The OKC Philharmonic welcomed conductor Daniel Hege and pianist Haochen Zhang for the 6th Classics concert of the orchestra’s 28th season, presented on Saturday, March 4th at the Civic Center Music Hall in downtown Oklahoma City. The fifth of six projected programs presenting guest conductors auditioning for the position of music director, to succeed the Philharmonic’s founder maestro Joel Levine, the program features Haochen Zhang in the piano concerto in G Major by Maurice Ravel as well as two works for orchestra, the overture to The School for Scandal by Samuel Barber and the Symphony No. 4 in e minor, Op 98 of Johannes Brahms.
Daniel Hege is widely recognized as one of America’s finest conductors, earning critical acclaim for his fresh interpretations of the standard repertoire and for his commitment to creative programming. He served for eleven seasons as the Music Director of the Syracuse Symphony and in June of 2009, was appointed Music Director of the Wichita Symphony. In addition, he is the Principal Guest Conductor of the Tulsa Symphony, and during this season serves as the Principal Guest Conductor of the Binghamton (NY) Philharmonic.
Since his gold medal win at the Thirteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2009, the 26-year-old Chinese pianist has captivated audiences in the US, Europe, and Asia with a unique combination of deep musical sensitivity, fearless imagination and spectacular virtuosity. And just a few weeks ago Haochen was awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, which recognizes the potential for a major career in music.
This program airs Saturday, April 8th, 8pm on Classical 88.7 HD-1.