Nov. 1, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: LISA WOSKE
(805) 756-7110

Warsaw Philharmonic Comes to Cal Poly Nov. 10

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA – Hailed as an orchestra of the highest
echelon, The Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra will perform an ambitious,
towering program on Wednesday, November 10, 2004, at 8 p.m. at the
Christopher Cohan Center.

“Highly disciplined, sensitively balanced playing...gutsy and
exuberant!” (The Washington Post)

Cal Poly Arts presents the 110-member National Orchestra of Poland,
conducted by the esteemed Antoni Wit, in a program that features
“Polymorphia “ by Krzysztof Penderecki, Johannes Brahms’ “Symphony No. 1
in C minor, Op. 68,” and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 3 in
D minor, Op. 30.”

International piano phenomenon Olga Kern will be the soloist for the
“Piano Concerto No. 3.” In 2001, at the age of 26, the glamorous Ms.
Kern won the Gold Medal at the 11th Van Cliburn Festival for her
muscular playing of the same Rachmaninoff piece.

Founded more than 100 years ago, the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
enjoys world-wide popularity and critical appreciation.

The orchestra has made over 100 tours on five continents, performing in
all major concert halls and in many international festivals, including
those in Vienna, Prague, Bergen, Lucerne, Berlin, Montreux, Moscow,
Brussels, Florence, Bordeaux and Athens.

The Orchestra also participates regularly in the famous International
Chopin Piano Competition and Warsaw Autumn Festival.

Since January, 2002, Antoni Wit has been the General and Artistic
Director of Warsaw Philharmonic. Considered one of the most highly
regarded Polish conductors, Maestro Wit studied at the Academy of Music
in Cracow and with Nadia Boulanger in Paris.

Lauded with many state awards, Wit was also a prize winner at the
Herbert von Karajan International Conducting Competition in Berlin.

The Warsaw Philharmonic has hosted many famous artists from all over the
world, including outstanding foreign conductors such as Yehudi Menuhin,
Kurt Masur, Helmuth Rilling, Leopold Stokowski, and Igor Stravinsky.

Several brilliant soloists have appeared with them on stage, including
Kathleen Battle, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Nigel Kennedy, Midori,
Arthur Rubinstein, and Pinchas Zukerman.

Each season, the Philharmonic presents over 80 symphony concerts and
more than 50 chamber concerts.

They also perform a special series of concerts for children, featuring
the Orchestra as well as both Polish and international guest symphony
orchestras and chamber ensembles.

In addition to their regular season, the Warsaw Philharmonic organizes
music programs throughout their country for schools and smaller cultural
centers to promote classical music and educate the young generation.

Recently, the Orchestra travelled to Korea, Germany, and Japan. This
winter, the Orchestra will perform throughout Europe, with concerts
scheduled in Italy, France and the United Kingdom.

The Orchestra’s international appearances will be conclude in the spring
with concerts in Spain and Portugal.

Tickets for the performance range from $36 - $48, with student discounts
available, and may be purchased at the Performing Arts Ticket Office, 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. To order by
phone, call 805/756-2787; to order by fax: 805/756-6088. Order on-line
at www.pacslo.org.

Sponsored by Gerry & Peggy Peterson, Foundation for the Performing Arts
Center, Matrix Mobile Television, and KCBX 90.1 FM.

For audio and video samples of Cal Poly Arts events, visit
www.calpolyarts.org.

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