Symphony Offers Two Concerts This Weekend

German composers created the most beloved classical masterpieces, and the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra offers some of the greatest treasures in two concerts on November 19 and 20. On Saturday, November 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the VBC Concert Hall, Prieto and the orchestra will present the second concert in the Classical Series, with piano soloist Jorge Federico Osorio. After Osorio's acclaimed performance with HSO of Beethoven's “Emperor” Concerto last year, he was immediately re-engaged for two concerts in the 2005-06 season. Concert Sponsor is the Jurenko Foundation. Guest artist sponsor of Jorge Federico Osorio is SOUTHBank.

On Sunday November 20 at 3:00 p.m., also in the VBC Concert Hall, Prieto, Osorio and the HSO will present an all-Beethoven concert. Concert Sponsor is BellSouth and Yellow Pages.

Saturday's Classical concert opens with Overture to The Magic Flute, one of Mozart's most recognized and beloved works. Next, the orchestra performs Mozart's Symphony No. 41, subtitled “The Jupiter.” This work is elegant and exuberant proof of Mozart's complete mastery of the symphonic form. Jorge Federico Osorio joins the orchestra for the the majestic Second Piano Concerto of Johannes Brahms, a work that unfolds with moment after moment of transcendent genius.

For Sunday's Mainly Mozart Concert, Prieto has selected an all-Beethoven program. The young Beethoven openly admired Mozart, building upon the older composer's classical traditions with his signature harmony, humor, and emotional power. Masterful Beethoven interpreter Jorge Federico Osorio collaborates with the HSO in the lyrical First Piano Concerto. The Symphony No. 5, a groundbreaking work, is surely the most famous and unforgettable of all symphonies, with its four opening notes representing fate knocking on the door. Single tickets and packages are available.

Tickets may be purchased by phone at 539-4818, in person at the HSO offices and online at www.hso.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the door before each concert—on Saturday beginning at 6:15 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m..

Single ticket prices for Saturday's Classical concert range from $27 to $58. Single ticket prices to Sunday's Mainly Mozart concert range from $19 to $30. There are student and group rates available, and there is a $5.00 student rush for available seating beginning ten minutes before the concert.

Discounted ticket packages for both concerts are available as are balance of season packages for both the Classical and Mainly Mozart series.

Pre-Concert Conversations with Carlos are thirty-minute informal talks that provide insights into the program, beginning at 6:45 before the Classical concert on Saturday.

“Sneak Preview,” HSO’s final rehearsal at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, is open to the public for a nominal charge of $5.00. Children 5 and under are free. Sponsor is Publix Super Markets Charities and Compass Bank.

Artist Biography

Jorge Federico Osorio, piano "One of the more elegant and accomplished pianists on the planet."
Los Angeles Times

“Prodigious technique, unaffected warmth and patrician style are all hallmarks of the pianism displayed by the gifted Mexican-born artist.”
Chicago Tribune

Jorge Federico Osorio is recognized as one of the preeminent pianists of our time and has been internationally acclaimed for his superb musicianship and absolute command of the instrument. He has performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Concertgebouw Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic, Orchestre Nationale de France, Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Moscow State Orchestra and Warsaw Philharmonic, and has performed with such distinguished conductors as Lorin Maazel, Bernard Haitink, Klaus Tennstedt, Eduardo Mata, Jorge Mester, Peter Oundjian, Carlos Miguel Prieto, Christopher Wilkins, Maximiano ValdÈs and Luis Herrera de la Fuente. His concert tours have taken him to Europe, Asia, North, Central and South America, and American festival appearances have included the Hollywood Bowl, Ravinia and Grant Park Festivals.

A prolific recording artist, Mr. Osorio has recorded a wide variety of repertoire for EMI, CBS, Artek, IMP and ASV, including an all Brahms recording that Gramophone proclaimed as "one of the most distinguished discs of Brahms' piano music in recent years." Mr. Osorio is deeply involved in the performance of chamber music. In addition to serving as artistic director of the Brahms Music Festival in Mexico, he has performed with the late Henryk Szeryng, the Moscow Quartet, Tel Aviv Quartet, violinist Mayumi Fujikawa and cellist Richard Markson.

Born in Mexico, Mr. Osorio began his musical studies at the age of five. He studied at the conservatories of Mexico, Paris and Moscow, and his teachers have included his mother, Luz MarÌa Puente, Bernard Flavigny, Monique Haas, Jacob Milstein, Nadia Reisenberg and Wilhelm Kempff.

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