Chamber Music Features Lazarof Premiere

Los Angeles composer Henri Lazarof will premier his newest composition, ‘Ensemble II for String Quartet and Four Hands,’ at Chamber Music Palisades’ final concert of the season on Tuesday, May 8 at St. Matthew’s Parish. The unusual work, which features two pianists at one keyboard, was commissioned by CMP as part of its ongoing pledge to encourage new music. Internationally acclaimed violinist Ida Levin and Ronald Leonard, former principal cello with the Los Angeles Philharmonic will head the cast of top Southern California musicians on the 8 p.m. program. Also to be performed will be Beethoven’s ‘Serenade, op. 25 in D Major for Flute, Viola and Violin’ and the ‘Piano Quartet, op. 25 in g minor’ by Johannes Brahms. All works will be introduced with commentary by KUSC/FM’s radio host Alan Chapman. Joining Levin and Leonard will be violinist Lorenz Gamma, pianist Ming Tsu and CMP Co-Artistic Directors flutist Susan Greenberg and pianist Delores Stevens. Henri Lazarof won the first prize at the International Competition of Monaco and the First International Prize, City of Milan, La Scala Award. He is the recipient of commissions from The Berlin Philharmonic, London Sinfonietta, Chamber Symphony of San Francisco, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Baltimore and Houston symphonies among others. No stranger to local audiences, violinist Levin made her professional debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at 10. She has gone on to establish an international reputation as soloist, recitalist and chamber musician and she has appeared as the latter on numerous CMP programs over the years. As principal cellist with the L.A. Philharmonic from 1975 to 1999, Leonard has performed under the batons of Zubin Mehta, Michael Tilson-Thomas, Carlo Maria Giulini, Andre Previn, Simon Rattle and Esa-Pekka Salonen. He is currently the Gregor Piatigorsky, professor of cello at USC and is chairman of the university’s string department. In 1999 he assumed the conductorship of the Colburn School Chamber Orchestra. Tickets for the concert will be available at the door at $25 for single admission. Students with ID will be admitted free of charge. For information on CMP concerts call (310) 459-2070 or go to the website www.cmpalisades.org.