command solo performance in 2009 for the Dalai Lama. He has sung operatic roles ranging from Mozart to Philip Glass, and concert repertoire including Britten's War Requiem and Mendelssohn's Elijah. Hopkins has performed under the batons of conductors Keith Lockhart, Charles Dutoit and Valery Gergiev with the Philadelphia, BBC Concert and Verbier Festival orchestras, and the Boston Pops. He most recently appeared in LACO's acclaimed production of Kurt Weill's Lost in the Stars.

Los Angeles Master Chorale, led by Artistic Director Grant Gershon, is a resident company of The Music Center at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Presenting its own concert series each season, it performs choral music from the earliest to the most contemporary compositions. The Chorale performed in more than 500 concerts with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, locally and internationally, and has also appeared at the Great Performers series at Lincoln Center and the Ojai Music and Ravinia festivals. Its discography includes 10 commercial albums, including David Lang's the national anthems/the little match girl passion, Steve Reich's You Are (Variations) and the Grammy-nominated Lauridsen: Lux Aeterna.

Kahane, equally at home at the keyboard or on the podium, 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. Now in his 20th season as LACO 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. He is a Professor of Keyboard Studies at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music.

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 the baton of acclaimed conductor and pianist Jeffrey Kahane, hailed by critics as "visionary" and a conductor with "effortless musicality and extraordinary communicative gifts." Under Kahane's leadership, the Orchestra maintains its status as a preeminent interpreter of historical masterworks and a champion of contemporary composers.

Steinway is the official piano of Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

Tickets, starting at $29, are on sale now and may be purchased online at laco.org or by calling LACO at 213 622 7001 x 1. Discounted tickets are also available by phone for seniors 65 years of age and older and groups of 12 or more. College students may purchase student rush tickets ($8), based on availability, at the box office the day of the concert. Also available for college students is the $30 "Campus to Concert Hall All Access Pass" - good for all eight of LACO's Orchestral concerts, five Baroque Conversations and three Westside Connections series concerts.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

EVENT:
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra - "Beethoven 9"
Jeffrey Kahane, conductor
Kathryn Mueller, soprano
Suzanna Guzmán, mezzo-soprano
Paul Appleby, tenor
Justin Hopkins, bass
Los Angeles Master Chorale

WHEN/WHERE:
Saturday, April 22, 2017, 8 pm, Alex Theatre, 216 North Brand Boulevard, Glendale CA 91203, and Sunday, April 23, 2017, 7 pm, Royce Hall, 340 Royce Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095

TICKETS/INFO
Tickets start at $29.
To order tickets, please call 213 622 7001 x 1, or visit www.laco.org
(Discounts for groups of 12 or more, seniors 65+ and college students, if available)
213 622 7001 × 1 or visit www.laco.org

Program, artists and ticket prices subject to change.

(PHOTO CREDIT: LACO)

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