KNOXVILLE – The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Lucas Richman celebrate the start of 2010 with the music of Beethoven and Brahms on Thursday and Friday, January 14 & 15 at the Tennessee Theatre.  The concerts begin at 8:00 PM and feature acclaimed violinist Rachel Barton Pine performing Brahms’ Violin Concerto.

The program will open with Brahms’ Tragic Overture.  Despite its melancholy title, Brahms steadfastly denied having any specific tragedy in mind when composing this work.  Following the overture, the orchestra will then welcome violinist Rachel Barton Pine to the stage to perform Brahms’ majestic Violin Concerto. 

      The Washington Post has described Rachel Barton Pine as “an exciting, boundary-defying performer – Pine displays a power and confidence that puts her in the top echelon of recitalists.”  She has received worldwide acclaim for her virtuosic technical mastery, lustrous tone and perceptive performances.  Pine holds prizes from several of the world’s leading competitions, including a gold medal at the 1992 J.S. Bach International Violin Competition in Leipzig, Germany. She was the first American and, at age 17, the youngest person to ever win this honor. She is also committed to encouraging the next generation to experience the transformative power of the arts.   

      Following intermission, the orchestra will then continue the ongoing cycle of Beethoven symphonies with his Symphony No. 4.

      “It may be difficult to believe, but five years have already passed since the KSO returned to the newly-renovated Tennessee Theatre,” says KSO Music Director Lucas Richman.  “We are delighted to mark this milestone by welcoming Rachel Barton Pine back to Knoxville, as she will help launch us into the new year with the poignant lyricism of music by Brahms followed by the dynamic power of Beethoven’s oeuvre.”

      Also during these concerts, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra will celebrate concertmaster Mark Zelmanovich and his 24 years with the organization.  Zelmanovich recently announced his plans to retire from the KSO in August, 2010.  He will be honored with the title Concertmaster Emeritus at the concert. 

      Tickets to the concerts begin at $23.00 and may be purchased by logging on to the KSO website, www.knoxvillesymphony.com, or by calling the KSO Box Office at 865-291-3310 or Tickets Unlimited, 865-656-4444. 

      The KSO has contributed to the cultural life in East Tennessee since 1935. Under the leadership of Lucas Richman, the orchestra consists of more than 80 professional musicians and performs more than 200 programs throughout East Tennessee each season. Performing in traditional venues such as the Tennessee Theatre, Bijou Theatre and the Civic Auditorium, and in non-traditional places like hospitals, school classrooms, shopping centers and city parks, the KSO reaches more than 200,000 people throughout the region each year.

      For more information regarding the KSO, or this Masterworks concert, please call 865-291-3310.