German State Phil. under Entremont Performs Weber, Mahler, Mozart on U.S. Tour

The German State Philharmonic Orchestra with world-renowned conductor and pianist Philippe Entremont, pianist SebastIan Knauer and French soprano Julie Cherrier, will perform a program of Weber, Mozart and Mahler at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011, at 8 p.m.

Michael Lankester, former music director of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, will provide additional insight about the composers and their music at the free 30-minute Concert Talk at 7:15 p.m.

The 88-piece orchestra is the cultural ambassador of Germany's Rhineland Palatinate and makes this stop on its first U.S. tour. In its 90some annual concerts, the ensemble displays a range of styles, from great symphonic works to musical theater, film music and silent film projects.

Entremont entered the world stage at age 18 with his Carnegie Hall debut. Since then he has continued his career as a pre-eminent, heavily recorded piano soloist and, in the last 30 years, has toured the world at the helm of its top orchestras. This season and next, he will lead world tours with four orchestras and hold leadership roles in several others. He was among the 10 world-class pianists chosen to perform at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The orchestra will open with the Overture from Oberon, Carl Maria von Weber's last work and regarded as one of his greatest. Second on the program, Entremont will join his former student and prize-winning pianist, SebastIan Knauer, in Mozart's "Concerto for 2 Pianos, No. 10, K. 365, E-flat Major." The work was most likely written for Mozart and his sister, Nannerl, and, according to program notes, is a "happy, high-spirited piece, inspired by the joy of four hands playing in concert." Scholars suggest it pre-echoes Mozart's The Magic Flute.

Knauer made his concerto debut at age 13 and has played in major concert halls throughout Europe, America and Asia. He has performed and directed all 27 Mozart concertos, garnered a Grammy nomination with his duo partner Daniel Hope, and his newest CD, Pure Mendelssohn, was honored as Gramophone Editor's Choice in 2009.

Last on the program is the most accessible of Mahler's works, the wondrous "Symphony No. 4, G Major," featuring soprano Julie Cherrier in the last movement. Cherrier's angelic tone has led her to win several French competitions. She was a finalist in Philadelphia's opera contest in 2004 and in the Monserrat Caballe contest in 2005. She has performed many leading soprano roles, including Gounod's Juliette, Offenbach's Antonia, Viarney's Marie for Les Mousquetaires, and Mozart's Suzanna. She is preparing to be Mozart's Pamina in Magic Flute and Massenet's Manon.

Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts is located at 2132 Hillside Road on the UConn campus in Storrs. Regular tickets are $33, $37, and $40, with some discounts available. For tickets and information, call the Box Office at 860.486.4226, Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., or order online at jorgensen.uconn.edu. Convenient free parking is available across the street in the North Garage.

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