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100th Birthday Gala
Principle Artists
Eugenia Zukerman
Host
Praised as "one of the finest flutists of our time," distinguished concert and recording artist Eugenia Zukerman is renowned worldwide for her elegant sound, lyrical phrasing, brilliant agility and graceful stage presence. A versatile performer, Ms. Zukerman plays with orchestras, in solo and duo recitals, and in chamber music ensembles on a regular basis. For over twenty-five years, she has performed in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Ms. Zukerman became Artistic Director in 1998 of the international Vail Valley Music Festival in Colorado's Rocky Mountains. She has been the arts correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning since 1980 and has profiled more than 300 artists in her twenty years on the program. As an author, Ms. Zuckerman has published three books, numerous articles and has written several screenplays. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Ms. Zukerman began Barnard College as an English major, but soon transferred to the Juilliard School, where she studied with the renowned flutist Julius Baker.
Wolfgang Sawallisch
Music Director
Wolfgang Sawallisch was born in Munich and graduated from that city's Academy of Music. He began his conducting career in 1947 at the Opera Theater of Augsburg, where he served as vocal coach, chorus master, and conductor of ballet, opera, and concert music. In 1953 he became the youngest conductor to lead the Berlin Philharmonic, an orchestra with which he has is associated to this day. He next held successive music directorships in Aachen, Wiesbaden, and Cologne and appeared annually at the prestigious Bayreuth Festival. He was music director of the Vienna Symphony from 1960-70, and also served as music director of the Hamburg Philharmonic 1963-71. He served as artistic director of Geneva's Orchestre de la Suisse Romande from 1973-80. In 1971 he was appointed music director of the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, beginning an exceptionally fruitful and long lasting relationship with that company. Working in Munich for more than two decades, he served concurrently as the Opera's general manager during his last ten years there before coming to Philadelphia in 1993. As a guest conductor, Mr. Sawallisch leads concerts each year with the Vienna Symphony and Tokyo's NHK Orchestra. Other recent guest appearances include performances with the Vienna Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, Israel Philharmonic, London's Philharmonia, and the Czech Philharmonic. Mr. Sawallisch's artistry has been recognized throughout his career with many awards and citations. He was given the Toscanini Gold Baton in recognition of his 35-year association with La Scala in Milan. His honorary degrees include a doctorate from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.
André Watts
Piano Soloist
André Watts grew up in Philadelphia and, at the age of 9, was a winner in The Philadelphia Orchestra's student soloist competition (named in 1992 to honor Albert M. Greenfield). He was subsequently featured as a soloist with the Orchestra when he was 10 years old. Throughout his worldwide career as a guest artist, Mr. Watts has returned frequently to perform with The Philadelphia Orchestra, appearing as soloist in over 50
Sarah Chang
Violin
When she first played with The Philadelphia Orchestra in 1991, Sarah Chang was just nine years old and one of the youngest featured soloists to ever perform with the en-semble. She has played with the Orchestra almost every year since her debut, allowing audiences to watch the artistry of this Philadelphia native grow and mature. Ms. Chang has appeared with the Orchestra on regular subscription concerts, as the featured soloist for gala events such as the annual Anniversary Ball (to benefit the Academy of Music) or the Israel 50th Concert in 1998, and in chamber music recitals with members of the Orchestra.
Thomas Hampson
Baritone Soloist
Making his debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra just five years ago, American bass-baritone Thomas Hampson had already been featured on two previous Philadelphia Orchestra concerts. In collaboration with Wolfgang Sawallisch (as pianist), Mr. Hamp-son had given greatly-admired performances on the Orchestra's annual Chamber Music series of two voice-and-piano song cycles, in 1994 and 1995, singing Schumann's Dich-terliebe (Poet's Love) and Schubert's Winterreise (Winter's Journey). Mr. Hampson and Mr. Sawallisch have also made several recordings of German song cycles together.
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