Contact:Gretchen Miller Basso
Public Relations Director
The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra
Phone: 407/896-6700 x 223
Fax: 407/896-5512
gmiller@orlandophil.org
www.orlandophil.org
(Orlando, FL – October 5, 2010) – The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra proudly features new Concertmaster Yuriy Bekker in the third program in the orchestra’s Super Series, titled Myth and Poetry. The concert takes place on Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 8:00 PM at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, 401 W. Livingston Street, Orlando. The Super Series is sponsored by Darden Restaurants Foundation.
Music Director Christopher Wilkins leads the Orlando Philharmonic in this program of classical works. Concertmaster Yuriy Bekker steps into the spotlight to perform as soloist on Ernest Chausson’s Poème for Violin and Orchestra, op. 25 and on Ralph Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending. The program also includes The Phoenix Rising by Philharmonic Composer-In-Residence Stella Sung, in addition to Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy Overture and Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite (1919 version).
Bekker, a native of Minsk, Belarus, and now a U.S. citizen, is formerly Concertmaster of the Charleston Symphony. He has played with the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera and Ballet Orchestras, and the Louisville Orchestra. Engagements at the Kennedy Center include performances with the Indiana String Quartet and with the Degas String Quartet for the Chicago Chamber Music Society. Recent appearances include recitals in New York City, Chicago, Miami, Florida, Asheville, North Carolina, Flagstaff, Arizona, and Graz, Austria as well as numerous engagements as a soloist with the Charleston Symphony.
His recent performance of the Korngold Violin Concerto led to critical acclaim:
“Bekker’s sweet and singing tone never stopped soaring dreamily over his colleagues’ lush palette of supporting sound. Bravo Bekker!” – Charleston City Paper
Additionally, Bekker performs regularly for the Piccolo Spoleto Festival at which his solo appearances have created a sensation:
“This man [Bekker] was born to play the fiddle. Plump, smooth tone, uncanny control, stiletto sharp intonation, musicality and passion to burn. He’s got it all, and then some.”
– Charleston City Paper
“The ‘dream team’ of violinist Yuriy Bekker and pianist Andrew Armstrong wowed a full house at Sunday’s Spotlight Concert Series.” – The Post and Courier
Most recently Mr. Bekker was the concertmaster and a faculty member at the AIMS Festival in Graz, Austria. He has played in music festivals worldwide including the European Music Festival Stuttgart (Germany), the Pacific Music Festival (Japan), Spoleto USA, Aspen Music Festival and others in the Netherlands and Switzerland. In addition, he is on the faculties of the College of Charleston School of the Arts and Charleston Academy. He has been a frequent guest concertmaster and soloist with various orchestras including the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble DuMonde and others in the New York City and Baltimore areas.
Pro-rated subscriptions to the Orlando Philharmonic’s Super Series are presently on sale, and range in price from $35 to $600. Single tickets to Myth and Poetry are $14.75, $29, $39, $52, $70. To purchase subscriptions and single tickets, phone the Philharmonic’s box office at 407-770-0071, or visit the Philharmonic’s website at www.orlandophil.org.
