Overture Magazine 2019-20 BSO_Overture_Jan Feb | Page 19

MENDELSSOHN VIOLIN CONCERTO Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France, Orchestre National de France, BBC Symphony Orchestra and London Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as all of the major Nordic orchestras including the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra where he was Chief Conductor from 2008 to 2015. As soloist, Storgårds gave the Finnish premiere of Schumann’s own violin transcription of the cello concerto, as well as the Violin Sonata No. 3. He regularly performs world premieres with many works being dedicated to him, including Per Nørgård’s Symphony No. 8 and Kaija Saariaho’s Nocturne for Solo Violin. He conducted the world premiere production of Sebastian Fagerlund’s Höstsonaten– Autumn Sonata at the Finnish National Opera. The piece was a finalist at the 2018 International Opera Awards. Highlights of his 2019–20 season include Storgårds’ return to the BBC Proms with the BBC Philharmonic, with whom he will embark on a European tour this fall. He also returns to the Chicago, Bamberg, Berlin Radio, St. Louis, Toronto and Detroit symphony orchestras and Oslo Philharmonic, as well as the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra for a tour to Asia. Storgårds’ award-winning discography includes two cycles of symphonies by Sibelius and Nielsen with the BBC Philharmonic. Their latest recording project includes works by avant- garde composer George Antheil. Other successes include discs of works by Nørgård, Korngold, Aho and Rautavaara, the latter receiving a Grammy nomination and a Gramophone Award in 2012. Storgårds studied violin with Chaim Taub and subsequently became concertmaster of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra under Esa-Pekka Salonen before studying conducting with Jorma Panula and Eri Klas. He received the Finnish State Prize for Music in 2002 and the Pro Finlandia Prize 2012. JOSEPH MEYERHOFF SYMPHONY HALL Friday, January 24, 2020, 8 pm Saturday, January 25, 2020, 8 pm MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE Sunday, January 26, 2020, 3 pm John Storgårds, conductor Gil Shaham, violin Dmitri Shostakovich Symphony No. 9 in E-flat Major, op. 70 Allegro Moderato Presto Largo Allegretto Felix Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E Minor, op. 64 Allegro molto appassionato Andante Allegretto non troppo - Allegro molto vivace Gil Shaham INTERMISSION Franz Joseph Haydn Symphony No. 103 in E-flat Major, “Drumroll” Adagio - Allegro con spirito Andante più tosto allegretto Menuetto Allegro con spirito The intermission will last 20 minutes. The concert will end at approximately 10 pm on Friday and Saturday and 5 pm on Sunday. PRESENTING SPONSOR: OFFICIAL INTERNET PROVIDER OF THE BSO: The appearance of violinist Gil Shaham is made possible through the major support of the Ruth Blaustein Rosenberg Guest Artist Fund. About the Artists John Storgårds Chief Guest Conductor of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and Principal Guest Conductor of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra Ottawa, John Storgårds has a dual career as a conductor and violin virtuoso. As Artistic Director of the Lapland Chamber Orchestra, a title he has held for nearly 25 years, Storgårds earned global critical acclaim for the ensemble’s adventurous performances and award- winning recordings. Storgårds appears regularly with the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, John Storgårds last appeared with the BSO in February 2016, conducting Holst’s The Planets. JA N – F E B 2020 / OV E R T U R E 17