Music Director Joel Levine leads the Oklahoma City Philharmonic in a performance titled "Force of Destiny" on Saturday, March 2, 2013, at 8PM at the Oklahoma City Civic Center. Joining Maestro Levine as as featured soloist in the Cello Concerto in C major by Franz Joseph Haydn is acclaimed performer Zuill Bailey.

The concert opens with orchestra playing the overture to the opera La Forza del Destino by Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi. Also featured is the Symphony No. 1 by Johannes Brahms. This work for orchestra is music of extraordinary intensity and richness as Brahms strove to create a piece he believed worthy to be called a "symphony." He is quoted as saying, "You have no idea how it feels to hear behind you the tramp of a giant like Beethoven." He worked on this masterpiece for almost 20 years before he was confident to release it to the public. It has become one of the most beloved symphonies in the repertory.

Playing at the top of his game, Zuill Bailey has been touring the U.S. and Europe for many years. In the 2012-2013 season, he's presented concerts and recitals in London, Rotterdam, and Wimbledon as well as Phoenix, Cleveland, Buffalo and throughout Alaska. An acclaimed teacher as well as a soloist, Zuill Bailey will lead a master class in Oklahoma City at Oklahoma City University on Friday, March 1, 2013, at 2PM to 4PM. The master class is free and open to the public.

Concert tickets are $65 to $15 and available through the OKC Philharmonic box office at 428 West California, downtown OKC; by calling 405-TICKETS (842-5387); and online at www.okcphilharmonic.org. Tickets are available at a variety of outlets including the Civic Center Music Hall at 201 N. Walker, downtown OKC at 405-297-CCMH or by calling toll-free to 1-800-394-7111. Handling charges apply to online purchases and outet sales.

This performance of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic is presented with support from Oklahoma Publishing Company and Chesapeake Energy Corporation. Additional season support is provided by the Allied Arts Foundation and the Oklahoma Arts Council.