London Calling!

No, it's not The Clash this time -- it's The Royal Philharmonia Orchestra and Paavo at the newly refurbished Queen Elizabeth Hall (seating capacity: approximately 900) in a concert Sunday, February 5, 2006 at 7:30pm.

This is your only chance to hear Paavo conduct the European Première of fellow Estonian Erkki-Sven Tüür's Concerto for Violin & Clarinet, Noēsis, commissioned by the Philharmonia and the Detroit Sympony Orchestra, featuring guest artists Isabelle van Keulen, violin, and Michael Collins, clarinet. Also on the program: Sibelius' Tapiola and Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2.

Estonian Erkki-Sven Tüür is one of the most exciting and accessible composers to have emerged from Eastern Europe. Like Rachmaninoff, he is involved in contemporary culture as well as classical music, citing influences as eclectic as Gregorian Chant and 70s pop music. Noēsis, the Greek word for the process of cognition and understanding, received its world première in Detroit, where it was described as "mesmerizing" by the Detroit Free Press.

There will be a Pre-concert Talk at 6 pm featuring an interview with Erkki-Sven Tüür exploring his Concerto for Violin and Clarinet, Noesis. Admission is free.

Purchase tickets here.

Recommended recording:

Works by Erkki-Sven Tüür: Violin Concerto. Aditus. Exodus.
Isabelle van Keulen/City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Paavo Järvi
ECM 472 497-2 (See Sidebar to order from Amazon.com)