Christoph Eschenbach To Lead LA Philharmonic

Now in his fourth and final season as music director of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Eschenbach is held in the highest esteem by the world's foremost orchestras and opera houses for his commanding presence, versatility and consummate musicianship. He has been acclaimed for his creative insight and dynamic energy as a conductor, a collaborator and champion of young musicians.

Mahler's Sixth, completed in 1905, is one of the composer's most formally rigorous works and seems to telegraph the impending violent eruption that was soon to follow in Europe. The piece is also illustrative of certain aspects of Mahler's life. Per the composer's wife, Alma, the first movement, which opens with a grim and determined march giving way to a rhapsodic, soaring theme, was a musical portrayal of her. She further explained that Mahler removed the third of the abrupt hammer blow strikes that conclude the finale because it served as a painful reminder of the three tragic turns of fate the composer experienced in quick succession –the diagnosis of deadly heart disease, the death of his eldest daughter and his resignation under pressure from his post at the Court Opera in 1907.

Upbeat Live pre-concert events take place in BP Hall one hour prior to each concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall, and are free to all ticket holders. Asadour Santourian, artistic advisor and administrator of the Aspen Music Festival and School, hosts.

In addition to his work with the Philadelphia Orchestra, CHRISTOPH ESCHENBACH continues as music director of the Orchestre de Paris, which he recently led on an extensive tour of Asia and will take throughout Europe. This season he returns to the NDR Symphony (Hamburg), the London Philharmonic for four concerts and the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, whose orchestra he leads on a European tour. He also conducts the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks. He appears at Carnegie Hall leading the Curtis Symphony and accompanying baritone Matthias Goerne on piano.

A prolific recording artist, Eschenbach has made numerous recordings, as conductor, pianist, or both. His recordings include works from J.S. Bach to music of our time, and he has been an ardent champion of 20th-century music on disc. Before turning to conducting, Eschenbach earned a distinguished reputation as a concert pianist. He began winning major competitions at age 11, and made his United States debut in 1969, with George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra. Eschenbach learned the art of conducting under Szell (among others), who personally took him as his protégé, and with whom he worked for over three years.

In addition, Herbert von Karajan was his mentor for nearly 25 years, and Eschenbach credits him as having had a tremendous influence on his development as a conductor. Eschenbach's conducting debut was in Hamburg in 1972. Eschenbach was named principal guest conductor of Zurich's Tonhalle Orchestra in 1981, becoming chief conductor from 1982 to 1986. Additional posts include music director of the Houston Symphony (1988-1999); chief conductor of the Hamburg NDR Symphony (1998-2004); music director of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival (1999-2002); and music director of the Ravinia Festival, summer home of the Chicago Symphony (1994-2003). Among Eschenbach's awards are the title of Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters in France, the Légion d'honneur of France, the Officer's Cross with Star and Ribbon of the German Order of Merit, the Commander's Cross of the German Order of Merit and the Leonard Bernstein Award, presented to him by the Pacific Music Festival, where he served as co-artistic director from 1992 to 1998. -- www.laphil.com