FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 23, 2009 Contacts: Melissa A.E. Sanders (404) 733-4846, melissa.sanders@woodruffcenter.org Laura D.

Soldati (404) 733-4105, laura.soldati@woodruffcenter.org

ITZHAK PERLMAN CONDUCTS THE ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND PERFORMS WORKS BY BACH, SCHUBERT, AND BRAHMS APRIL 30-MAY 3, 2009 Program To Feature Works By Bach, Schubert, and Brahms

Conductor and violinist Itzhak Perlman returns to Atlanta to perform and conduct with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The program will feature Bachs Concerto No, 1, Schuberts Symphony No. 3, and Brahmss Symphony No. 4. The concert will be held at Atlanta Symphony Hall on April 30 May 2, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. and on May 3, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. Johann Sebastian Bachs Concerto No. 1 was one of many pieces composed during his years as Kappellmeister in Cthen, Germany. Many of his instrumental pieces were recognized for the expressiveness he used for the solo instrument. Throughout this concerto Bach creates harmonious balance throughout between the soloist and orchestra. Franz Schuberts Symphony No. 3 was never performed publicly, but it is believed Schubert dbuted the piece to his close friends in Vienna soon after its completion. The conversation between the solo clarinet and strings is accented throughout all four movements with syncopated rhythms, dramatic dynamic changes, and a flourishing finale. Johannes Brahmss had difficulty completing Symphony No. 4 because he felt a lot of pressure to be like his predecessor, Ludwig van Beethoven. However, between the summer months of 1884 and 1885, Brahms did complete his fourth and final Symphony. With four dramatic movements that can only be described as a perfect combination of Romantic zeal and classical form, Symphony No. 4 creates a colorfully musical and powerful experience from start to finish.

About the Artist Itzhak Perlman is beloved for his charm and humanity as well as his talent. He is treasured by audiences throughout the world who respond not only to his remarkable artistry, but also to the irrepressible joy of making music, which he communicates. In December 2003 the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts granted Mr. Perlman a Kennedy Center Honor celebrating his distinguished achievements and contributions to the cultural and educational life of our nation. He recently performed at the State Dinner for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, hosted by President George W. Bush and Mrs. Bush at the White House. Born in Israel in 1945, Mr. Perlman completed his initial training at the Academy of Music in Tel Aviv. He came to New York and soon was propelled into the international arena with an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1958. Following his studies at the Juilliard School with Ivan Galamian and Dorothy DeLay, Mr. Perlman won the prestigious Leventritt Competition in 1964, which led to a burgeoning worldwide career. Since then, Itzhak Perlman has appeared with every major orchestra and in recitals and festivals around the world. Mr. Perlman has entertained and enlightened millions of TV viewers of all ages on popular shows as diverse as The Late Show with David Letterman, Sesame Street, the PBS series The Frugal Gourmet, the Tonight show, the Grammy awards telecasts, and numerous Live From Lincoln Center broadcasts, including The Juilliard School: Celebrating 100 Years in April 2006, and PBS specials, including A Musical Toast and Mozart by the Masters, in which he served both as host and featured performer. In July 1994, Mr. Perlman hosted the U.S. broadcast of the Three Tenors, Encore! live from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. In March 2006, a worldwide audience in the hundreds of millions saw Mr. Perlman perform live on the 78th Annual Academy Awards telecast, as he performed a medley from the five film scores nominated in the category of Best Original Score. One of Mr. Perlmans proudest achievements is his collaboration with film score composer John Williams in Steven Spielbergs Academy Award winning film Schindlers List, in which he performed the violin solos. He can also be heard as the violin soloist on the soundtrack of Zhang Yimous film Hero (music by Tan Dun) and Rob Marshalls Memoirs of a Geisha (music by John Williams). Itzhak Perlmans recordings regularly appear on the best-seller charts and have garnered fifteen Grammy Awards. His latest Grammy was awarded for The American Album, with Seiji Ozawa and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. His most recent releases include an all-Mozart recording with the Berlin Philharmonic (EMI) with Mr. Perlman performing as both soloist and conductor and a recording for Deutsche Grammophon with Mr. Perlman conducting the Israel Philharmonic. Other recordings reveal Mr. Perlmans devotion to education, including Concertos from my Childhood with the Juilliard Orchestra under Lawrence Foster (EMI) and Marita and her Hearts Desire, composed and conducted by Bruce Adolphe (Telarc). Other recordings over the past decade have included a Grammy-nominated live recording with pianist Martha Argerich performing Beethoven and Franck Sonatas (EMI); Cinema Serenade featuring popular hits from movies with John Williams conducting (Sony);A la Carte, a recording of short violin pieces with orchestra (EMI) and In the Fiddlers House, a celebration of Klezmer Music (EMI) that formed the basis of the PBS television special. In 2004, EMI released The Perlman Edition, a limited-edition 15-CD box set featuring many of his finest EMI recordings as well as newly compiled material and RCA Red Seal released a CD titled Perlman reDISCOVERED which includes material recorded in 1965 by a young Itzhak Perlman.

About the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, now in its 64th season, is considered one of Americas leading orchestras, known for the excellence of its live performances, presentations, renowned choruses, and its impressive list of Grammy Award-winning recordings. The leading cultural organization in the Southeast, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra serves as the cornerstone for artistic development and music education in the region. Under the creative partnership of Music Director Robert Spano, Principal Guest Conductor Donald Runnicles, and President and CEO Allison Vulgamore since September 2001, the Orchestra and audiences have been invigorated through innovative programming, recordings, and visual enhancements, such as the Theater of a Concert, the ASOs continuing exploration of different formats, settings, and enhancements for the musical performance experience. Also emerging from the partnership is the Atlanta School of Composers, the Orchestras commitment to nurturing and championing contemporary music through multi-year partnerships with living American composers. Since the beginning of his tenure, Mr. Spano and the ASO have performed nearly 100 contemporary works (composed since 1950), including seven ASO-commissioned world premieres, two additional world premieres, and one U.S. premiere. Last year, the Atlanta Symphony celebrated a 30-year relationship with Telarc, one of the few American orchestras to have a continuing association with a major record label. During that time, the Orchestra has recorded more than 100 albums and its recordings have won 26 Grammy Awards. Combined, Mr. Spano and Mr. Runnicles have recorded 16 albums (including four ASO commissions), and released 11 albums to date (nine on Telarc, two on Deutsche Grammophon), which have won eight Grammy Awards including Atlanta School composers Jennifer Higdons City Scape, Osvaldo Golijovs Ainadamar, and Christopher Theofanidis The Here and Now in categories including Best Classical Album, Best Orchestral Performance, Best Choral Performance, and Best Opera Performance. In July 2008, Telarc released the ASOs recording of Puccinis La Bohme, the first American recording of the opera since 1956. The ASO Chorus has earned a nine Grammy Awards for Best Choral Performance, most recently for the Berlioz Requiem in 2005. Since 2001 the Orchestra has received national attention with performances under Mr. Spano in debuts at the Ojai and Ravinia Music Festivals, two tours of Florida, and regular appearances at Carnegie Hall (including their in April 2008 with the Atlanta ASO Chorus). In addition, Mr. Runnicles has conducted the ASO Chamber Chorus at Carnegie Hall in the Mozart Requiem with the Orchestra of St. Lukes, and in May 2008 he returns with the ASO Chorus to Berlin, for the second time, to perform the Berlioz Requiem with the Berlin Philharmonic. During the 2007-08 season, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra received unprecedented recognition. The Orchestra received the 2007 award for Strongest Commitment to New American Music from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers; Music Director Robert Spano was named Musical America 2008 Conductor of the Year; and The Atlanta Symphony Orchestras special artistic initiatives surrounding The Atlanta School of Composers, Theater of a Concert, recordings, commissions, and premieres are being funded in part by a recent $1 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. With the opening of the 12,000-seat Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park (vzwamp.com), the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra became the first U.S. orchestra to annually perform and present in its concert hall and in two amphitheaters. In June 2008, the Orchestra celebrated 35 years at legendary Chastain Park Amphitheater, the award-winning 6,500 seat venue in Atlanta, during the ASOs Delta Classic Chastain concert series (classicchastain.com). ***

This concert is part of the Delta Classical Concert Series. Delta Air Lines is the Official Airline of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. *** Single tickets for these performances are $21 to $78. All single tickets for the 2008-09 season will be available online at atlantasymphony.org or by calling (404) 733-5000. Tickets may also be purchased at the Woodruff Arts Center Box Office located in the Woodruff Arts Center at 15th and Peachtree Streets. Box office hours are Monday through Friday 10am to 8pm, and Saturday and Sunday 12pm to 8pm. ***

ITZHAK PERLMAN RETURNS TO PERFROM AND CONDUCT WORKS BY BACH, SCHUBERT, AND BRAHMS Delta Classical Series Atlanta Symphony Hall, Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center Thursday, April 30, 2009, 8:00 p.m. Saturday, May 2, 2009, 8:00 p.m. Sunday, May 3, 2009, 3:00 p.m. Itzhak Perlam, violinist and conductor Atlanta Symphony Orchestra BACH SCHUBERT BRAMS Concerto No. 1 Symphony No. 3 Symphony No. 4

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