Pianist Begins Three-Year Residency with the Orchestra January 26
Concert pianist André Watts will begin a three-year artist residency with the Canton Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, January 26 at Umstattd Performing Arts Hall. Watts is a close friend of Music Director Gerhardt Zimmermann, and the residency was donated anonymously as a gift to the Canton community. Mr. Watts will perform pieces by French composers Franck (Symphonic Variations) and Saint-Saëns (Piano Concerto No. 2 in g minor, Op. 22). Click here to listen to Watts performing Chopin. Also on the program are pieces by Debussy (Printemps) and Ravel (Ma Mère l’Oye).
Tickets are available by calling the Symphony Box Office at 330-452-2094; ordering online at www.cantonsymphony.org; in person at the Box Office in the Cultural Center for the Arts at 1001 Market Ave. N weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; or at the Umstattd Performing Arts Hall box office one hour prior to the performance. Prices are $25/$35/$45, with a $5 discount for students and seniors.
About André Watts
André Watts burst onto the scene at the age of 16, as Leonard Bernstein chose him to make his debut with the New York Philharmonic in their Young People’s Concerts. After beginning his career in storybook fashion, Watts had a long and frequent association with television, having appeared on numerous programs produced by PBS, the BBC and the Arts and Entertainment Network, performing with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center among others.
Watts' extensive discography includes recordings of works by Gershwin, Chopin, Liszt and Tchaikovsky for CBS Masterworks; recital CD's of works by Beethoven, Schubert, Liszt and Chopin for Angel/EMI; and recordings featuring the concertos of Liszt, MacDowell, Tchaikovsky and Saint-Saëns on the Telarc label. He is also included in the Great Pianists of the 20th Century series for Philips.
A much-honored artist who has played before royalty in Europe and heads of government in nations all over the world, André Watts received a 2011 National Medal of Arts, given by the President of the United States to individuals who are deserving of special recognition for their outstanding contributions to the excellent, growth, support and availability of the arts in the United States. Now, more than 45 years after his debut, Watts remains one of today’s most celebrated and beloved superstars, and a perennial favorite with orchestras throughout the U.S.
About Canton Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1937, the Canton Symphony Orchestra is a fully professional ensemble and organization dedicated to performing concerts that enrich, educate, and entertain residents of Stark County and beyond. The orchestra performs classical, holiday, and a variety of educational programs in Umstattd Performing Arts Hall, 2323 17th Street NW, Canton, OH, as well as other venues in Stark County. For more information, please visit www.cantonsymphony.org or call (330) 452-2094. Administrative offices are located at 1001 Market Ave. N., Canton, Ohio, 44702-1024.
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