Virtuoso violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg joins

conductor Bruno Ferrandis and the Santa Rosa Symphony May 12, 13 & 14 at Wells Fargo Center

News Release Contact:
Sara Obuchowski, (707) 546-7097 ext 218

April 2, 2007

(SANTA ROSA, CA) –Santa Rosa Symphony concludes its 2006/2007 season on May 12, 13 & 14 at the Wells Fargo Center with a blockbuster combination: the sensational Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg plays Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto, and music director Bruno Ferrandis conducts Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances and Sala by Latvian composer Peteris Vasks.

The Vasks work is part of “Magnum Opus,” one of the largest commissioning projects of new symphonic work in the U.S. This is Santa Rosa’s 4th season as one of three adventurous orchestras (with Marin Symphony and Oakland East Bay Symphony) who have and continue to premier performances of nine new works by living orchestral composers.

The Washington Post calls violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, “a breathtakingly daring and original artist.” Salerno-Sonnenberg returns to the Santa Rosa Symphony stage as a master musician at the top of her form, having first appeared here in 1983, at the age of 22, with enthusiastic support from then Music Director Corrick Brown.

Salerno-Sonnenberg has been in the media spotlight since 1981 when she burst onto the music scene as the youngest recipient ever of the Walter W. Naumburg International Violin Competition. She has been featured many times on both network and public television, from 60 Minutes to Live from Lincoln Center and Sesame Street. She was the subject of the 1999 documentary film Speaking in Strings, and at one time earned the nickname “bad girl of the violin.” Salerno-Sonnenberg has performed with many of the world’s greatest conductors, and has played at the White House in a command performance for the Arts & Humanities Awards. A highly-acclaimed recording artist who has collaborated with artists such as the Assad brothers, Mandy Patinkin, Joe Jackson, Judy Blazer, and Janice Siegel, Sa

lerno-Sonnenberg will be available to sign copies of her CDs and DVD during concert intermissions.

The May 12-14 season-concluding concert set is sponsored by Louise and Don Johnston. The performances of Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg are underwritten by the Stare Foundation and David Stare of Dry Creek Vineyard. Bruno Ferrandis’ appearance is underwritten by Norma and Evert Person.

Concert times are Saturday and Monday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa. Conversations with the Conductor begin in the main concert hall one hour prior to each concert.
The popular Discovery Series of open rehearsals continues at 2 p.m. on May 12. These concerts, priced at $10 for adults and $6 for youth, offer a sneak peek into the final rehearsal process before each concert set.

For tickets, call 54-MUSIC (707-546-8742) or purchase online at santarosasymphony.com. Tickets are also available in person at the Symphony Box Office on the first floor of the North Coast Bank building at 50 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, Wednesdays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased at the door 1½ hours before each performance based on availability.

Single tickets are $27-50, with student and senior discounts available. $10 Student Rush tickets (valid student I.D. required) can be purchased a half hour prior to curtain.