Symphony presents rare musical fare: not one but two Horn Concertos

Feb 25, 2005

For Immediate Release

Contact: Annie Matlow 509-326-3136

Symphony presents rare musical fare: not one but two Horn Concertos

SPOKANE: One of America's greatest horn players will play two horn concertos with the Spokane Symphony under the direction of Music Director Eckart Preu on Friday, March 4 at 8 p.m. in the Spokane Opera House.

At the age of 34, Eric Ruske has already won international acclaim. Named Associate Principal Horn of the Cleveland Orchestra at the age of 20, his impressive solo career began when he won the 1986 Young Artists International auditions at 22 years of age.

He will play the Mozart Concerto No. 1 for Horn and Orchestra, and Horn Concerto No. 2 by Richard Strauss. Completing the program will be Mozart's Symphony No. 38, the Prague and Mathis der Maler by Paul Hindemith.
Young Concert Artists presented Ruske's New York concert debut at the 92nd Street Y in 1987 and his Kennedy Center debut in 1988. Extensive tours of the U.S. in recitals, chamber music and as concerto soloist followed quickly. After a 10-day residency at the Pabst Theatre in Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Journal wrote: "Ruske was masterful. In 10 years, maybe five, people will be calling Eric Ruske the world's greatest hornist."
Ruske gave the 1990 World Premiere of Gunther Schuller's Concerto for Horn and Orchestra with the San Antonio Symphony with Schuller conducting. He has performed with major symphony orchestras including the Cleveland Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony and the Milwaukee Symphony.
A native of LaGrange, Illinois, Ruske has been the recipient of grants from the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts and the International Institute of Education. Ruske currently serves on the faculty of Boston University, Tanglewood Institute and Boston University.
Ruske will appear on Classical Chat on City Cable 5 at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, March 3. The taping is open to the public and a question and answer period follows. Preu will present the pre-concert lecture Friday at 7 p.m.

This concert is underwritten by Rockwood Clinic and Maloney, O'Neill, Corkery & Jones.

Tickets are available for $15 to $34 in advance without service charge at the Spokane Symphony ticket office, 818 W. Riverside, Suite 100, or by calling 509-624-1200. Tickets are also available at all TicketsWest outlets or by calling 1-800-325-SEAT or at spokanesympony.org.

CALENDAR LISTING:
Hornist Eric Ruske and the Spokane Symphony, Friday, March 4, at 8 p.m. at the Spokane Opera House. Tickets are $15 to $34; Call the Spokane Symphony Ticket Office at (509) 624-1200; tickets are also available, with service charges, through TicketsWest at 325-SEAT, 1-800-325-SEAT and at www.spokanesymphony.org.