CONCERT ADVISORY For Immediate Release October 22, 2014

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra welcomes internationally-renowned violinist and presents world premiere of new work by Abigail Richardson Classical Superstar Joshua Bell October 30, 2014

*SOLD OUT*

Calgary, AB: The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra is wrapping up a star-studded October by welcoming one of the biggest names in classical music to the stage for a sold-out show.

What: Classical Superstar Joshua Bell

Where: Jack Singer Concert Hall EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts

When: Thursday, October 30, 2014 Lobby doors – 7PM; Concert start – 8PM

Hot on the heels of world-renowned pianist Jan Lisiecki and five-time Grammy® Award winner Mary Chapin Carpenter, who both played with the CPO earlier this month, violinist Joshua Bell takes the stage to perform Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1.

Bell’s performance comes alongside the world premiere of Song of the Poets, a new work from Canadian composer Abigail Richardson, written to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of World War I.

This concert, led by CPO Music Director Roberto Minczuk and featuring the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus, marks the CPO’s third sold-out classical concert of the Season.

This concert will be dedicated to Calgary philanthropist and CPO supporter John Gareau, who passed away earlier this year. Gareau was a past recipient of the CPO’s prestigious Golden Baton Award, recognizing his contributions to the CPO.

Ticket Information: Tickets to this concert are sold out. More information is available by contacting the CPO Box Office at 403-571-0849.

Media Opportunities: Those wanting to arrange interviews or coverage of the event can contact Publicist Marie Pollock at 403-571-0283 or [email protected]. All media attendance must be approved in advance.

The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra gratefully acknowledges: Season sponsors Nexen, a CNOOC Limited Company, and the Calgary Herald, Music Director sponsor Sunesis Consulting Inc., guest artist sponsor the Naomi and John Lacey Virtuoso Program, corporate champions MNP, and host hotel The Fairmont Palliser.

Led by internationally renowned Music Director Roberto Minczuk, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra has been a cornerstone of Calgary’s multi-faceted arts community since 1955 and is one of North America’s finest and most versatile live music ensembles. A repertoire that is extensive and broad in scope consistently attracts acclaimed guest artists and conductors. From classical giants to rock ‘n’ roll hits and family favourites, the CPO offers an average of 80 concerts per Season designed to fit all musical tastes.

-30- Biographical Information:

Roberto Minczuk, conductor In 2014/2015, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning conductor Roberto Minczuk takes the stage for his ninth Season as Music Director of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and also his ninth Season as Principal Conductor of the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazilian-born Minczuk is a conductor and musician of international prominence, with many distinguished honours including a 2004 Latin Grammy® for best classical album and a 2004 Emmy® for the program New York City Ballet – Celebrates Balanchine 100.

Maestro Minczuk is firmly established as one of his generation’s brightest talents. He debuted in the United States conducting the in 1998 and in 2002 he was invited to assume the post of Associate Conductor, a post held by . He has conducted 93 orchestras throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific, including those of New York, Los Angeles, Montreal, Toronto, London, Scotland, Barcelona, France, Israel and Tokyo, among numerous others.

Maestro Minczuk’s various CD recordings include four with the CPO: Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with Pavel Kolesnikov, Rhapsody in Blue: The Best of George Gershwin, and Beethoven Symphonies 1 & 3 and 5 & 8. His recording of Bachianas Brasileiras with the São Paulo State

Symphony Orchestra is considered by Gramophone Magazine as one of the best recordings of this work in the world, with Gramophone stating that “Minczuk’s is the only real choice for the complete Bachianas – his set…is at least a match for its rivals where not demonstrably better, and with finer sound.”

Other recordings featuring Maestro Minczuk include the world première of Stokowski’s Symphony No. 1 with the BBC Wales, Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde excerpts, and a DVD recording of the last edition of the Rock in Rio Festival in 2011, performed by the Brazilian Symphony and Legião Urbana – a popular Brazilian rock group.

Maestro Roberto Minczuk lives in both Calgary and Rio de Janeiro with his wife Valéria and their four children: Natalie, Rebecca, Joshua and Julia.

Joshua Bell, violin One of the most celebrated violinists of his era, Joshua Bell has more than 40 CDs to his credit receiving Mercury, Gramophone and Echo Klassik awards. Now in his third season as Music Director of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Bell is the first person to hold this title since Sir Neville Marriner formed the orchestra in 1958. Recordings with the Academy under Bell’s leadership include The Beethoven 4th and 7th symphonies and the Bach violin concertos will be released in September 2014. Additional releases include Musical Gifts From Joshua Bell and Friends, French Impressions with pianist Jeremy Denk, At Home With Friends, the Defiance soundtrack, Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with the Berlin Philharmonic, The Red Violin Concerto, Voice of the Violin, and Romance of the Violin, which Billboard named the 2004 Classical CD of the Year, and Bell the Classical Artist of the Year. His discography encompasses critically-acclaimed performances of the major violin repertoire in addition to John Corigliano’s Oscar®-winning soundtrack, The Red Violin.

Bell’s career spans over 30 years as a soloist, chamber musician, recording artist and conductor while being an outspoken advocate for classical music and keeping music education in schools. www.joshuabell.com.

Calgary Philharmonic Chorus The Calgary Philharmonic Chorus, led by Chorus Master Timothy Shantz, is a group of over 150 voluntary singers who perform diverse repertoire including oratorio, opera, light classics, contemporary music and pops. The acclaimed ensemble is featured in approximately eight concerts with the Orchestra each Season.

Established in 1963, the Chorus works with the Orchestra to achieve excellence in the performance of choral music and to promote the enjoyment and development of choral singing in the Calgary community. Chorus members come from all walks of life and include physicians, students, lawyers and stay-at-home mothers who dedicate over 19,000 hours annually to rehearsals and performances. The Chorus is proud to perform for local charities during the Christmas season and often takes part in community education and outreach activities with the Orchestra throughout the year.