PSO Welcomes Grammy Award-Winning Guest Conductor JoAnn Falletta, March 24

PSO Welcomes Grammy Award-Winning Guest Conductor JoAnn Falletta, March 24

PORTLAND, Maine ’Äì For a concert featuring Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6, "Pathetique," and other celebrated works, the Portland Symphony Orchestra welcomes guest conductor JoAnn Falletta, winner of two 2009 Grammy Awards, and guest violinist Michael Ludwig. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24 at Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle Street in Portland.

The PSO's Symphony 'Pathetique' concert opens with Robert Schumann's Overture to Manfred, Op. 115. Guest soloist Michael Ludwig joins the PSO for Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61, one of the most celebrated works of the violin concerto repertoire.

The program closes with the Symphony No. 6, "Pathetique," by Tchaikovsky. Exquisitely passionate and intensely emotional, with some of the most beautiful music ever written, the composer considered it "the best and most open-hearted" of his works.

Guest conductor JoAnn Falletta, acclaimed by The New York Times as "one of the finest conductors of her generation," serves as the Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. This season, her 10th with the BPO, a recording by the Orchestra received a double Grammy Award for the first time in its history. The world premiere recording of John Corigliano's Mr. Tambourine Man was honored for Best Classical Vocal Performance and Best Classical Contemporary Composition. Both on and off the podium, Maestro Falletta is a vibrant ambassador for music and an inspiring artistic leader.

Violinist Michael Ludwig has been hailed by Strad Magazine for his "effortless, envy-provoking technique’Ķ sweet tone, brilliant expression, and grand style." Ludwig enjoys a multi-faceted career as a recording artist, chamber musician, and as a highly sought-after soloist he has performed on four continents with the likes of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Pops, and Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra. He is Concertmaster of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, under Ms. Falletta.

Sponsored by Gorham Savings Bank, the concert begins at 7:30 p.m. with a Concert Conversation led by Maestra Falletta at 6:15 p.m. in the Rehearsal Hall. A radio broadcast of the performance can be heard on Maine Public Broadcasting Network (MPBN) on April 29 at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets range from $17-$65 and are sold through PortTix at (207) 842-0800 or www.porttix.com, and new this year, the website offers real-time online seat selection. Phone and internet orders are subject to $5-per-ticket handling fees. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. For complete season information, including artist biographies and program notes, visit www.portlandsymphony.com.