The Philadelphia Orchestra Comes to The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 2/7

ANDRÉ WATTS burst upon the music scene at the age of 16, when Leonard Bernstein chose him to make his debut with the New York Philharmonic in their Young People's Concerts broadcast nationwide on CBS-TV. Two weeks later, he substituted on short notice for the ailing Glenn Gould in performances of Liszt's E-flat Piano Concerto that launched the youngster's meteoric career overnight. Nearly half a century later, ANDRÉ WATTS remains one of the world's most respected and beloved piano superstars. Of a recent performance of Beethoven's "Emperor" Piano Concerto No. 5 by WATTS, The New York Times reported that "his mix of steely brilliance and expressively molded intimacy remained intact. Even his quietest playing had a kind of swagger to it."

A free pre-concert lecture, sponsored by Steinway Piano Gallery of Miami, will be held in the Arsht Center's Peacock Education Center at 7 p.m. prior to this concert and each concert on the Ziff Classical Music Series.