Breiner and Feidman performing together

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 11^th, 2008

Peter Breiner 3 in 1 - Conducts, Plays and Composes:

World premiere with special guest Giora Feidman

New York, NY ’Äì Two of Breiner's major compositions, Slovakian Dances. Some Crazy. Some Sad. and Concerto for Giora and Orchestra will have their premiere on March 6^th, 2008 at the Kosice Spring Music Festival in Slovakia.

The Slovak State Philharmonic conducted by Peter Breiner, will present four out of sixteen Slovakian Dances. These represent a colourful addition to the long-lasting tradition of writing symphonic versions of folk songs and dances, akin to Brahms' Hungarian Dances and Dvorak's Slavonic Dances. "The inspiration for Slovakian Dances came through Klaus Heymann, the manager of Naxos, at the moment when he commissioned me to write the new instrumentation of Brahms' Hungarian Dances," says Breiner about the origin of his idea.

Concerto for Giora and Orchestra was inspired by no one less known than Giora Feidman, who is, fittingly so, playing the clarinet solo in this world premiere. Leonard Bernstein saluted: "Long live Giora, his clarinet and his music! He builds bridges between generations, cultures and classes, and he does it with perfect artistry!" Similarly, Giora enchanted Breiner to the extent of the Concerto creation. "This concerto is, in fact, a sinfonia concertante with an homage to formal plan of Mahler's 1^st Symphony, but built on music blocks that both Giora and myself grew up with. That would be classical music, tango, klezmer, jazz ’Ķ" declares Breiner. "I pick up the clarinet to share a message with mankind ’Ķ and it is, of course, a spiritual message ’Ķ" admits Feidman.

"There has not been anything for a long time I would look forward to as much as to this concert." confesses Breiner.

New York based Peter Breiner is a Canadian-Slovak composer, conductor, pianist and arranger. He is known internationally for a multiplicity of recordings, broadcasts, telecasts and concert appearances. He began to play the piano at the age of four.

Peter Breiner's original compositions include two symphonies, as well as orchestral, chamber and choral music. He is one of the most recorded classical musicians in the world. The upcoming release of three CDs ’Äì Janacek's Operatic Suites on Naxos arranged and conducted by Breiner will increase the account of his recordings over 150.

Breiner's clever arrangements are perhaps the best known. They include music of Bach, Tchaikovski, Gershwin, award-winning Baroque versions of the Beatles and a similar adaptation of Elvis Presley and of popular Christmas music. Breiner's distinctive arrangements of all national anthems were used during the Olympic Games in Athens 2004.

Breiner has conducted, often doubling as a pianist, the Royal Philharmonic in London, UK, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra National de Lille, France, to mention just a few.

Born and raised in Argentina, Giora Feidman grew up in the Jewish Klezmer tradition. After studies in classical music he joined the Israeli Philharmonic as the youngest appointed clarinettist. He presents his audience not only with a very personal interpretation of Klezmer, but with a boundless homage to life. Feidman has played with many world renowned orchestras such as, the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Munich Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, the Munich Radio Orchestra, the Kronos Quartet and the Polish Chamber Philharmonic. Together with Itzak Perlman, he contributed to the soundtrack of Schindler's List. Giora will celebrate his March birthday by playing the solo in the world premiere of the composition carrying his name.

The Slovak State Philharmonic, Ko‰°ice was established in 1968. The Philharmonic achieved great successes with its concerts in many European countries but also in important cities of Asia and Mexico. The orchestra has performed at international music festivals held in important cultural centres of the world. In 1994 The Slovak State Philharmonic, Ko‰°ice was the first Slovak professional symphonic orchestra performing in North America.

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