Legendary pianist Van Cliburn to perform in T.O.

Legendary pianist Van Cliburn to perform in T.O.

Van Cliburn

By Sharon Makokian

Acorn Staff Writer

Legendary pianist Van Cliburn will kick off the 2001/2002 season of the New West Symphony as the guest artist for the organization’s opening night gala on Sat., Sept. 22 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.

New West Symphony Music Director Boris Brott will conduct an all-Tchaikovsky program, which will include the fantasy/overture from "Romeo and Juliet;" Suite No. 1 from "Swan Lake," Opus 20a; and Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor, Opus 23. Cliburn will be the featured soloist.

Texas native Cliburn became an instant hero and household name when he stunned the music world in 1958 by capturing the Gold Medal at the First International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow. Coming at the height of the Cold War, his victory was even more significant considering the political atmosphere at the time.

Returning home from Russia, he received a hero’s welcome and ticker-tape parade in New York City, the only time a classical musician has been so honored. He went on to win many competitions and become a world-renowned pianist. Recently, he was named as one of the five Kennedy Center honorees for this year.

"I think it’s going to be an incredible evening … We wanted to do something special," said New West spokeswoman Kerrie Sadler.

All concertgoers will be treated to a post-concert reception, with champagne and a cake sculpted in the shape of a grand piano, she said. Those who pay the premium $350 ticket price will also attend a Russian-themed dinner, in honor of Tchaikovsky (a Russian composer).

The concert marks the seventh-season opening of the New West Symphony, comprised of Ventura County/Conejo Valley residents. It’s the first opening gala, and Sadler said she hoped it would become an annual event with a well-known guest musician to start off every year.

"This is a major step for the symphony, just to put us in the spotlight in the Los Angeles area. One of our goals has been to reach further into the (San Fernando) Valley and L.A. area, and we are getting a good response," said Sadler, adding that several celebrities plan to attend the concert. Such notables include Phyllis Diller, Johnny Mathis, Delores Hope (Bob Hope’s wife), and Richard Carpenter (pianist of The Carpenters).

The New West Symphony is a professional orchestra comprised of up to 95 musicians, many of whom are also Hollywood professionals, said Sadler.

"It’s in our favor we have access to good musicians," she said.

Tickets are still available for the event: $350 includes the dinner, $200 for the orchestra section, and $125 for the mezzanine. The balcony is sold out.

Tickets are available by phone at 1-800-NEW WEST (outside the 805 and 818 area codes, call (805) 497-5880), 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, or through the symphony’s Internet Website at www.newwestsymphony.org.

Tickets also are available at the New West Symphony Box Office at 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite D, (at the Civic Arts Plaza), during the same hours as phone sales.