Director Miloš Forman’s filmAMADEUS one of the greatest biopics ever made, swept the 1984 Oscars winning eight awards including Best Picture. Now, Valley Performing Arts Center opens its 2017-18 Season on Saturday, September 16 at 7:00pm with a live performance featuring the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) and LA Opera Chorus, conducted by film music specialist and CSUN alum Richard Kaufman, to a newly mastered print created for live orchestral accompaniment.
The evening honors the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Foundation in recognition of the family’s recent $17 million gift that will rename VPAC as the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Performing Arts Center, also known as The Soraya. The gift is one of the largest in the history of the California State University and the system’s largest single gift to support the arts; gift to support the programming and operations of the award-winning Valley Performing Arts Center – which has become one of the cultural jewels of the region in the six years since it opened.
“Through this historic and transformational gift, Younes and Soraya Nazarian are investing in the elevating power of the arts and in the artists who enlighten and inspire us all,” said Dr. Dianne F. Harrison, CSUN’s president. “Younes and Soraya have ensured that we can continue to deliver the finest music, dance and theater events, engaging communities throughout Los Angeles and Southern California.”
“Our family believes that supporting the arts is one of the most powerful ways of impacting any society,” said Dr. Sharon S. Nazarian, President of the Y&S Nazarian Foundation. “And to enrich a community such as the valley through supporting a world-class performing arts center is a true reflection of how we think as a family.”
“What better way to launch our new season and rejoice our bright future than with this spectacular film, celebrating the finest filmmaking and two of Los Angeles’ most esteemed arts organizations: LACO and LA Opera,” said Steingraber. “The Nazarians’ gift goes a long way to securing a future of great music and performances worthy of such an exceptional venue, and more so, their visionary leadership reflects the values of the arts in the 21st century.”
“This performance will be especially significant as we welcome back Maestro Richard Kaufman to honor Sir Neville Mariner and perform the AMADEUS score which was one of the most popular music recordings of all time. Kaufman has also performed this program with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic and we can’t wait to welcome him back to VPAC.”
The event will occur Saturday, September 16 at 7:00 pm.
