December 16, 2008

Classical violinist Joshua Bell to present recital with pianist Jeremy Denk

The program will be presented by Purdue Convocations as part of its Classics series and is made possible by support from Westminster Village and the Jeanne Compton Endowment for Artistic Excellence, and the Friends of Convocations. The concert is the first special event of a three-year celebration leading up to the Friends of Convocations' 25th anniversary in 2010-11.

The performance will be Bell's fourth at Purdue. He is a native of Bloomington, Ind., who came to national attention at the age of 14 in an acclaimed orchestral debut with Riccardo Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra. A Carnegie Hall debut, the Avery Fisher Career Grant and a recording contract followed.

Bell made his first recording at age 18, and his body of work includes John Corigliano's Academy Award-winning score for the 1999 film "The Red Violin," the critically acclaimed "Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto" and "Romance of the Violin," which was named Billboard's 2004 Classical CD of the Year.

Bell will perform with Denk, an award-winning piano soloist who has garnered critical acclaim for his engagements with some the nation's top orchestras. Denk's repertoire ranges from standard works of the 18th and 19th centuries to 20th-century masters to new works by leading composers of today.

Tickets are $35 to $85 for adults and $25 to $45 for those 18 years and younger, Purdue students and Ivy Tech Lafayette students. Tickets are available at the Elliott Hall and Stewart Center box offices at (765) 494-3933 or (800) 914-SHOW. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster outlets. Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more can be ordered at (765) 496-1977.

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Source: Abby Eddy, (765) 494-5045, aeeddy@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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