THE AUSTIN SYMPHONY PRESENTS A SEASON OPENER BURSTING WITH PASSION AND NATIONALISM.

WHO: The Austin Symphony Orchestra WHEN: September 5 & 6, 2003 -- 8:00 p.m. WHERE: Bass Concert Hall TICKETS: $19 - $35 CONTACT: Public Relations Department 476-6064

(PRWEB) August 23, 2003 -- In a time when the nationalistic power of classical music is sorely needed yet overlooked and scarcely supported, the Austin Symphony Orchestra opens its new season, 93 Seasons Under One Flag" with one of classical musics most revered talents: pianist Emanuel Ax. Ax is renowned not only for his poetic temperament and unsurpassed virtuosity, but also for the exceptional breadth of his performing activity.

Maestro Peter Bay will be bringing his vision and passion back to the podium for his 6th season with the Symphony. Audiences should expect to find the orchestra in top shape and Bay has prepared quite a program to start them out. For the curious and venturesome, there are pre-concert talks at Bass Concert Hall starting at 7:10 and a wealth of information on the Symphony website as well.

Concert Program:
SMETANA       The Moldau from My Fatherland"
FALLA         Nights in the Gardens of Spain
SIBELIUS      Symphony No.2 in D Major, Op. 43

Emanuel Ax will be performing Manuel de Fallas Nights in the Gardens of Spain." Falla was the first major composer to establish a nationalistic voice" for Spain. The work is heralded as one of pure emotion. Nights in the Gardens of Spain" is a marvelous refinement of Spanish temperament with impressionistic, jewel-like craftsmanship from a composer with a subtle ear for color and absolute precision of technique.

Also on the program are Bedøich Smetanas (a Czechoslovakian national hero) most famous and most frequently performed work The Moldau from 'My Fatherland" and the astounding Symphony No.2 in D Major" by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius who enjoyed phenomenal popularity in his time. While insisting that there is nothing political in the programming, Maestro Bay submits, All three composers reflect a love for their homelands."

Born in Lvov, Poland, Emanuel Ax moved to Winnipeg, Canada, with his family when he was a young boy. Mr. Ax captured public attention in 1974 when, at age 25, he won the First Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition in Tel Aviv; the first in a series of prestigious awards. He has been an exclusive Sony Classical recording artist since 1987. Devoted to chamber music literature, Mr. Ax regularly works with such artists as Young Uck Kim, Cho-Liang Lin, Yo-Yo Ma, Peter Serkin and Jaime Laredo, and he was a frequent collaborator with the late Isaac Stern.

Complete Program Notes: http://www.austinsymphony.org/season/september/eap.asp
Download a printable photo at: http://www.austinsymphony.org/newspress

Charge tickets and buy gift certificates online at http://www.austinsymphony.org where you will find interactive seating maps, price options and a wealth of concert information. Purchase tickets at the Symphony Box Office, 11th and Red River or call 476-6064 or 1-888-4-MAESTRO (toll-free).

Concert Sponsor: Wells Fargo
Season Sponsor: St. Davids Healthcare Sponsorship
Media Sponsors: Austin American-Statesman, Time Warner/News 8 Austin, KMFA Classical 89.5

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