ILL MAESTRO

Due to illness,
Robert Spano canceled his planned piano concert at the Brooklyn
Philharmonic’s May 5 gala and he will not be conducting the Philharmonic’s
May 7 performance at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Saturday’s
"An American in Brooklyn"-themed program will instead
be led by Chelsea Tipton II (left), resident conductor of the
Toledo Symphony Orchestra.



The Philharmonic’s George Gershwin tribute includes performances
by the Total Praise Choir of Brooklyn’s Emmanuel Baptist Church,
soprano Cynthia Haymon, tenor Michael Forest and baritone Kevin
Deas in selections from "Porgy and Bess"; and pianist
Leon Bates in "Rhapsody in Blue."



"Bob and I were very excited when we started planning this
concert," Philharmonic Executive Director Catherine Cahill
told GO Brooklyn. "The high points, the artistic and Brooklyn-based
connections worthy of celebration – and Gershwin was an obvious
choice. It’s a fitting way to close out a wonderful season."
Spano, now the music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,
was previously the music director of the Brooklyn Philharmonic
for eight years, and he continues to be a member of the Philharmonic’s
Board of Directors.



The Brooklyn Philharmonic will perform its "An American
in Brooklyn" concert at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
(30 Lafayette Ave. at Ashland Place in Fort Greene) on May 7
at 8 pm. Tickets are $20, $40, $55 and $60. For tickets, visit
the Web site at www.brooklynphilharmonic.org
or call (718) 636-4100. For more information, call (718) 622-5555.