By Kelly Skinner
NEWS RELEASE
Contact:
Kelly Skinner, director of public relations
732-247-7200, ext. 542
[email protected]
Renu Verma, marketing & pr coordinator
732-247-7200, ext. 517
[email protected]
State Theatre presents
Philadelphia Orchestra
Kurt Masur, conductor
Sergey Khachatryan, violin
Program: Brahms, Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73; Shostakovich, Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 77; Strauss, Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks, Op. 28.
Thursday, April 16, 2009, 8pm; $75, $60, $40, $30
Ticket Office: 732-246-SHOW (7469)
New Brunswick, NJ
(March 25, 2009)—The State Theatre presents the Philadelphia Orchestra on Thursday, April 16 at 8pm. Celebrating 108 years as one of this country’s most celebrated musical entities, the venerable Philadelphia Orchestra makes its triumphant return to the State Theatre, this time led by the great Kurt Masur, who celebrates 60 years as a professional conductor. Also, joining the orchestra is violinist Sergey Khachatryan. Philadelphia Orchestra is sponsored by The Blance & Irving Laurie Foundation and Pennsylvania Arts on Tour. Tickets range from $30-75 (student and group discounts apply).
For over 100 years, the Philadelphia Orchestra’s acclaimed performances, historic international tours, best-selling recordings, and innovations in recording technology has distinguished it as one of the world’s leading orchestras. Throughout its history, the orchestra has introduced a number of important works as world or American premiers, such as Barber’s Violin Concerto, Mahler’s “Symphony of a Thousand,” Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances, Schoenberg’s Gurrelieder, and Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. As the first American orchestra to cross the Atlantic after World War II, the first American orchestra to perform in the People’s Republic of China, and the first to visit Vietnam, the orchestra is always leading the way over new boundaries. The orchestra also boasts a record of innovations in music media, as the first symphonic orchestra to appear on or make electrical recordings for a commercially sponsored radio broadcast (1929, NBC), feature film soundtrack (1937, Paramount), national television broadcast (1948, on CBS), and internet cybercast concert (1997).
Kurt Masur
In 2008, Kurt Masur will celebrate 60 years as a professional conductor. He is well known to orchestras and audiences alike as both a distinguished conductor and humanist. Over the course of his career, he has made well over 100 recordings with numerous orchestras. In September 2002, Masur became music director of the Orchestre National de France in Paris. Since September 2000 he has been principal conductor of the London Philharmonic. From 1991-2002 he was music director of the New York Philharmonic; following his 11 year tenure he was named Music Director Emeritus, becoming the first New York Philharmonic music director to receive that title, and only the second (after the late Leonard Bernstein, who was named Laureate Conductor) to be given an honorary position. The New York Philharmonic established the “Kurt Masur Fund for the Orchestra,” which will endow conductor debut week at the Philharmonic in perpetuity in his honor. From 1970 until 1996, Maestro Masur served as Gewandhaus Kapellmeister of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, a position of profound historic importance. Upon his retirement from that post in 1996, the Gewandhaus named him its first-ever Conductor Laureate.
A professor at the Leipzig Academy of Music since 1975, he has received numerous honors: in 1995, he received the Cross of the Order of Merits of the Federal Republic of Germany; in 1996 he received the Gold Medal of Honor for Music from the National Arts Club; in 1997 he received the titles of Commander of the Legion of Honor from the French government and New York City Cultural Ambassador from the City of New York; and in April 1999 he received the Commander Cross of Merit of the Polish Republic.
For tickets (or a brochure), call the State Theatre ticket office at 732-246-SHOW (7469), or visit us online at www.StateTheatreNJ.org. The State Theatre ticket office, located at 15 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick NJ, is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 10am to 6pm; Wednesday 11am to 7pm and at least one hour prior to curtain on performance dates. For information on group outings and discounts, call 732-247-7200, ext. 536.
The State Theatre, a premier nonprofit venue for the performing arts and entertainment. The theater exists to enrich people’s lives, contribute to a vital urban environment, and build future audiences by presenting the finest performing artists and entertainers and fostering lifetime appreciation for the performing arts through education. The State Theatre’s programs are made possible, in part, by funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals. Continental Airlines is the official airline of the State Theatre. The Heldrich is the official hotel of the State Theatre. The Star-Ledger is the official newspaper of the State Theatre. William Grant & Sons is the State Theatre’s season spirits’ sponsor.
Philadelphia Orchestra
Kurt Masur, conductor
Sponsored by The Blance & Irving Laurie Foundation and Pennsylvania Arts on Tour.
Sergey Khachatryan, violin
Thu, April 16, 2009 at 8pm
STATE THEATRE
15 Livingston Ave
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Ticket Office – 732-246-SHOW (7469)
Online – www.StateTheatreNJ.org
PHOTOS AND INTERVIEWS FURNISHED UPON REQUEST
Please contact Kelly Skinner at
732-247-7200, ext. 542 or by email at [email protected].
Information in this release is current as of March 25, 2009.
For up-to-the-minute information on events and State Theatre news,
visit the State Theatre online at www.StateTheatreNJ.org.

