Lorin Maazel

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Maestro Maazel and the Philharmonia Orchestra: A 50th Anniversary Celebration

Maestro Maazel first conducted London's Philharmonia Orchestra fifty years ago, in Lisbon, with a program that included Stravinsky’s Song of the Nightingale and Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra. Early this April, as part of a special series celebrating the 50th anniversary of his first performances with the Philharmonia Orchestra, Maestro Maazel lead the orchestra in a string of symphonic concerts throughout the United Kingdom. The orchestra visited Dublin and returned to England for several concerts in London, Cardiff and Basingstoke, offering programs centered on compositions by Lorin Maazel: Music for Cello and Orchestra, Music for Flute and Orchestra, Monaco Fanfares and Farewells. Originally, the orchestra intended to perform all three of Maestro Maazel's concertos which include Music for Violin and Orchestra, but unfortunately the violinist Julia Fischer had to cancel due to illness. Han-Na Chang and Sir James Galway were the soloists on the concertos performed, respectively. The orchestra gave several performances in London's Royal Festival Hall, and also offered works by Fauré, Sibelius, Strauss, Dukas, Rossini, Ravel and Shostakovich throughout the tour.