Maestro Gerald Schwarz To Conduct The Beethoven Celebration Orchestra And Chorus

The Foundation for the Revival of Classical Culture has just announced a change of Conductor for the December 16^th “Beethoven 250 Celebrated” Concert in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, which we announced earlier here.

Due to scheduling conflict, Maestro Jiang Jin Yi will be unable to conduct. We are pleased to announced that world renowned conductor, Maestro Gerald Schwarz, has graciously agreed to conduct the Beethoven Celebration Orchestra and Chorus in three of the best known and loved Beethoven works: Piano Concerto #3 in C minor; Piano Concerto No. 5, “The Emperor”; and the Choral finale of Symphony No. 9, “Ode to Joy”.

Maestro Gerard Schwarz by Michele Rushworth

Internationally recognized for his moving performances, innovative programming and extensive catalogue of recordings, American conductor Gerard Schwarz serves as Music Director of the All-Star Orchestra, Eastern Music Festival, Palm Beach Symphony and Mozart Orchestra of New York, and is Conductor Laureate of the Seattle Symphony and Conductor Emeritus of the Mostly Mozart Festival. Starting in the fall of 2019, he assumed the position as Distinguished Professor of Music; Conducting and Orchestral Studies of the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami.

His considerable discography of over 350 albums showcases his collaborations with some of the world’s greatest orchestras including The Philadelphia Orchestra, London Symphony, Berlin Radio Symphony, Orchestre National de France, Tokyo Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, New York Chamber Symphony and Seattle Symphony among others.

Mr. Schwarz began his professional career as co-principal trumpet of the New York Philharmonic and has held Music Director positions with the Mostly Mozart Festival, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and New York Chamber Symphony. As a guest conductor, he has worked with many of the world’s finest orchestras and has led the San Francisco, Washington National and Seattle Opera companies on many occasions. He is also a gifted composer and arranger with an extensive catalogue of works that have been premiered by ensembles across the United States, Europe and Korea.

Mr. Schwarz is a renowned interpreter of 19^th century German, Austrian and Russian repertoire in addition to his noted work with contemporary American composers. He completed his final season as music director of the Seattle Symphony in 2011 after an acclaimed 26 years – a period of dramatic artistic growth for the ensemble.

In his nearly five decades as a respected classical musician and conductor, Schwarz has received hundreds of honors and accolades including Emmy Awards, GRAMMY nominations, ASCAP Awards and the Ditson Conductor’s Award. He was the first American named Conductor of the Year by Musical America and has received numerous honorary doctorates. The City of Seattle named the street alongside the Benaroya Hall “Gerard Schwarz Place” in his honor. His book, Behind the Baton, was released by Amadeus Press in March 2017.

Tickets are available at the Carnegie Hall’s website CarnegieHall.org, by phone at 212-247-7800; and at the Carnegie Hall box office.

So, please, put Monday, December 16, 2019 on your calendar and join us celebrating one of the most inspiring figures of music, unity and freedom.

“I will seize fate by the throat; it shall certainly never wholly overcome me.”