"Brahms - Blissful and Bold"

The New Philharmonic (NP) and Music Director/Conductor Kirk Muspratt begin NP's 2012-2013 season by reuniting with pianist Yeol eum Son, silver medalist of the Van Cliburn and Tchaikovsky competitions, for "Brahms - Blissful and Bold," Saturday, October 13 at 8 p.m.  at the Lund Auditorium at Dominican University Performing Arts Center in River Forest.

Son made her debut with NP this past March performing one of the most famous piano concertos of the Romantic period, “Schumann’s Piano Concerto op. 54 in A minor.” For the Oct. 13 concert, Son will be showcased in Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, a composition for solo piano with orchestral accompaniment. Lauded as “a brilliant pianist who plays with a ravishing sound and formidable technique” (Telegram & Gazette), she continues to build international recognition with acclaimed performances across North America, Europe, and Asia.

Johannes Brahms, Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 83 was composed 22 years after Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15 (1858). Brahms began work on Piano Concerto No. 2 in 1878 and completed it in 1881. The work premiered in Budapest on Nov. 9, 1881, with Brahms as soloist, and was an immediate success.

The concert will also feature Brahms Symphony No. 4 in E-minor, Op. 98, the last of his symphonies.  Brahms began working on the piece in 1884, just a year after completing his Symphony No. 3, and completed it in 1885. 

New Philharmonic presents "Brahms - Blissful and Bold," In the Lund Auditorium at Dominican University Performing Arts Center, 7900 West Division Street, River Forest. Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $38 adult/$36 senior/$28 youth. For advance ticket purchases, contact the MAC box office: (630) 942-4000, or visit: www.AtTheMAC.org.  Tickets are also available the day of the performance at the Dominican University Performing Arts Center box office. For more information call 708-488-5000 or visit Dom.edu/pac.