Guest Composer

Christopher Theofanidis (b. 1967)

Christopher Theofanidis has had performances by many leading orchestras from around the world, including the London Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Moscow Soloists, the National, Atlanta, Baltimore, St. Louis, Detroit Symphonies, and many others. He also has served as Composer of the Year for the Pittsburgh Symphony during their 2006-2007 Season, for which he wrote a violin concerto for Sarah Chang.

"What impresses me about Theofanidis... is his ability to blend several musical languages once thought to be mutually exclusive... there are elements of Asian music, minimalism, high chromaticism, and a sort of brightly colored impressionism... the results are enormously attractive."
-The Washington Post

"Theofanidis is an unusually skilled, communicative composer."
-The Baltimore Sun

"Not too often does the premiere of a work for a symphony orchestra elicit a standing ovation that is genuinely heartfelt, not obligatory. The rapturous sounding Rainbow Body (2000) by Christopher Theofanidis recieved that accolade Saturday... an authentic hit."
-The Houston Chronicle

"... accomplished and appealing. The musical effects are shimmery... the orchestral writing is piquant and colorful."
-The San Francisco Chronicle

"The piece is a pageant of orchestral color, some of it deliciously subtle, much of it unabashedly joyful, all of it economical in its use of modal, rhythmic, and timbral resources."
-The Boston Globe

"... lyrical, exotic soul-searching. The acoustical echo created solely by means of instruments is fascinating."
-The New York Times