PROGRAM NOTES
RACHMANINOFF RHAPSODY
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
James Conlon
Beatrice Rana
© Bonnie Perkinson
© Simon Fowler
James Conlon Beatrice Rana
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 has been Music Director of LA Opera since 2006 and assumed the role of Artistic Advisor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra this season . He has served as Music Director of the Ravinia Festival , summer home of the Chicago Symphony , and is 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 . 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 , and a 2018 Commendatore Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana from President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella .
Pianist Beatrice Rana has shaken the international classical music world , garnering admiration and interest from concert presenters , conductors , critics , and audiences alike .
Rana appears regularly with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra , London Philharmonic Orchestra , Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra , Orchestre de Paris , BBC Symphony Orchestra , Philadelphia Orchestra , and the Los Angeles Philharmonic and performs at the world ’ s most esteemed concert halls including Vienna ’ s Musikverein and Berliner Philharmonie .
Known for her international touring , Rana ’ s collaborations include the London Symphony Orchestra with Gianandrea Noseda and the Bayerische Rundfunk Symphony Orchestra with Yannick Nézet-Séguin . This year , Rana plays recitals at Carnegie Hall , Philharmonie de Paris , Amsterdam Concertgebouw , and Gilmore Keyboard Festival .
An exclusive Warner Classics recording artist , Rana has received international acclaim for her recordings , including her solo album of works by Stravinsky and Ravel .
Rana came to public attention in 2011 after winning First Prize at the Montreal International Competition and in 2013 when she won the Silver Medal and the Audience Award at the 14th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition .
Born in Italy into a family of musicians , Rana studied with her lifetime mentor Benedetto Lupoat at the Nino Rota Conservatory in Monopoli and continued her studies with Arie Vardi at the Hochschule für Musik in Hannover .
Experience the Performance Again A livestream of this program is available for a limited time .
MAY-JUN 2022 / OVERTURE 31