Steven Isserlis joins the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra to open their 2009/10 Season

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Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra’s “Season of Stars” kicks off with Music Director Nicholas McGegan conducting a concert of sheer fun! Steven Isserlis (pictured), one of the most dramatic cello virtuosos of our time, joins Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Franz Josef Haydn’s death with a performance his of Cello Concerto in C Major, a work thought lost for over 200 years. Also on the program is one of Haydn’s most popular London symphonies, known as “The Clock” for its steady, driving tempo, and Ludwig van Beethoven’s energetic and entertaining Symphony No. 7. Famously described as being the “apotheosis of the dance,” the latter work is not only one of the greatest of all time, but it premiered under extraordinary circumstances, with Beethoven conducting a constellation of the brightest musical stars of his time, including Louis Spohr, Johann Hummel, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Antonio Salieri, Anton Romberg and Domenico Dragonetti.

“This concert is going to end with what I think is probably the most joyous pieces of music ever written, Beethoven’s 7th Symphony,” says Music Director Nicholas McGegan. “Wagner called it the ‘apotheosis of the dance,’ and he absolutely loved this piece. PBO performed this rollicking, good fun piece about ten years ago, and we’re thrilled to play it again.”

Concert Details
HAYDN      Symphony No. 101 in D major, “The Clock”
HAYDN      Concerto for Violoncello in C major
BEETHOVEN   Symphony No. 7 in A major

Nicholas McGegan, conductor
Steven Isserlis, cello

Thursday, September 10, 2009, at 8:00 p.m.
  San Francisco – Herbst Theatre (401 Van Ness Avenue)
Friday, September 11, 2009, at 8:00 p.m.
  Lafayette – Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church (49 Knox Drive)
Saturday, September 12, 2009, at 8:00 p.m.
  Berkeley – First Congregational Church (2345 Channing Way)
Sunday, September 13, 2009, at 7:30 p.m.
  Berkeley – First Congregational Church (2345 Channing Way)
Tuesday, September 15, 2009, at 8:00 p.m.
  Palo Alto – First United Methodist Church (625 Hamilton Avenue)

Tickets start at $25 and are available through City Box Office at (415) 392-4400 or online at www.philharmonia.org. If available, Student Rush tickets are $10 and go on sale one hour before the start of the concerts.

UPCOMING
October 9-17: "The Concerto – An Adversarial Friendship" with Elizabeth Wallfisch, violin
November 5-14: "The Passion of Dido" with Nicholas McGegan, conductor, Susan Graham, mezzo-soprano

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