Joshua Bell and Edgar Meyer to Perform West Coast Premiere of Meyer's Double Concerto, 7/17

Hollywood Bowl favorite, famed violinist Joshua Bell returns to present two performances within a program on both the LA Phil's Classical Tuesday and Classical Thursday series, Tuesday, July 17, at 8 pm, and Thursday, July 19, at 8 pm. For the first half, he is joined by composer and virtuoso bassist Edgar Meyer to give the West Coast premiere of Meyer's new Double Concerto for Violin and Double Bass. In the second half of each program, Bell plays Mendelssohn's lyrical Violin Concerto. Conductor Ludovic Morlot leads both concerts in his Hollywood Bowl debut. To see Morlot discuss the program, Bell and Meyer, please click here.

Ludovic Morlot is quickly establishing an international reputation as one of the leading conductors of his generation. In addition to recently completing his first season as Music Director of the Seattle Symphony, he also inaugurated Sonic Evolution, a commissioning project he designed to feature new works honoring Seattle's musical heritage; explored the music of French composer Henri Dutilleux and gave the world premiere of a piece by Nico Muhly, among other initiatives. Another notable feature last season was Morlot's concerts with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which included a performance as part of the LA Phil's Visiting Orchestras series at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Often referred to as the "poet of the violin," Joshua Bell is one of the world's most celebrated violinists. He continues to enchant audiences with his breathtaking virtuosity, sheer beauty of tone, and charismatic stage presence. His restless curiosity, passion, universal appeal, and multi-faceted musical interests have earned him the rare title of "classical music superstar." Bell's most recent challenge is his appointment as the new Music Director of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, the first person to hold this post since Sir Neville Marriner formed the orchestra in 1958. The ensemble's first 15-concert tour to the U.S. garnered rave reviews, and as one orchestra member blogged in Gramophone "the audience reaction all tour has been nothing short of rock concert enthusiasm." Their first recording under Bell's leadership will be the 4th and 7th symphonies of Beethoven with plans to eventually perform and record all the Beethoven symphonies. Equally at home as a soloist, chamber musician, recording artist and orchestra leader, Bell's 2012 summer appearances include the premiere of a new double concerto for violin and double bass by Edgar Meyer which was commissioned by Bell and will be performed by himself and Meyer at Tanglewood, Aspen and the Hollywood Bowl. In addition Bell will appear at the Festival del Sole, Ravinia, Verbier, Salzburg, Saratoga and Mostly Mozart festivals.

In demand as both a performer and composer, Edgar Meyer has formed a role in the music world unlike any other. Hailed by the New Yorker as "…the most remarkable virtuoso in the relatively unchronicled history of his instrument," Meyer's unparalleled technique and musicianship in combination with his gift for composition have brought him to the fore, where he is appreciated by a vast, varied audience. His uniqueness in the field was recognized with a MacArthur Award in 2002. As a solo classical bassist, Meyer has released a concerto album with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra featuring Bottesini's Gran Duo with Joshua Bell, Meyer's Double Concerto for Bass and Cello with Yo-Yo Ma, Bottesini's Bass Concerto No. 2 and Meyer's Double Concerto in D for Bass. As a composer, Meyer has carved out a remarkable niche in the musical world. In the 2011/12 season, he was composer-in-residence with the Alabama Symphony and premiered his third concerto for double bass.

Complete program:

WEBER Der Freischütz Overture
MEYER Double Concerto (West Coast premiere)
WEBER Oberon Overture
MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto

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