MOZART ’ S JUPITER SYMPHONY
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
James Conlon
James Conlon , one of today ’ s most versatile and respected conductors , has cultivated a vast symphonic , operatic , and choral repertoire . Since his 1974 debut with the New York Philharmonic , he has conducted virtually every major American and European symphony orchestra . Through worldwide touring , an extensive discography and videography , numerous writings , television appearances , and guest speaking engagements , Conlon is one of classical music ’ s most recognized figures . Conlon is Music Director of LA Opera , where since 2006 he has led more performances than any other conductor in the company ’ s history . He has served as Music Director of the Ravinia Festival , summer home of the Chicago Symphony , and Artistic Advisor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra . He is also Music Director Laureate of the Cincinnati May Festival , where he was Music Director for 37 years . As a guest conductor at the Metropolitan Opera , he has led more than 270 performances since his 1976 debut . He is a noted advocate for composers suppressed by the Nazi regime and is an enthusiastic advocate of public scholarship and cultural institutions as forums for the exchange of ideas and inquiry into the role music plays in our shared humanity and civic life . His appearances throughout the country as a speaker on a variety of cultural and educational topics are widely praised . Among his numerous prizes are four GRAMMY ® Awards for recordings with LA Opera , a 2002 Légion d ’ Honneur from then-President of the French Republic Jacques Chirac , a 2018 Commendatore Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana from Sergio Mattarella , President of the Italian Republic , and a 2023 Cross of Honor for Science and Art ( Österreichische Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst ) from the Republic of Austria .
Yulianna Avdeeva
Yulianna Avdeeva gained worldwide recognition at the 2010 Chopin Competition , where she won First Prize with a “ detailed way of playing ” that “ matched Chopin ’ s own ” ( The
Telegraph ). A pianist of fiery temperament and virtuosity , Avdeeva plays with power , conviction , and sensibility , having won over audiences all over the world .
Now well established as a concert artist in Europe , America , Japan , Korea , and Asia , Yulianna ’ s most recent recording Resilience [ Pentatone ] is centered around the story of composer Władysław Szpilman , whose music is surrounded on the disc with music of Prokofiev , Shostakovich , and Weinberg . In the coming months , Yulianna will record both an album of the late works of Liszt and an album of late Chopin pieces , along with Sonata No . 3 at the acoustically superb Olivier Music Barn at the Tippet Rise Art Center in Montana .
A favorite artist in Europe with recurring concert engagements at the Warsaw Philharmonic , Rudolfinum in Prague , Pierre Boulez Saal Berlin , Vienna Konzerthaus , and Elbphilharmonie Hamburg , Yulianna has also given concerts for Ukrainian Relief , including one together with Anne-Sophie Mutter at the Lucerne Chamber Music Festival .
Following her debuts last season at Carnegie Hall , Rockport Festival , and returning to Tippet Rise with Gidon Kremer in two programs including Silvestrov premieres , Yulianna ’ s concerts this season include concertos with Joana Mallwitz ( Konzerthaus Orchester Berlin ), Tugan Sokhiev ( Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig ), Manfred Honeck ( WDR Symphony Cologne ), James Conlon ( Baltimore Symphony ), Petr Popelka ( Pittsburgh Symphony ) and Tugan Sokhiev ( Chicago Symphony ), to name a few . She tours Japan both in recital and in concerts with Orchestra of the 18th Century .
Her recital activity this season includes Chicago , Leeds , Cardiff , Hamburg , Essen , Zaragoza , Madrid , Genoa , and Prague in programs ranging from Hammerklavier to all-Liszt , Chopin and Rachmaninoff , Bach and of course Szpilman , Weinberg , Prokofiev , and Shostakovich .
A dedicated chamber musician , Yulianna has toured regularly throughout Europe with violinists Julia Fischer and Gidon Kremer , with appearances at Wigmore Hall , Tonhalle Zurich , Festspielhaus Baden-Baden , among
James Conlon
Yulianna Avdeeva
others . In addition to being a regular guest at Festival Chopin Warsaw and the Festival International de Piano La Roque d ’ Anthéron , recent seasons have seen Avdeeva in recital at the Salzburg Festival , Rheingau Musik Festival , Elbphilharmonie Hamburg , Boulez Saal , Vienna Konzerthaus , Palau de la Música Catalana , Musikfest Bremen , Jerusalem Chamber Music Festival , and Shostakovich Festival Saxony .
Piano aficionados around the world also
enjoy her educational online streaming project , the # AvdeevaBachProject , which she started during the lockdown gaining more than half a million views .
Bonnie Perkinson C . Schneider
JAN-FEB 2024 / OVERTURE 17