Baroque repertoire showcased with Canadian piano sensation - Oct. 14

Midweek Classics
Graceful, elegant style of guest pianist merges with sophistication of Baroque repertoire

Inspirations
Wednesday, October 14th ��� 7:30 pm

Edmonton, AB �Ķ The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) welcomes accomplished and innovative Canadian pianist Stewart Goodyear back to the Francis Winspear Centre for Music to open the ESO���s Midweek Classics series. Music Director William Eddins and Resident Conductor Lucas Waldin will lead the orchestra and gifted pianist through a program of shimmering concertos, a magical operatic overture, and a symphony of utmost sophistication.

Bill Eddins opens the evening by taking a seat at the harpsichord, conversing with the orchestra as both a soloist and conductor in the highly exuberant Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major by Bach. A showcase of virtuosity on the keys will close the evening as well, with Mr. Goodyear bringing his unique cadenza improvisation ability to his performance of Johann Nepomuk Hummel���s Piano Concerto No. 2 in A minor. Lucas Waldin brings the uncanny finesse of Mozart���s Die Zauberfl��te overture to life, while Mr. Eddins unleashes the extraordinary spirit that the same composer infused into the ���Prague��� Symphony, a piece composed in honour of a city that so readily welcomed his music.

In appreciation of educators in our community, the ESO is pleased to welcome hundreds of teachers from school boards in Edmonton and surrounding areas to this concert event. Many of the ESO musicians are also educators, active in the community as private music lesson instructors. An online directory of these musicians and their current instruction offerings is now available on the ESO website.

The Edmonton Symphony���s educator recognition week continues through Sunday, October 18th, when Kathy Goudreau, new principal of A. Blair McPherson School, joins us in Taking Flight, the kick-off to the ESO���s newly formatted Sunday Showcase series. Our Sunday matinees are a perfect stepping stone for families with teens and tweens, and feature young, promising musicians playing with your ESO. Last season, it was announced that the father of ESO Principal Trombone John McPherson, would be granted a namesake school.

Ticket prices for Inspirations range from $20 ��� $65 (agency fees apply), and are available through the Winspear Centre Box Office. Call (780) 428-1414, toll-free 1-800-563-5081, or purchase online at www.edmontonsymphony.com.

The next performance of the Midweek Classics series takes place on January 27th, 2010. Guest conductor Jean-Marie Zeitouni is joined by Canadian soprano Simone Osborne in an inspiring program that includes Bach���s beloved ���Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen��� and Schubert���s celebrated ���Unfinished��� Symphony.