Virtual Notes from the Westchester Philharmonic May 2007 Romance is in the Air Pianist Garrick Ohlsson plays Brahms May 19 and 20. Read more. Prepare Yourself with Tuning Up Audiences warm up with Conservatory students. Read more. Celebrating the Phil  A private performance by Garrick Ohlsson honors Westchester’s orchestra. Read more. A Preview of What's to Come The Phil offers a sneak peak at 2007-08! Read more.

Romance is in the Air The Westchester Philharmonic’s 24th season comes to a close with great Romantic works on May 19 and May 20. Pure Romance will mark Mr. Ohlsson’s fifth performance with the orchestra, which brings him home to Westchester. Pianist Garrick Ohlsson is a native of White Plains and began his piano studies at the age of eight at the Music Conservatory of Westchester. He went on to enter The Juilliard School at the age of thirteen. Since that time, he has established himself worldwide as a musician of magisterial interpretive and technical prowess and has come to be noted for his masterly performances of the Romantic repertoire. Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2, a thoroughly romantic concerto with great rhythmic complexities, will undoubtedly show off Mr. Ohlsson's proficiency. Also on the program is Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, composed in 1876 purportedly for a wealthy widow with whom Tchaikovsky shared close written correspondence. “I cannot think of a better way to round out the season than with two of the biggest romantic works for orchestra. And it is always a pleasure to share the stage with Garrick Ohlsson who is a tremendously talented pianist and good friend to the orchestra,” commented Music Director and Conductor Paul Lustig Dunkel. For ticket prices and more infomation: www.westchesterphil.org

Prepare Yourself with Tuning Up While musicians are backstage warming up before the concert, audiences can prepare themselves too, with Tuning Up, a series of short concerts before each main stage event. All season music students from the Purchase College Conservatory of Music have been performing everything from Beethoven and Mozart to opera and jazz. On May 19 at 6:45 pm and May 20 at 1:45 pm pianists from the Conservatory will share works from the Romantic era. Tuning Up takes place in The Concert Hall and is free and open to ticket holders for Pure Romance with Garrick Ohlsson. Leave the restaurant a few minutes early and don’t miss your last chance to hear these talented young musicians before they head home for summer vacation! Learn more about Pure Romance which follows the  Tuning Up concerts: www.westchesterphil.org/0607season.asp Tuning Up is presented in collaboration with the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College.

Celebrating the Phil The Westchester Philharmonic Spring Gala on Sunday, May 20 at 5:30 pm will launch a year-long celebration of the Philharmonic’s 25th anniversary and Maestro Paul Lustig Dunkel’s valedictory season, which begins in October 2007.  “This orchestra has many accomplishments to celebrate: from launching the careers of many gifted artists to adventuresome programming, awards for educational outreach and a Pulitzer Prize winning commission,” remarked Executive Director Joshua Worby. “The gala marks a well-deserved opportunity to honor those subscribers and donors who have helped us along the way as well as artists like pianist Garrick Ohlsson and, of course, our illustrious founder, Paul Lustig Dunkel.” “We are delighted for the opportunity to celebrate the last quarter century and the many wonderful things yet to come for the Westchester Philharmonic,” continued Worby. The benefit will follow the May 20 performance of Pure Romance featuring pianist Garrick Ohlsson and takes place in the Upper Lobby of the Performing Arts Center at Purchase College. The gala includes a performance by Garrick Ohlsson, dinner and a live auction. All proceeds will benefit the Westchester Philharmonic. For ticket prices and more information: www.westchesterphil.org/gala.asp

A Preview of What's to Come With another season coming to a close the Philharmonic turns attention to a very special anniversary year and valedictory season for Maestro Paul Lustig Dunkel. We’ve planed great symphonic repertoire with a fully-complemented orchestra including Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Mahler and more. The season opens with a reprise of the very first work performed by the orchestra 25 years ago, Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by J.S. Bach (arr. Stokowsky).  World-class guest artists Misha Dichter and Elmar Oliveira will also help us celebrate, along with a world-premiere by composer Laura Kaminsky. For some family fun during the holidays, the orchestra has invited Bach’s long-lost cousin, P.D.Q. Bach himself, Peter Schickele! This landmark season will culminate with a towering work of power and passion, Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde (Song of the Earth) for two voices and orchestra, a very special send-off for the visionary man who founded this orchestra twenty-five years ago, Maestro Dunkel. Subscriptions are currently available for purchase. Single tickets for the anniversary year will go on sale September 5. For ticket prices and more information: http://www.westchesterphil.org/0708season.asp