A new work by André Previn will receive its world premiere by the Eastman Wind Ensemble this evening at the Eastman School of Music. “Music for Wind Orchestra: No Strings Attached” will be performed as part of a series of events this week celebrating Mr. Previn’s 85th birthday. The all-Previn program will feature several of the composer’s chamber music pieces, and an Honorary Doctor of Music degree from the University of Rochester will be awarded to Mr. Previn during the concert.
His career has spanned seven decades, and has included jazz, classical music, film music, conducting, teaching and recording, along with four Oscars and eleven Grammy Awards. As a conductor, André Previn has been a regular guest with a number of the world’s leading orchestras, both in concert and on recordings. He has held chief artistic posts with the Houston Symphony, London Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony and Royal Philharmonic. As a pianist he enjoys recording and performing song recitals, chamber music and jazz, and has worked with some of classical music’s greatest names such as Renée Fleming and Anne-Sophie Mutter. Also an esteemed composer, Andre Previn’s first opera, A Streetcar Named Desire, written for Renée Fleming, enjoyed success and was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque.
Andre Previn spoke with WXXI’s Mona Seghatoleslami and tells her that his career now has one main focus.