I've solicited the musicians for their top picks for the 0910 season, trying to catch them before they disperse to places clear and cool for festivals and such. Violist Chris Woehr placed the weekend with André Previn high on his list. The SLSO has a significant history with Previn, as he made his conducting debut with the orchestra in 1961. Chris wasn't around for that, but he has a much more intimate Previn connection that he shares:
"I am fascinated by the program on March 19 & 20: Previn Diversions, Mozart Piano Concerto #24, Rachmaninoff 3rd. It's conducted by André Previn himself, and he might still be using one of my dad's batons. (My father made sticks for most of the conductors of his generation, and was Previn's music librarian in the Pittsburgh Symphony. I'm wondering if Previn will freak out that the 57-year-old bald viola player in front of him is the son of his former colleague.)"
