Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia Performing Arts Center will present the ARCO Chamber Orchestra Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. in Hodgson Concert Hall. The program will include works by Ottorino Respighi and Alfred Schnittke, and the world premiere of Brahms’s Cello Sonata transcribed for violin and strings, featuring ARCO artistic director Levon Ambartsumian on violin.
Ambartsumian, UGA’s Franklin Professor of Violin, founded The ARCO Chamber Orchestra during his years as professor of violin at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. The orchestra’s reputation grew following tours of Italy, Spain, Germany Romania, France and Korea.
In 1995, Ambartsumian joined the University of Georgia faculty. He remained artistic director and conductor of ARCO and was able to bring some of his students with him to America. His orchestra has now become a talented international blend of musicians.
ARCO performed in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in 2001 and has been invited to return every year since then. The chamber orchestra has released several CDs, and the ensemble’s recent tour of Italy included a performance in La Fenice, the famous opera house in Venice.
Tickets for the ARCO concert are $20 with discounts for UGA students. Tickets can be purchased online at pac.uga.edu or by calling the Performing Arts Center box office at 706/542-4400 or toll free at 888/289-8497.
The ARCO Chamber Orchestra is supported by Buddy and Lucy Allen and the Hugh Hodgson School of Music.
