Paavo's Back With Romantic Romeo And Juliet

Start the New Year on a musical note when Paavo Järvi returns to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra podium January 12 and 13 at 8 p.m. at Music Hall. The program includes Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture-fantasy. With its soaring love theme and dramatic depiction of the age-old rivalry between the Capulets and the Montagues, Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture-fantasy is one of his best-known works. The CSO will also record it for future release on the Telarc label.

Joining Maestro Järvi and the CSO for these concerts is the Dutch violinist Isabelle van Keulen, a contemporary music specialist who made her CSO debut in 2001. Ms. van Keulen performs Alban Berg's Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, "To the Memory of an Angel." Berg wrote it as a memorial to Manon Gropius, the 18-year-old daughter of Alma Mahler Gropius, the widow of Gustav Mahler. Järvi and the CSO continue their survey of the symphonies of Jean Sibelius with his Symphony No. 4 in A Minor.

"The Berg Violin Concerto is an unbelievably touching piece of music," said Paavo Järvi. "Our fine soloist, Isabelle van Keulen, will convey all the emotions of this music to the audience. The Romeo and Juliet music by Tchaikovsky is also very emotional, and the Sibelius Fourth Symphony is a dark, burnished gem-one of my Nordic favorites."

Audiences are invited to learn more about the music at Classical Conversations with CSO Assistant Conductor Eric Dudley and Isabelle van Keulen, one hour before the performances. Classical Conversations is presented by Joseph-Beth Booksellers.

The CSO thanks Ernst & Young LLP for its generous sponsorship of these concerts. The Fine Arts Fund Partner for these concerts is GE Aviation.

College Nite at the CSO

College Nite at the CSO continues its sixth season on Friday, January 12. This popular concert/after party event just for college students costs $10 and includes the CSO concert, after party in Corbett Tower with free food, live band (Hyde Park Outrage), prizes, cash bar and the opportunity to mingle with Paavo Järvi, guest artists and members of the CSO. The final College Nite of the season is March 16. For more information and reservations call (513) 744-3590.

Isabelle van Keulen

A champion of contemporary music and works by living composers, Isabelle van Keulen made her Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra debut in November 2001 performing the U.S premiere of Erkki-Sven Tüür's Violin Concerto. Her 2006-07 season began with the German premiere of Tüür's Double Concerto for Violin and Clarinet, Noesis with the MDR Leipiz. Noesis was given its world premiere by van Keulen and clarinetist Michael Collins with the Detroit Symphony led by Neeme Järvi, and premiered in Europe in January 2006 with co-commissioning partner, London's Philharmonia Orchestra under the direction of Paavo Järvi.

In the summer of 2006 Ms. van Keulen appeared as director/player with the London Mozart Players at the opening of the BBC Proms debut series in London. An avid chamber musician, she was the founder and director of the Delft International Music Festival in Holland from 1996-2006. This season she collaborates with Michael Collins, Imogen Cooper, Peter Jablonski and her regular duo partner, Ronald Brautigam.

Isabelle van Keulen has an extensive discography and her most recent recording for ECM is of Erkki-Sven Tüür's Violin Concerto with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Paavo Järvi. She has recorded works by Haydn, Mozart, Vieuxtemps, Saint-Saëns and the complete Stravinsky duo repertoire with Olli Mustonen for Philips Classics. She also performs and records as a violist.

Born in Holland, Isabelle van Keulen studied at the Sweelinck Conservatoire in Amsterdam and then with Sandor Vegh at the Salzburg Mozarteum. -- www.cincinnatisymphony.org