German-born Eckart Preu will conduct Long Beach Symphony for the first time as a music director candidate for the performing-arts group. Former music director of Orchestre International de Paris and current music director of the Spokane Symphony in Washington and the Stamford Orchestra in Connecticut, Preu will open with Brahms’s spirited Hungarian Dance No. 5 and then feature pianist Natasha Paremski with her interpretation of Chopin’s Concerto No. 1.
Russian-born Paremski was the recipient of the Gilmore Young Artist Award in 2006 at the young age of 18 and went on to win the Prix Montblanc in 2007 and the 2010 Classical Recording Foundation’s Young Artist of the Year.
The Symphony will end with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 about which Tchaikovsky wrote, “!there is not a single line in my symphony which I have not felt deeply, and which does not echo true and sincere emotions.”
Guests are encouraged to arrive early for an intimate, pre-concert talk with KUSC’s Rich Capparela, who will discuss elements of all three works and introduce Preu and soloist Paremski.
Commenting on the season, Symphony Executive Director Kelly Ruggirello stated, “This season we have presented inspiring music led by top-tier conductors with talented guest soloists and the audience response has been so rewarding. We look forward to having the incredibly talented Eckert Preu and Natasha Paremski close out this successful season.”
The Symphony’s Classical Concert Series is sponsored by Lexus. For more information, or to purchase tickets, which start at $20, visit the Symphony’s website at longbeachsymphony.org or call (562) 436-3203.
