Seasons and Planets (Masterworks 5)

Leif Bjaland, conductor
Lara St. John, violin

Saturday, February 21, 8 p.m., Van Wezel
Sunday, February 22, 2:30 p.m., Van Wezel

Experience The Planets like never before! The Orchestra will perform Holst's The Planets Suite, accompanied by a breathtaking presentation of images from NASA, perfectly synchronized to the music. The incorporation of new technology into this classical performance adds a dazzling layer of magic to one of the best-loved pieces in the orchestral repertoire.

Violinist Lara St. John brings what the Chicago Tribune deems "an irresistible vitality" to the stage for a performance of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons. This concert offers an unforgettable opportunity to explore distant worlds, while shedding new light on our own.

The Orchestra Association will present Classical Conversations, an informative pre-concert talk on Thursday, February 19, at 10:30 a.m. in Holley Hall of the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center. Admission is $8 and tickets may be purchased at the door.

About Lara St. John, violin

Described as "something of a phenomenon" by The Strad magazine, Canadian-born violinist Lara St. John has performed as a soloist with the orchestras of Cleveland, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Seattle, Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, as well as the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Boston Pops. In Europe, she has played with the NDR Symphony (Hanover), the Zurich Cha.m.ber Orchestra, the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, the Bournemouth Symphony, and the A.m.sterda.m. Symphony, a.m.ong others. Ms. St John has also appeared frequently in Asia, in performances with the Hong Kong Symphony, the Tokyo Symphony, the China Philharmonic in Beijing, the Guangzhou Symphony, the Shanghai Broadcasting Orchestra, and in recital in the Forbidden City. She has also performed with the Queensland Symphony in Australia.

"St. John brings to the stage personal charisma, an unflagging musical imagination and genuine passion." - The Los Angeles Times