While you may not have heard of Israeli pianist Inon Barnatan, there's a good chance you'll not be able to forget him after the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra's concert in Westminster Church on February 18th. Described by the 'London Evening Standard' as a "true poet of the keyboard," he tends to wow his audiences.

Barnatan had to fill some pretty big shoes recently, sitting in for the mighty Marc-Andre Hamelin who, due to illness, had to cancel a performance with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. 'Arts Atlanta' called his performance "stunning" and called it a "musical coming together at a level one rarely experiences in a concerto." (It was a Beethoven concerto, by the way, and Barnatan is back for a return engagement with the ASO this January.)

"Inon Barnatan has an absolutely exploding career, both on the international stage and as a recording artist," says MCO Music Director Anne Manson, "so it is thrilling to have him come." In more eastern seaboard news, the pianist has been named as the New York Philharmonic's first Artist-in-Association, a major three-season appointment highlighted by multiple concerto and chamber collaborations with the orchestra...

For his Winnipeg debut, Barnatan will be performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 2, in B Flat Major, Op. 19, with the MCO. This is one of Beethoven's lesser-known works, and not often heard in live performance. It is an early work which, according to MCO note annotator Don Anderson, "... displays, if not in fully formed states, many of the principal characteristics of the mature Beethoven: strength of purpose, imagination, lyricism, and a hearty sense of humour."

Also on the programme is Mozart's Symphony No. 40, in G Minor (K 550), but not necessarily the version we all know and love! Mozart originally scored the work not with clarinets, but with oboes, and this is the instrumentation we'll hear. Think of it as the 'basement tapes' version.

For detailed program notes, artists' biographies and much more, including videos of Anne Manson discussing in detail all the MCO concerts this season, visit themco.ca.

Pre-concert event / Arrive early for more music! Hear a special presentation by students of Suzuki Music Winnipeg; Karen Barg, String Program Coordinator; 6:45 pm.

The concert begins at 7:30 pm in Westminster United Church, 745 Westminster at Maryland. Tickets are $30 for adults, $28 for seniors and $10 for students, including GST, and are available at McNally Robinson, the West End Cultural Centre (586 Ellice at Sherbrook), Organic Planet (877 Westminster Avenue) or through the MCO website (themco.ca). Call the MCO's Ticketline (204.783.7377).

The Manitoba Chamber Orchestra's 2014/15 season is sponsored by CN. Media sponsors include the Winnipeg Free Press, Espace musique 89.9, Classic 107 and Golden West Radio. Northern outreach: OmniTRAX Canada. Music for all! program: Sun Life Financial.