Music Director Candidate Christoph Campestrini Conducts Santa Rosa Symphony With Pianist Natasha Paremski 

News Release Contact: Sara Obuchowski, (707) 546-7097 ext 218

March 15, 2005

(SANTA ROSA, CA) ö Christoph Campestrini, the second finalist in the Santa Rosa Symphonyâs music director search, takes the podium at Luther Burbank Center April 16, 17 and 18. He will open the program by conducting a Chopin piano concerto that showcases Russian-born Natasha Paremski as soloist. The concert continues with Mozartâs Symphony No. 35, popularly known as the Haffner Symphony, and concludes with the Hungarian folksong-inspired opera Hary Janos, by Zoltan Kod‡ly.

The 35-year-old Campestrini was born in Austria and studied in the U.S. at The Julliard School, Columbia and Yale universities. He has conducted more than 70 orchestras on 5 continents, including the Calgary Philharmonic, Monterey Symphony, Innsbruck Symphony, Czech State Philharmonic Brno and Bruckner Orchester Linz, the Israel Sinfonietta and the Hong Kong Academy Orchestra. He served as principal conductor of the prestigious Aalto Music Theatre in Essen Germany, where he conducted more than 120 symphonic performances and 15 operas. He records for the Berlin-based Signum label and Munich-based label Orfeo.

Of Maestro Campestrini, the Monterey County Herald wrote: ãhe propelled the audience into a lively and mesmerizing alternate universe·ä and the Oberšsterreichische Nachrichten (Germany) wrote ãChristoph Campestrini·fully engulfing himself in this mighty score [Bruchner Te Deum]·achieved a reading that was dramatically sweeping, clearly articulated and powerful in intensity and expression·an ideal realization.ä

Natasha Paremski made her professional debut at age 9 with the El Camino Youth Symphony in Palo Alto. At the age of 15, she recorded two CDs at the legendary Radio Studio Five with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Dmitry Yablonsky conducting. She has won awards at competitions in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City, as well as in Argentina, Canada, England and Italy. Paremski has appeared on PBS television and with numerous orchestras. Recent and upcoming appearances include: Key West, New Bedford, San Diego, New Mexico and Colorado symphonies, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Gilmore International Keyboard Festival and recitals in Seattle, New York and Paris

Santa Rosa Symphony concerts are Saturday and Monday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa. Concert Conversations with Christoph Campestrini begin one hour prior to the performances, and are made possible by Quivira Estate Vineyards and Winery. The April concert set is sponsored by the Stare Foundation and David Stare of Dry Creek Vineyard. Don and Louise Johnston are underwriting Natasha Paremskiâs performance.

The popular Discovery Series of open rehearsals continues at 2 p.m. on April 16. These concerts, priced at $10 for adults, $6 for youth, offer a sneak peek into the final rehearsal process before each concert set. Audiences for Discovery concerts enjoy free Krispy Kreme donuts at intermission.

Call (707) 546-8742 for tickets or visit the Symphony Box Office on the first floor of the North Coast Bank building at 50 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased at the door 1¸ hours before each performance on a space-available basis. Single tickets are $26-47, with senior discounts available. $7 Student Rush tickets (to students showing school I.D) can be purchased a half hour prior to curtain. 

Please call for artist photos and full biographies.

Heading
Classical

Who
Santa Rosa Symphony 

Dates and Times
Sat., April 16, at 8 p.m. 
(Discovery Rehearsal, Sat. April 16 at 2 p.m.)
Sun., April 17 at 3 p.m. 
Mon. April 18 at 8 p.m.

What
Christoph Campestrini, conductor and music director candidate
Natasha Paremski, piano
Pre-concert talk featuring Christoph Campestrini, one hour before each performance. 

Program
Chopin: Concerto No. 1 in E minor for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 11
Mozart: Symphony No. 35 in D major, K. 385 Haffner
Kod‡ly: Suite from the opera Hary Janos

Venue
Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
50 Mark West Springs Road
Santa Rosa, CA

Cost
Single tickets $26-47

Tickets
(707) 54-MUSIC [546-8742]

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