Classical Pianists Take Center Stage at Verizon Hall
Lang Lang Opens Piano Series on November 23
Andre Watts Returns by Popular Demand December 8
October 27, 2004
Lang Lang
The popularity of classical pianist Lang Lang was evident when he first performed at the Kimmel Center in 2003, when Kimmel officials had to move his concert from the intimate Perelman Theater to the more spacious Verizon Hall due to the enormous demand for tickets.
The 21-year-old Beijing-born child prodigy, who studied at the Curtis Institute, is a local resident and has adopted Philadelphia as his ‘hometown.’ Lang Lang has not only connected with Philadelphia audiences, but with audiences throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. He has been invited to play with virtually every major international symphony orchestra since his legendary debut as a teenager with the Chicago Symphony.
Lang Lang will perform Mozart, Debussy, Liszt and Rachmaninoff on November 23.
Chosen at age 16 by Leonard Bernstein to make his New York Philharmonic debut and star of the first ever full-length piano recital broadcast in television history, Philadelphia-born Andre Watts is now one of the most distinguished pianists in the world. His many recordings and live TV broadcasts have brought him into the homes of millions of fans and he is back in Philadelphia after his SRO Kimmel engagement during the opening season.
Andre Watts has become one of today’s most sought-after and beloved superstars. He has played with all of the major international orchestras and festivals, and before many heads of state. "Piano playing doesn’t get any better than this. Mr. Watts is not your average pianist. In fact you can consider yourself lucky to find an artist on his level once every few generations." (The Dallas Morning News). Watts will perform an evening of Debussy, Liszt, Schubert, Haydn and Scarlatti.
Tickets for both Lang Lang on November 23 and Andre Watts on December 8 are $34, $39, $44, $51, $59 and $68. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at www.kimmelcenter.org or at the Kimmel Center box office, open daily from 10am to 6pm and later on performance evenings. For group sales call 215-790-5883.
A limited number of $10 tickets are available for every Kimmel Center Presents performance at the Kimmel Center. Tickets go on sale the day of the event and can be purchased at the Kimmel Center box office beginning at 5:30pm for evening performances and 11:30am for matinees. Limit one per person.
Sponsors of the 2004-2005 Kimmel Center Presents season include Mellon Financial Corporation, University of Pennsylvania Health Systems, Bank of America, Sovereign Bank, Wachovia Foundation, The American Express Company, Verizon Foundation, Bucks County Coffee, and SEPTA, the Commuter’s Choice. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Kimmel Center Presents. Toyota is the Official Vehicle of Kimmel Center Presents Jazz and World Pop programming.
> index of news releases
> For more information, and to request high resolution images for press use, please
send us a message online.