Violinist Leila Josefowicz to perform fiery and thrilling music

Feb 17, 2006

For Immediate Release

Contact: Annie Matlow 509-326-3136

SPOKANE: The Spokane Symphony, Maestro Eckart Preu and violinist Leila Josefowicz will thrill the audience in Role Plays on Friday, Feb. 24, at the Spokane Opera House at 8 p.m.

Twenty-seven-year-old violinist Leila Josefowicz has won the hearts of audiences around the world with her honest, fresh approach to the repertoire and her dynamic virtuosity. She has collaborated with artists such as Thomas Hampson, Andre Watts and Martha Argerich. With performances all around the world, her talent has been recognized by media as well, appearing on The Tonight Show, Evening at Pops and PBS Live from Lincoln Center. She will join the symphony in taking on Shostakovich's intense, vigorous Concerto in A minor for Violin.

This performance will recognize the composers' ability to draw drama, powerful emotions of love and exhilaration through music. It is also important to note that this year is the 100th anniversary of Shostakovich's birth.

Composed in four movements of symphonic weight, Shostakovich's concerto calls on everything in the violinist's technical arsenal including vast physical and emotional stamina. Even the redoubtable Oistrakh begged the composer to give the opening of the finale to the orchestra a breather after the daunting solo cadenza that concludes the third movement, he readily complied.

In just 11 days, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote his composition of The Tempest, a Shakespearean tone poem. The Tempest brings the discovery of one of the Russian master's most alluring romantic melodies. The music portrays the magical romance of reconciliation and yearning beauty that only Tchaikovsky could create.

Polish composer Witold Lutoslawski's Concerto for Orchestra won state prize for music in 1955 and remains today as the most popular among his compositions. The concertos dazzling use of instruments pushes the weight of the piece toward the end, with a final movement that is longer than the first two put together and combines three elements passacaglia, toccata, and chorale into one exhilarating whole. Listen for the composer's extraordinary ear for instrumental color and sensuous sound.

This concert is underwritten by Itron.

Tickets are $15, $23, $31, and $35. Tickets are available in advance without service charge at the Spokane Symphony Ticket office, 818 W. Riverside, Suite 100, or by calling 509-624-1200. Tickets are also available at all TicketsWest outlets or by calling 1-800-325-SEAT or at spokanesymphony.org.