LA Phil's Valentine's Weekend Program Features French Artists Charles Dutoit and Gautier Capucon

Conductor Charles Dutoit returns to Walt Disney Concert Hall, leading the LA Phil in three performances, Thursday through Saturday, February 14 through 16, at 8 pm. The Valentine's weekend program features Gautier Capuçon, considered one of the most captivating cellists of his generation, performing Strauss' thrilling Don Quixote, along with LA Phil PrincipAl Viola Carrie Dennis. The program also includes Mendelssohn's evocative Hebrides Overture and Mozart's Symphony No. 29, K. 201.

In honor of the Valentine's weekend, champagne and special dessert options - cupcakes, chocolate covered strawberries, mini sandwiches and a selection of chocolates - will be available in BP Hall following each performance. There will also be a photo booth for patrons to get free photos and a selection of romantic songs, selected by Gautier Capuçon, will provide an audio setting for the gathering.

Captivating audiences throughout the world, Charles Dutoit is one of today's most sought-after conductors, having performed with all the major orchestras on most stages of the five continents. Presently Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, he recently celebrated his 30-year artistic collaboration with the Philadelphia Orchestra, who in turn, bestowed upon him the title of Conductor Laureate. He collaborates every season with the orchestras of Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles and is also a regular guest on the stages in London, Berlin, Paris, Munich, Moscow, Sydney, Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, among others. His more than 200 recordings for Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, EMI, Philips and Erato have garnered multiple awards and distinctions including two Grammys. For 25 years, Charles Dutoit was Artistic Director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, a dynamic musical team recognized the world over. From 1991 to 2001, he was Music Director of the Orchestre National de France and in 1996, he was appointed Principal Conductor and soon thereafter Music Director of the NHK Symphony Orchestra (Tokyo). He is today Music Director Emeritus of this Orchestra. For 10 years, he served as Music Director of the Philadelphia Orchestra's season at the Mann Music Center and for 21 years at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Dutoit's extensive musical training included violin, viola, piano, percussion, history of music and composition at the Conservatoires and Music Academies of Geneva, Siena, Venice and Boston. A globetrotter motivated by his passion for history and archaeology, political science, art and architecture, he has traveled in all 196 nations of the world.

Gautier Capuçon has been called "A young star in the cello firmament" by Gramophone. Since winning the French Victoires de la Musique as "New Talent of the Year" in 2001, he has quickly established himself as one of the leading cellists of his generation. Mr. Capuçon records exclusively for Virgin Classics. His first recording with the Mariinsky Orchestra and Valery Gergiev in the new Concert Hall in St. Petersburg was released in 2010, and features Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations and Prokofiev's Sinfonia Concertante. His highly anticipated recording of the Dvo?ák and Herbert cello concertos, released in February 2009, with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra and Paavo Järvi, was named Gramophone Magazine Editor's Choice in the April 2009 issue. His January 2008 release of Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff Sonatas with pianist Gabriella Montero, entitled Rhapsody, received the following praise from Strings Magazine: "It is hard to imagine a more deeply felt, compellingly projected performance of these works. Both players are masters of their instruments." Additional recordings include the Haydn Cello Concertos; a disc of 20th-century works for cello and violin, with his brother Renaud, entitled Face à Face; and Schubert's Trout Piano Quintet, which was hailed as the February 2005 Disc of the Month by Classic FM. Since 2007, Gautier Capuçon has been an Ambassador for Zegna & Music project, which was founded in 1997 as a philanthropic activity to promote music and its values. The acquisition of Mr. Capuçon's Dominique Peccatte bow was made possible in part by the Colas Group, which also co-produced with Virgin Classics, his most recent recording with Mariinsky Orchestra and Valery Gergiev. Gautier Capuçon plays a 1701 Matteo Goffriler cello.

For full artist biographies, please visit: laphil.com/Romance

Complete Program:
MENDELSSOHN Hebrides Overture
MOZART Symphony No. 29, K. 201
STRAUSS Don Quixote

Upbeat Live pre-concert events takes place in Walt Disney Concert Hall's BP Hall one hour prior to each concert, and are free to all ticket holders. Music writer Eric Bromberger hosts.