The Cleveland Orchestra to Perform at Oberlin College on February 8

OBERLIN, OHIO — The Cleveland Orchestra, one of the world’s most celebrated ensembles, returns to Oberlin College for its 211th Artist Recital Series performance on Friday, February 8,at 8 p.m. in Finney Chapel. Gianandrea Noseda will conduct the orchestra in a program of works by Rachmaninoff, Rota, and Prokoviev. Massimo La Rosa, principal trombone of the orchestra, will perform as soloist.

The diverse and colorful works on the program are by three 20th century masters. Rota is best known as the film score composer for the first two movies in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Trilogy.

The Cleveland Orchestra stands today among the world’s most revered and powerful symphonic ensembles. In concerts at home in Severance Hall, each summer as part of the Blossom Festival, in residencies from Miami to Vienna, and on tour around the world, The Cleveland Orchestra continues to set standards of artistic excellence, imaginative programming, and community engagement. The ensemble’s annual Severance Hall season remains one of the most rewarding and thought-provoking experiences in the music world, exposing audiences to new music and favorite repertoire in performances that feature the best soloists from across the globe.

About Massimo La Rosa

Massimo La Rosa joined The Cleveland Orchestra as principal trombone in September 2007. He previously served as principal trombone of La Fenice Opera House in Venice from 1996 to 2007. He has performed as principal trombone with La Scala Opera House in Milan, the Orchestra of the National Academy of St. Cecilia in Rome, and the Teatro Comunale di Firenze in Florence.

La Rosa has appeared as a soloist with La Fenice Orchestra and with the Sicilian Symphonic Orchestra of Palermo. He was a guest artist at the 2009 Eastern Trombone Workshop, where he performed as a soloist with the United States Army Band Pershing’s Own.

Born in Palermo, Sicily, La Rosa grew up in Belmonte Mezzagno, a small town outside Palermo. He began playing the trombone in the community band when he was 9 years old. Later, he studied trombone in Palermo with Filippo Bonanno, principal trombone of the Sicilian Symphonic Orchestra. He had additional lessons and master classes with Joseph Alessi, Rex Martin, Jacques Mauger, and Charles Vernon.

La Rosa is a member of the trombone faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Music. He has presented master classes at American universities and conservatories including the Manhattan School of Music, the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and the Juilliard School.

About Gianandrea Noseda

Gianandrea Noseda is among the most sought-after conductors of our time. Born in Milan, he holds the honor of “Cavaliere Ufficiale al Merito della Repubblica Italiana.” Since becoming music director of the Teatro Regio Torino in 2007 he has propelled it into the ranks of leading opera houses. Noseda regularly conducts many of the world’s prominent orchestras and is also chief guest conductor of the Israel Philharmonic, Victor De Sabata Guest Conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony and laureate conductor of the BBC Philharmonic. He served as the first foreign principal guest conductor of the Mariinsky Theatre from 1997–2007.

The 2012–13 season got off to a busy start with Noseda’s debut at Vienna State Opera in September. This season will include return guest conducting appearances with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony and debuts with The Cleveland Orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic. His relationship with the Los Angeles Philharmonic will continue in summer 2013 when he makes his debut at the Aix-en-Provence Festival in a new production of Rigoletto by Robert Carsen.

Noseda’s privileged relationship with the Metropolitan Opera dates back to 2002. He has conducted five Verdi operas and garnered considerable attention, most recently with last season’s revival of Macbeth. He will return to the Met with two new productions in the 2013–14 season. 



Fact Sheet

Friday, February 8, 2013, 8:00 p.m.
The Cleveland Orchestra
Gianandrea Noseda, conductor
Massimo La Rosa, trombone
Finney Chapel, 90 North Professor StreetOberlin, Ohio 44074
Tickets: $47 public, $42 Seniors/OC Staff & Faculty, $15 Students
All tickets $3 more at the door.
Tickets can be purchased through Oberlin’s Central Ticketing Service at 800-371-0178 or online at www.oberlin.edu/arseries.

Program

Rachmaninoff: Isle of the Dead, Op. 29 
Rota: Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra 
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 6 in E-flat Major, Op. 111