FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 5, 2009 Contacts: Melissa A.E. Sanders (404) 733-4846, melissa.sanders@woodruffcenter.org Laura D.

Soldati (404) 733-4105, laura.soldati@woodruffcenter.org MUSIC DIRECTOR ROBERT SPANO TO CONDUCT FINAL DELTA CLASSICAL CONCERT OF 2008-2009 SEASON MAY 14-17, 2009 Music Director Robert Spano will lead the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus in the final concert of the 2008-2009 Delta Classical Season. The program will feature Stravinskys Symphony of Psalms and Mozarts Requiem. The concert will be held at Atlanta Symphony Hall on May 14-16, 2009 at 8:00 p.m., and May 17, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. In Igor Stravinskys spiritually moving Symphony of Psalms, the orchestra and chorus are beautifully and equally balanced throughout all 3 parts. The symphony follows the progression of a single prayer to receiving and praising God. Stravinsky composed the entire symphony backwards and dedicated it to the Boston Symphony Orchestra in honor of its 50th Anniversary. As one of the most well-known compositions around the world, its no surprise that Mozarts Requiem continues to intrigue and excite us. With death at his heels, Mozart stated, It is for myself I am writing this, although the piece was anonymously commissioned for someone else. The dramatic and sadly beautiful Requiem is a look into the final days of this prolific composer. About the Artists Music Director Robert Spano, currently in his eighth season as music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, is recognized internationally as one of the most imaginative conductors today. Since 2001 he has invigorated and expanded the Orchestras repertoire while elevating the ensemble to new levels of international prominence and acclaim. The Orchestra and audiences together explore a creative programming mix, recordings, and visual enhancements, such as Theater of a Concert, the Orchestras continuing exploration of different formats, settings, and enhancements for the musical performance experience, such as the first concert-staged performances of John Adamss Doctor Atomic in November 2008. The Atlanta School of Composers reflects Mr. Spano and the Orchestras commitment to nurturing and championing music through multi-year partnerships defining a new generation of American composers, including Osvaldo Golijov, Jennifer Higdon, Christopher Theofanidis, and Michael Gandolfi. Since the beginning of his tenure, Mr. Spano and

the ASO have performed nearly 100 contemporary works (composed since 1950), including seven ASOcommissioned world premieres, two additional world premieres, and one U.S. premiere. Last season, Mr. Spano conducted and recorded the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in Puccinis La Bohme, the first American recording of the opera since 1956. It was released by Telarc in conjunction with the semi-staged performance he led at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, the Orchestras new state-of-the-art 12,000 seat venue in Alpharetta, Ga., where he conducted all of the orchestral concerts in the inaugural season. Mr. Spano continues to expand the discography of the Atlanta Symphony to include the music of Atlanta School of Composers Christopher Theofanidis, Jennifer Higdon, and Michael Gandolfi, as well as John Adams, David Del Tredici, Sibelius Kullervo, Brahmss Requiem, a recently-released live recording of La Bohme and the Grammy Award-winning recordings of Vaughan Williamss A Sea Symphony and Berliozs Requiem. Mr. Spano and the ASO have also recently recorded two discs of the music by Atlanta School of Composers Osvaldo Golijov for Deutsche Grammophon: one including Three Songs and Oceana, and the other including the chamber opera Ainadamar, which was awarded two Grammys. In 2008, Robert Spano was named Musical America Conductor of the Year. Soprano Nathalie Paulin has established herself in the United States, Canada, Europe and the Far East as an interpretive artist of the very first rank. Winner of the 2005 Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Opera Performance, she has collaborated with internationally renowned conductors including Jane Glover, Yannick Nzet-Sguin, Andrew Parrott, Jonathan Darlington, Herv Niquet, David Agler, Richard Bradshaw, Bernard Labadie, Mario Bernardi, Anthony Walker, Graeme Jenkins, Andrew Litton and Yoav Talmi on both the concert platform and in opera. She won the Dvorak prize and has also received awards and prizes from the George London Foundation in New York, the Young Mozart Singers Competition in Toronto and the Canadian Music Competition. In 2008-09, Stacey Rishoi sings as soloist in Messiah with Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Komponist in Ariadne auf Naxos with Calgary Opera, Mozarts Requiem with Jacksonville and Symphony Orchestra, Verdis Requiem with Choral Arts Society of Washington DC, Mahlers Symphony No. 2 with Buffalo Philharmonic, and an appearance with South Dakota Chamber Orchestra in a vocal showcase concert through Sounds of South Dakota. Recent highlights include her first performances of Dalila in Samson et Dalila with Nashville Opera; of Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with Orlando Opera Company; Messiah with Jacksonville Symphony; and Beethovens Symphony No. 9 with North Carolina Symphony Orchestra, under Grant Llewellyn. She returned to Washington National Opera as Waltraute in Die Walkre; sang Dvoks Stabat Mater, Beethovens Missa Solemnis and Bachs St. Matthew Passion with Choral Arts Society; Messiah with San Diego Symphony; and de Fallas The Three Cornered Hat with the Columbus Symphony. She has performed as soloist with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in Mozarts Requiem; in Vaughan Williamss Five Tudor Portraits and Serenade to Music with Cathedral Choral Society; Mahlers Symphony No. 8 with National Symphony Orchestra, under Leonard Slatkin; Rossweisse in Die Walkre with Canadian Opera Company; and Magdalena in Die Meistersinger with Cincinnati May Festival, under James Conlon. Other concert highlights include the world premieres of Michael Torkes Four Seasons and Aaron Kernis Garden of Light, both with New York Philharmonic conducted by Kurt Masur, and the world premiere of Thomas Ades America: A Prophesy. She has performed Mahlers Symphony No. 2 with Pittsburgh, Virginia, and Syracuse symphony orchestras, has appeared with National Symphony Orchestra in performances of Beethovens Symphony No. 9, and has sung Messiah with Oratorio Society of New York in Carnegie Hall. Ms. Rishoi performed Bachs Magnificat with Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Bachs B Minor Mass with Bach Festival Society in Florida, and Vivaldis Gloria at Kennedy Centers

Vivaldi Festival and with Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Rishoi can be heard on the world premiere recording of Liszts St. Stanislaus, conducted by James Conlon on the Telarc label. Chad A. Johnson is quickly making a name for himself in the world of opera. Born in Muskegon, Michigan, Chad began his musical studies in the vocal music department of Mona Shores High School. He then went on to Western Michigan University, The University of Kentucky and the American Institute of Musical Studies, Opera Studio in Graz, Austria. He is a student of renowned soprano, Virginia Zeani. In 2001, Chad joined the young artist program of the Chicago Opera Theater. Over the next two seasons he performed in the operas ensembles and covered the role of the Male Chorus in Brittens The Rape of Lucretia. That May, Chad joined the Santa Fe Operas Apprentice Artist Program for Singers and was then invited to join the Young Artist Ensemble at the Florida Grand Opera. During the 2002/03 and 2003/04 seasons Chad sang many roles including the Second Jew in Salome, Benvolio in Romo et Juliette, Gastone in La Traviata, Joszef in the North American premier of Ede Donaths Szulamit and Pong in Turandot. The following summer, Chad sang the role of Harry, the miner in La fancuilla del West at Glimmerglass Opera, as a member of the Young American Artists Program. Future engagements include Ruggero in La Rondine with Lyric Opera San Diego, Ralph in H.M.S. Pinafore with Nashville Opera, Ferrando in Cosi fan tutte with Sarasota Opera and several concert appearances around the U.S. Gustav Andreassens 2008-09 season currently includes the role of Leporello in Don Giovanni at Arizona Opera, Osmin in Die Entfhrung aus dem Serail with Opra Atelier (Toronto), sings as soloist in Verdis Requiem with the Hartford Symphony Orchestraand in an appearance with the South Dakota Chamber Orchestra in a vocal showcase concert through Sounds of South Dakota. His recent busy summer included appearing in concert as Prince Gremin in Eugene Onegin with the National Symphony Orchestra, the roles of Mercury and Ghost of Hector in Berliozs Les Troyens with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under James Levine at Tanglewood, and performances of Schonbergs Gurre-Lieder at the Aspen Music Festival. Mr. Andreassens prolific opera career has included successes at leading opera houses throughout the world. He is a frequent presence at Utah Opera, having performed Daland in Der fliegende Hollnder, Truffaldino in Ariadne auf Naxos, and King in Aida; and has sung several roles at Arizona Opera, including Daland, Blitch in Susannah, and Sarastro in Die Zauberflte. He has performed as Sourin in Pique Dame and as Prince Gremin with San Francisco Opera, Osmin with both Boston Lyric Opera and Glimmerglass Opera, Basilio in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Wolf Trap Opera, as well as Commendatore in Don Giovanni with Boston Baroque, Florida Grand Opera, and Cincinnati Opera, among others. Internationally Mr. Andreassen has appeared with Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Hamburgishe Staatsoper, De Vlaamse Opera, and in Lucca, Italy in such roles as Ferrando in Il trovatore, Sparafucile in Rigoletto, and King Philip II in Don Carlos. An avid concert artist, Mr. Andreassens extensive list of symphonic engagements include performances of Haydns Lord Nelson Mass with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra under Robert Spano, Shostakovichs Symphony No. 13 with Seattle Symphony under Gerard Schwarz, Bachs Magnificat with Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the world premiere of Liszts St. Stanislaus at the Cincinnati May Festival under James Conlon, and both Messiah and Mozarts Requiem with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. He has also appeared as soloist in Beethovens Symphony No. 9 at the Chautauqua Institution, Beethovens Mass in C and Choral Fantasy with Omaha Symphony Orchestra, Mozarts Mass in C Minor with Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Verdis Requiem with Black Hills Symphony, Schuberts Mass in G with Arizona State Chorus, and Mozarts Vesparae Solemnes with Masterworks Chorale of Tucson.

About the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, now in its 64th season, is considered one of Americas leading orchestras, known for the excellence of its live performances, presentations, renowned choruses, and its impressive list of Grammy Award-winning recordings. The leading cultural organization in the Southeast, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra serves as the cornerstone for artistic development and music education in the region. Under the creative partnership of Music Director Robert Spano, Principal Guest Conductor Donald Runnicles, and President and CEO Allison Vulgamore since September 2001, the Orchestra and audiences have been invigorated through innovative programming, recordings, and visual enhancements, such as the Theater of a Concert, the ASOs continuing exploration of different formats, settings, and enhancements for the musical performance experience. Also emerging from the partnership is the Atlanta School of Composers, the Orchestras commitment to nurturing and championing contemporary music through multi-year partnerships with living American composers. Since the beginning of his tenure, Mr. Spano and the ASO have performed nearly 100 contemporary works (composed since 1950), including seven ASO-commissioned world premieres, two additional world premieres, and one U.S. premiere. Last year, the Atlanta Symphony celebrated a 30-year relationship with Telarc, one of the few American orchestras to have a continuing association with a major record label. During that time, the Orchestra has recorded more than 100 albums and its recordings have won 26 Grammy Awards. Combined, Mr. Spano and Mr. Runnicles have recorded 16 albums (including four ASO commissions), and released 11 albums to date (nine on Telarc, two on Deutsche Grammophon), which have won eight Grammy Awards including Atlanta School composers Jennifer Higdons City Scape, Osvaldo Golijovs Ainadamar, and Christopher Theofanidis The Here and Now in categories including Best Classical Album, Best Orchestral Performance, Best Choral Performance, and Best Opera Performance. In July 2008, Telarc released the ASOs recording of Puccinis La Bohme, the first American recording of the opera since 1956. The ASO Chorus has earned a nine Grammy Awards for Best Choral Performance, most recently for the Berlioz Requiem in 2005. Since 2001 the Orchestra has received national attention with performances under Mr. Spano in debuts at the Ojai and Ravinia Music Festivals, two tours of Florida, and regular appearances at Carnegie Hall (including their in April 2008 with the Atlanta ASO Chorus). In addition, Mr. Runnicles has conducted the ASO Chamber Chorus at Carnegie Hall in the Mozart Requiem with the Orchestra of St. Lukes, and in May 2008 he returns with the ASO Chorus to Berlin, for the second time, to perform the Berlioz Requiem with the Berlin Philharmonic. During the 2007-08 season, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra received unprecedented recognition. The Orchestra received the 2007 award for Strongest Commitment to New American Music from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers; Music Director Robert Spano was named Musical America 2008 Conductor of the Year; and The Atlanta Symphony Orchestras special artistic initiatives surrounding The Atlanta School of Composers, Theater of a Concert, recordings, commissions, and premieres are being funded in part by a recent $1 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. With the opening of the 12,000-seat Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park (vzwamp.com), the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra became the first U.S. orchestra to annually perform and present in its concert hall and in two amphitheaters. In June 2008, the Orchestra celebrated 35 years at legendary Chastain Park Amphitheater, the award-

winning 6,500 seat venue in Atlanta, during the ASOs Delta Classic Chastain concert series (classicchastain.com). Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus Acclaimed for the beauty, precision and expressive qualities of their singing, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Choruses have been an important part of the Orchestra's programming since their founding by the late Robert Shaw. Both the ASO Chorus and Chamber Chorus are composed entirely of volunteers, who meet weekly for rehearsals and perform with the ASO several times each season. They are also featured on the majority of the ASO's recordings, having garnered 14 Grammy awards (9 for Best Choral Performance; 4 for Best Classical Recording and 1 for Best Opera Recording). The ASO Chorus, 200 voices strong, made its debut on September 24, 1970. It performs large choral-symphonic works with the full orchestra, under the batons of ASO Music Director Robert Spano and ASO Principal Guest Conductor Donald Runnicles. The Chorus has also sung for guest conductors such as John Adams, Roberto Abbado, Charles Dutoit, Alan Gilbert, Bernard Labadie, John Nelson and William Fred Scott. The ASO Chamber Chorus (which debuted on December 14, 1967) performs music of the Baroque and Classical eras, as well as works by modern masters such as Golijov, Tavener, Prt, Paulus, Poulenc and Britten. Highlights of its history include a residency with the ASO and Robert Spano for California's Ojai Festival, participation with the ASO in Telarc recordings of masterworks by Bach, Golijov, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Schubert and Vivaldi, a 2005 a cappella recording that features the Vaughan Williams Mass under Norman Mackenzie, an appearance on national television in 1987 performing Handel's Messiah with Robert Shaw, and several Carnegie Hall appearances which include performances of the B-Minor Mass, the St. Matthew and St. John Passions of Bach, the Rachmaninoff Vespers and the Mozart/Levin Requiem. The Chamber Chorus has also performed under the batons of Robert King and Nicholas McGegan. The ASO Chorus made its Carnegie Hall debut in 1976 with a performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 and has returned to perform there on a number of subsequent occasions, most recently on April 5, 2008 with the ASO and Robert Spano to perform their 2005 commissioned work, The Here and Now by Christopher Theofanidis. It performed in the Kennedy Center for President-elect Jimmy Carter's Inaugural Concert in 1977. In 1988, it accompanied the Orchestra on its first European tour, performing in New York, East Berlin, Zrich, Ludwigsburg, Paris, Bristol and London. It has appeared with the ASO for televised concerts on several occasions, including the 1995 national broadcast of the orchestra's 50th-anniversary celebration, in which it was conducted by both Yoel Levi and Robert Shaw, and the statewide telecast honoring the Chorus's own 25th anniversary. With the ASO it appeared in the Opening Ceremony of the 1996 Olympic Games, broadcast worldwide. The ASO Chorus has also participated for 30 years in the Martin Luther King Ecumenical Service sponsored each January by the King Center in Atlanta. The Chorus has also opened the Atlanta Falcons 2003 and 2004 football seasons with a 200-voice rendition of the National Anthem. The Choruses have been featured twice at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago: in June 2003 the ASOC, ASO and Robert Spano opened the festival with a critically acclaimed performance of John Adams' oratorio El Nio, followed by a 2006 visit by the women of the Chamber Chorus, the ASO and Robert Spano for Golijov's opera Ainadamar.

The ASO Chorus has also twice traveled to Germany to be a special guest of the Berlin Philharmonic at their home, the Berlin Philharmonie: in December 2003 with a series of three triumphant performances of Britten's War Requiem and in May 2008 for a series of three Berlioz Requiem concerts, both trips with conductor Donald Runnicles. *** This concert is part of the Delta Classical Concert Series. Delta Air Lines is the Official Airline of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. *** Single tickets for these performances are $16 to $73. All single tickets for the 2008-09 season will be available online at atlantasymphony.org or by calling (404) 733-5000. Tickets may also be purchased at the Woodruff Arts Center Box Office located in the Woodruff Arts Center at 15th and Peachtree Streets. Box office hours are Monday through Friday 10am to 8pm, and Saturday and Sunday 12pm to 8pm. ***

MUSIC DIRECTOR ROBERT SPANO TO CONDUCT FINAL DELTA CLASSICAL CONCERT OF 2008-2009 SEASON Delta Classical Series Symphony Hall, Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center Thursday, May 14, 2009, 8:00 p.m. Saturday, May 16, 2009, 8:00 p.m. Sunday, May 17, 2009, 3:00 p.m. Rober Spano, Conductor Nathalie Paulin, Soprano Stacey Rishoi, Meszzo-Soprano Chad Johnson, Tenor Gustav Andreassen, Bass Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus STRAVINSKY MOZART Symphony of Psalms Requiem

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