Pianist Daria Van Den Bercken Headlines Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Baroque Conversations

Pianist Daria Van Den Bercken. Photo credit Andreas Terlaak

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra’s Baroque Conversations showcases innovative Dutch-Russian pianist Daria van den Bercken on four of Handel’s rarely performed keyboard suites in her worldwide quest to share the “incredible beauty” of this unique repertoire, which she has dubbed “Handel at the Piano,” on Thursday, April 23, 2015, 7:00 p.m., at Zipper Hall in downtown Los Angeles. The featured works include Handel’s Suite No. 3 in D minor, HWV 428; Suite No. 2 in F major, HWV 427; Minuet in G minor, HWV 434, No. 4; and Chaconne in G major, HWV 435. A complimentary wine reception for all ticket holders begins at 6:00 p.m.

The concert launches a two-week international artist residency for the pianist that also includes free performances at the Steinway Piano Gallery in “Old Town” Pasadena on April 24, 7 pm, Amoeba Music in Hollywood on April 26, 4 pm, and Hollywood & Highland in collaboration with LACO musicians and a soprano from Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program of the LA Opera on May 1, 6 pm; an appearance with Orchestra members at the 5th Annual Hear Now Music Festival on May 2, 8 pm at First Lutheran Church of Venice; a special in-school program at Hoover Street Elementary School in Los Angeles, on April 24; and other opportunities for van den Bercken to connect with Los Angeles artists and arts educators.

Known for her dedication to sharing Handel’s music with as many people as possible, van den Bercken often performs outside the concert hall, including unusual appearances seated at a piano while being towed through the cobbled streets of Amsterdam and while suspended from crane floating above crowds of stunned Brazilians. No wonder, then, that BBC3 hailed her for her skillful performances, proclaiming, “Her joy in Handel’s ingenuity shines through.” For her unstinting efforts, van den Bercken recently received the prestigious Amsterdam Art Prize from the city of Amsterdam, and in 2012, she presented a TEDxAmsterdam Talk about the state of wonder in music and was subsequently invited to present at a TED conference in Berlin.

LACO’s highly regarded five-concert “Baroque Conversations” series, now in its ninth year, explores the genesis of orchestral repertoire from early Baroque schools through the pre-classical period. In signature LACO style, each concert host shares insights into the music and invites questions from the audience, providing an in-depth look at the music being presented as well as an opportunity to get to know LACO artists on a more personal level.

Van den Bercken’s residency is made possible by a grant from the City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs, and by Dutch Culture USA, the division of the Kingdom of the Netherland’s government that supports and promotes Dutch arts and culture in the US, in partnership with DutchCulture Centre for International Cooperation and the Dutch Fund for the Performing Arts. LACO also acknowledges the support of Steinway & Sons, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission Arts for All, Hollywood Arts Council and Amoeba Music.

Tickets for Baroque Conversations (beginning at $56) are available online at laco.org, by calling LACO at 213 622 7001, or at the venue box office on the night of the concert, if tickets remain. Discounted tickets are also available by phone for groups of 12 or more. College students may purchase student rush tickets ($12), based on availability, at the box office the day of the concert.

For more information on Van den Bercken’s international artist residency with LACO, visit http://www.laco.org/attend/category/international-artist-residency/.

Daria Van Den Bercken is a sought-after artist whose performances both in Europe and around the world have been greeted with unanimous praise. Her recent project “Handel At The Piano” is aimed at bringing the keyboard works of George Frideric Handel before a worldwide audience. For her unstinting efforts, van den Bercken recently received the prestigious Amsterdam Art Prize from the city of Amsterdam. She received the Dutch Classical Talent Award 2006 and was a winner of the Concertgebouw Competition ‘Vriendenkrans.’ She records for Sony Classical and her recent CD of works by George Frideric Handel has received rave reviews internationally. Van den Bercken has worked with orchestras such as the Rotterdam Philharmonic, Dutch Radio Philharmonic and the Arnhem Philharmonic orchestras and alongside conductors such as Yannick Nézet-Seguin, Christoph Poppen, JoAnn Falletta, Ivan Meylemans and Shi-Yeon Sung. She recently appeared for the third time with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra playing Messiaen’s Oiseaux Exotiques and has been invited to return. She is a regular and welcome guest at international music festivals such as the Rotterdam International Gergiev Festival, Palermo Classica 2013, Virada Cultural São Paulo 2012, the Delft Chamber Music Festival and the Grachtenfestival in Amsterdam, all of which have extended return invitations to her. Her newest CD, Daria van den Bercken – Keys to Mozart (Sony), was released in March 2015.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO), proclaimed “America’s finest chamber orchestra” by Public Radio International and “resplendent” by the Los Angeles Times, has established itself among the world’s top musical ensembles. Since 1997, LACO has performed under the baton of acclaimed conductor and pianist Jeffrey Kahane, hailed by critics as “visionary” and “a conductor of uncommon intellect, insight and musical integrity” with “undeniable charisma,” “effortless musicality and extraordinary communicative gifts.” Under Kahane’s leadership, the Orchestra maintains its status as a preeminent interpreter of historical masterworks and a champion of contemporary composers. During its 46-year history, the Orchestra has made 31 recordings, toured Europe, South America and Japan, performed across North America and garnered eight ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming. Headquartered in downtown Los Angeles, LACO presents its Orchestral Series on Saturdays at Glendale’s Alex Theatre and on Sundays at UCLA’s Royce Hall; Baroque Conversations at downtown Los Angeles’ Zipper Concert Hall; Westside Connections chamber music series, designed to illustrate the relationship between music and other artistic disciplines, at the Moss Theater in Santa Monica; and an annual Discover concert, which features an in-depth examination that sheds new light on a single piece of music, at Pasadena’s Ambassador Auditorium. LACO also presents a Concert Gala, an annual film event, featuring the Orchestra performing the score live, and several fundraising salons each year. Additionally, LACO outreach programs, Meet the Music, Community Partners, Campus to Concert Hall and the LACO/USC Thornton Strings Mentorship Program, reach thousands of young people annually, nurturing future musicians and composers as well as inspiring a love of classical music.

Hear Now is an organization dedicated to exploring and bringing to the public’s attention the breadth, diversity, and artistic excellence of concert music being written by composers living in and associated with the Los Angeles area. Now in its fifth season, the 2015 Hear Now festival takes place on May 1 – 3, 2015. Daria van den Bercken and LACO musicians perform music by LACO composer-in-residence Andrew Norman, LACO 2015 Sound Investment composer Ted Hearne and more at the May 2, 8 pm performance.