12:30am | There will be plenty of reasons to celebrate the return of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra (LBSO) when its 2010-11 season opens on Saturday, October 9, 2010.
First, of course, the performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 on October 9 will mark opening night, which is always cause for a toast. In addition, Music Director Enrique Arturo Diemecke will kick off his tenth season with the LBSO. “I am very happy and full of joy to begin my 10th year leading this fantastic orchestra,” the Maestro said in a recent press release.
Finally, the performance will also mark the addition of acclaimed Russian pianist Vladimir Feltsman, who can add the Long Beach Performing Arts Center to his list of venues that includes the Hollywood Bowl, New York Philharmonic and the White House.
Yes, the night of October 9 will be full of reasons to celebrate. So it’s only natural that attendees will be invited to share a champagne toast with the Symphony as free glasses will be served in the lobby immediately following the performance. This is a one-time offer available only on Opening Night, which is sure to provide a flashing glimpse into the brilliant season ahead for the Symphony.
This season, entitled “From Russia, With Love,” will delve into the romantic styles of classical Russian music, so it’s only fitting to have Feltsman join the LBSO. Particularly on Opening Night, as Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 is the most famous off all the Russian piano concertos, and the Moscow-born Feltsman one of the nation’s most accomplished performers ever.
A veteran of the most impressive recitals and venues around the world, Feltsman comes to join the Long Beach Symphony after recent performances in Avery Fisher Hall with the New York Philharmonic, as well as highly-acclaimed stops in Beijing, London, Moscow and St. Petersburg. Feltsman brings a fantastic story with him wherever he performs, as he debuted with the Moscow Philharmonic at just 11 years old in 1969. After attempting to leave the country and its government in 1979, Feltsman was denied the request and banned from public performances. He finally came to the United States in 1987 and performed at the White House, traveling the world to delight audiences ever since. Next week, he will tackle the crowd in Long Beach.
He’ll have plenty of worthy company. Maestro Diemecke leads the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra into its 76th year of existence of drawing huge crowds to its performances at the Terrace Theatre and Long Beach Arena. They’re in good hands. The Los Angeles Times said of the Music Director, “Diemecke brings an insider’s savvy to music, revealing the inner heartbeat of a piece.” Diemecke wears a variety of other hats as well, simultaneously serving as principal conductor of the Flint Symphony Orchestra in Michigan and music director of the Buenos Aires Philharmonic. In his spare time, Diemecke likes to kick back as principal guest conductor of the Orchestre National de Montpellier in France.
There is hardly a more diverse, experienced and talented group of performers in the country, and the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra will kick off its exciting 2010-11 season “From Russia, With Love” next Saturday, October 9 at 8:00pm. A preview will be hosted by KUSC-FM radio’s Alan Chapman at 7:00pm, and also on display will be the audible art tour of Mussorgsky’s Pictures At An Exhibition and Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony. Tickets for the show begin at $23 and can be found at 562.436.3203 or LBSO.org.
Disclosure: lbpost.com Publisher Shaun Lumachi is a member of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors.