This week's Baltimore Symphony Orchestra concert was to have included one of the starriest names on its lineup of 2010-11 guest artists -- Midori, the brilliant violinist who captured the attention of the music world before she reached her teens.
She was scheduled to perform the Violin Concerto No. 1 by Shostakovich in the program led by guest conductor Gilbert Varga.
In a statement released Wednesday, Midori said: "I'm so disappointed to miss the opportunity to play with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Varga. I have strained my back and have been strongly advised against physical exertion at this time. I greatly appreciate the graciousness and understanding of the BSO, and look forward to re-scheduling our collaboration at the earliest opportunity."
Filling in for the Shostakovich concerto will be Mikhail Simonyan, a 25-year-old Russian-Armenian violinist. The rest of the Russian program is also unchanged: Glinka's "Ruslan and Ludmilla" Overture and Stravinsky's "Petrouchka."
PHOTO (by Lisa Marie Mazzucco) COURTESY OF BSO