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5 Friday concerts at 8:00pm | Van Wezel
$140/C, $215/B, $260/BB, $335/A, $395/AA
Friday 5 subscription does not include Masterworks 5 & 7
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Masters of Melody
Masterworks 1
November 6November 7November 8Jeffrey Kahane, Artistic Advisor, SMF Music Director, conductor and piano
GERSHWIN Piano Concerto in F
RACHMANINOFF Symphony No. 2Celebrate the opening of the 2020-2021 Masterworks season with the infectious rhythms and unforgettable melodies of George Gershwin. The jazz-influenced Concerto in F, one of Gershwin's most beloved works for the concert hall, infuses the sounds of the Charleston, Ragtime and Blues into a stunning showpiece for both piano and orchestra. Celebrated American pianist and conductor Jeffrey Kahane will serve in both roles for these performances. Following intermission, Kahane, Music Director of the Sarasota Music Festival and Artistic Advisor for Sarasota Orchestra, will take the podium to lead the orchestra in Serge Rachmaninoff's glorious Symphony No. 2. One of the most treasured works of the venerated Romantic composer, the expansive, arching melodies of the Symphony have found their way into movie soundtracks and even pop music. This triumphant work marked a high point in Rachmaninoff's career, and will provide an electrifying kick off to an extraordinary season of music.
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Beethoven Violin Concerto
Masterworks 2
December 4December 5December 6Yaniv Dinur, Music Director, New Bedford Symphony
Angelo Xiang Yu, violinGABRIELLA SMITH Field Guide
BEETHOVEN Violin Concerto
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4December 16, 2020 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven, and the Sarasota Orchestra celebrates with a performance of his serene, yet astoundingly difficult Violin Concerto. Acclaimed young violinist Angelo Xiang Yu, described by the Cincinnati Enquirer as "a seasoned soloist with a dazzling technique", makes his debut with the Sarasota Orchestra following several spectacular performances at the Sarasota Music Festival. The rhythms and sounds of the natural world will provide an arresting opening to the concert. Field Guide, by American composer Gabriella Smith, takes its inspiration from the sounds of bird sanctuaries and tropical rainforests, and combines them in a work the San Francisco Classical Voice called "dauntingly original". The program concludes with Tchaikovsky's iconic Symphony No. 4, undoubtedly one of the most cherished works by the Romantic giant. Resident Conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony, Jerusalem-born Yaniv Dinur makes his Sarasota Orchestra debut with this expansive and exhilarating program.
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Musical Heroines
Masterworks 3
January 7January 8January 9January 10Kensho Watanabe, Assistant conductor at Philadelphia Orchestra
Isata Kanneh-Mason, pianoBEETHOVEN Leonore Overture No. 3
CLARA SCHUMANN Piano Concerto
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV ScheherazadeThree strong women, three wonderful stories. Beethoven's Lenore is one of the great operatic heroines, disguising herself and risking everything to save her husband from unjust imprisonment. The overture to Beethoven's only opera about love and sacrifice will provide an energetic opening to this colorful program. Clara Schumann was one of the most celebrated pianists of the mid-19th century and a composer of great talent. She also happened to be married to the great composer Robert Schumann, and the two were a powerful force in music during their lives. Clara composed her Piano Concerto in A Minor at the tender age of 14. British pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, oldest of the extraordinary Kanneh-Mason siblings, makes her Sarasota Orchestra debut performing this delightful work. Her 2019 recording of the piece earned a spot on the NY Times' list of best classical recordings. The program concludes with Rimsky-Korsakov's technicolor symphonic suite Scheherazade, based upon Tales from the Arabian Nights. Guest conductor Kensho Watanabe, whose tenure as Assistant Conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra earned him notable praise, will lead the musicians through the exotic stories spun by the mythical Scheherazade to save her own life. Rimsky-Korsakov's virtuosic score will provide an electrifying end to this program spotlighting heroines of music.
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Symphonie Fantastique
Masterworks 4
February 4February 5February 6February 7Carl St. Clair, Music Director, Pacific Symphony
Augustin Hadelich, violinMOZART Overture to The Abduction from the Seraglio
MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto
BERLIOZ Symphonie FantastiqueMusical visions of heaven and hell swirl through this vibrant program. Mozart's Overture to his beloved opera Don Giovanni begins with the menacing sounds of the gates of hell opening to receive the notorious womanizer, and then morphs seamlessly into a lively, almost comedic romp. Grammy Award winning violinist Augustin Hadelich makes his Sarasota Orchestra debut in Mendelssohn's sunny Concerto in E Minor, perhaps the most popular composition in the entire violin repertoire. Hadelich, who nearly lost his life in a severe fire and could not play for months, has been heralded for his extraordinary sound and was Musical America's 2018 Instrumentalist of the Year. The program concludes with Hector Berlioz's psychedelic Symphonie Fantastique. Maestro Carl St. Clair, Music Director of the Pacific Symphony for 30 years, returns to the Sarasota Orchestra podium to lead the musicians through Berlioz's opium-fueled visions of bucolic country sides, masked balls and witches' sabbaths. This exhilarating orchestral tour de force is guaranteed to leave concertgoers both breathless and thoroughly enchanted.
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From the New World
Masterworks 6
March 19March 20March 21Thomas Wilkins, Music Director, Omaha Symphony
Chee-Yun, violinJIM BECKEL Toccata for Orchestra
LALO Symphonie espagnole
DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9 (New World Symphony)Maestro Thomas Wilkins returns to Sarasota in a captivating program of orchestral favorites. Music Director of the Omaha Symphony and Principal Conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Wilkens opens the concert with American composer James Beckel's orchestral showpiece Toccata. The work's driving rhythms and brilliant orchestration have been enormously popular with audiences nationwide. Violinist Chee-Yun, whom the New York Times praised for her "high-gloss tone that pulls sensuously at the listener's ear" will dazzle with Édouard Lalo's Symphonie Espagnole. Composed for 19th century Spanish virtuoso violinist Pablo de Sarasate, the work is imbued with the scintillating sounds and rhythms of Spain, and offers the soloist both seductive and electrifying moments. The program concludes with Antonin Dvořák's love letter to America, his Symphony No. 9, "From the New World". Written during the composer's three-year residency in Iowa, the treasured work overflows with Dvořák's impressions of America and American music. The iconic theme of the 2nd movement, reverently scored for the English horn, was later utilized for the spiritual "Goin' Home", and is one of the most beloved melodies ever composed.
7 Saturday concerts at 8:00pm | Van Wezel
$200/C, $284/B, $349/BB, $449/A, $549/AA
-
Masters of Melody
Masterworks 1
November 6November 7November 8Jeffrey Kahane, Artistic Advisor, SMF Music Director, conductor and piano
GERSHWIN Piano Concerto in F
RACHMANINOFF Symphony No. 2Celebrate the opening of the 2020-2021 Masterworks season with the infectious rhythms and unforgettable melodies of George Gershwin. The jazz-influenced Concerto in F, one of Gershwin's most beloved works for the concert hall, infuses the sounds of the Charleston, Ragtime and Blues into a stunning showpiece for both piano and orchestra. Celebrated American pianist and conductor Jeffrey Kahane will serve in both roles for these performances. Following intermission, Kahane, Music Director of the Sarasota Music Festival and Artistic Advisor for Sarasota Orchestra, will take the podium to lead the orchestra in Serge Rachmaninoff's glorious Symphony No. 2. One of the most treasured works of the venerated Romantic composer, the expansive, arching melodies of the Symphony have found their way into movie soundtracks and even pop music. This triumphant work marked a high point in Rachmaninoff's career, and will provide an electrifying kick off to an extraordinary season of music.
-
Beethoven Violin Concerto
Masterworks 2
December 4December 5December 6Yaniv Dinur, Music Director, New Bedford Symphony
Angelo Xiang Yu, violinGABRIELLA SMITH Field Guide
BEETHOVEN Violin Concerto
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4December 16, 2020 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven, and the Sarasota Orchestra celebrates with a performance of his serene, yet astoundingly difficult Violin Concerto. Acclaimed young violinist Angelo Xiang Yu, described by the Cincinnati Enquirer as "a seasoned soloist with a dazzling technique", makes his debut with the Sarasota Orchestra following several spectacular performances at the Sarasota Music Festival. The rhythms and sounds of the natural world will provide an arresting opening to the concert. Field Guide, by American composer Gabriella Smith, takes its inspiration from the sounds of bird sanctuaries and tropical rainforests, and combines them in a work the San Francisco Classical Voice called "dauntingly original". The program concludes with Tchaikovsky's iconic Symphony No. 4, undoubtedly one of the most cherished works by the Romantic giant. Resident Conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony, Jerusalem-born Yaniv Dinur makes his Sarasota Orchestra debut with this expansive and exhilarating program.
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Musical Heroines
Masterworks 3
January 7January 8January 9January 10Kensho Watanabe, Assistant conductor at Philadelphia Orchestra
Isata Kanneh-Mason, pianoBEETHOVEN Leonore Overture No. 3
CLARA SCHUMANN Piano Concerto
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV ScheherazadeThree strong women, three wonderful stories. Beethoven's Lenore is one of the great operatic heroines, disguising herself and risking everything to save her husband from unjust imprisonment. The overture to Beethoven's only opera about love and sacrifice will provide an energetic opening to this colorful program. Clara Schumann was one of the most celebrated pianists of the mid-19th century and a composer of great talent. She also happened to be married to the great composer Robert Schumann, and the two were a powerful force in music during their lives. Clara composed her Piano Concerto in A Minor at the tender age of 14. British pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, oldest of the extraordinary Kanneh-Mason siblings, makes her Sarasota Orchestra debut performing this delightful work. Her 2019 recording of the piece earned a spot on the NY Times' list of best classical recordings. The program concludes with Rimsky-Korsakov's technicolor symphonic suite Scheherazade, based upon Tales from the Arabian Nights. Guest conductor Kensho Watanabe, whose tenure as Assistant Conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra earned him notable praise, will lead the musicians through the exotic stories spun by the mythical Scheherazade to save her own life. Rimsky-Korsakov's virtuosic score will provide an electrifying end to this program spotlighting heroines of music.
-
Symphonie Fantastique
Masterworks 4
February 4February 5February 6February 7Carl St. Clair, Music Director, Pacific Symphony
Augustin Hadelich, violinMOZART Overture to The Abduction from the Seraglio
MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto
BERLIOZ Symphonie FantastiqueMusical visions of heaven and hell swirl through this vibrant program. Mozart's Overture to his beloved opera Don Giovanni begins with the menacing sounds of the gates of hell opening to receive the notorious womanizer, and then morphs seamlessly into a lively, almost comedic romp. Grammy Award winning violinist Augustin Hadelich makes his Sarasota Orchestra debut in Mendelssohn's sunny Concerto in E Minor, perhaps the most popular composition in the entire violin repertoire. Hadelich, who nearly lost his life in a severe fire and could not play for months, has been heralded for his extraordinary sound and was Musical America's 2018 Instrumentalist of the Year. The program concludes with Hector Berlioz's psychedelic Symphonie Fantastique. Maestro Carl St. Clair, Music Director of the Pacific Symphony for 30 years, returns to the Sarasota Orchestra podium to lead the musicians through Berlioz's opium-fueled visions of bucolic country sides, masked balls and witches' sabbaths. This exhilarating orchestral tour de force is guaranteed to leave concertgoers both breathless and thoroughly enchanted.
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Pictures at an Exhibition
Masterworks 5
February 18February 20February 21Marcelo Lehninger, Music Director, Grand Rapids Symphony
Orion Weiss, pianoGUARNIERI Festive Overture
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 23
MUSSORGSKY Pictures at an ExhibitionMusic Director of the Grand Rapids Symphony, Maestro Marcelo Lehninger returns to Sarasota in a lively program featuring not one, but two Mozarts. The Abertura festiva (Festive Overture) by Brazilian composer Mozart Camargo Guarnieri opens the program with the tangy flavors of South America. The rhythmically rich work is a showpiece for the woodwind section of the orchestra. Pianist Orion Weiss, whose last performance with Sarasota Orchestra was called "simply breathtaking", returns with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23. One of Mozart's most introspective and intimate works for piano, it will provide the perfect vehicle for the highly sought-after Weiss, lauded by critics as "an effortlessly brilliant performer". The program concludes with Modest Mussorgsky's orchestral showpiece Pictures at an Exhibition. Originally a virtuoso piece for solo piano, the brilliant Maurice Ravel orchestrated the work, creating one of the most cherished pieces in the entire orchestral repertoire. Ten vivid miniatures, each corresponding to a painting by Mussorgsky's friend, artist and architect Viktor Hartmann, depict castles, gnomes, markets and catacombs. The final movement, The Great Gate of Kiev, is one of the most majestic and moving moments in orchestral music and will provide a powerful conclusion to this colorful program.
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From the New World
Masterworks 6
March 19March 20March 21Thomas Wilkins, Music Director, Omaha Symphony
Chee-Yun, violinJIM BECKEL Toccata for Orchestra
LALO Symphonie espagnole
DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9 (New World Symphony)Maestro Thomas Wilkins returns to Sarasota in a captivating program of orchestral favorites. Music Director of the Omaha Symphony and Principal Conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Wilkens opens the concert with American composer James Beckel's orchestral showpiece Toccata. The work's driving rhythms and brilliant orchestration have been enormously popular with audiences nationwide. Violinist Chee-Yun, whom the New York Times praised for her "high-gloss tone that pulls sensuously at the listener's ear" will dazzle with Édouard Lalo's Symphonie Espagnole. Composed for 19th century Spanish virtuoso violinist Pablo de Sarasate, the work is imbued with the scintillating sounds and rhythms of Spain, and offers the soloist both seductive and electrifying moments. The program concludes with Antonin Dvořák's love letter to America, his Symphony No. 9, "From the New World". Written during the composer's three-year residency in Iowa, the treasured work overflows with Dvořák's impressions of America and American music. The iconic theme of the 2nd movement, reverently scored for the English horn, was later utilized for the spiritual "Goin' Home", and is one of the most beloved melodies ever composed.
-
Russian Tales
Masterworks 7
April 9April 10April 11Jeffrey Kahane, Artistic Advisor, SMF Music Director
Garrick Ohlsson, pianoSTRAVINSKY Petrushka
RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 3Sarasota Orchestra closes its Masterworks season with a program featuring two Russian jewels. Legendary Ballets Russes Impresario Serge Diaghilev commissioned several of the most important early 20th century composers to write for his ensemble, among them his countryman Igor Stravinsky, whose 1911 ballet music for Petrushka opens this program. The vibrant score tells the story of the jealous puppet Petrushka, and brilliantly combines Russian folk music with Stravinsky's ingenious rhythmic shifts and angular melodies, creating a work that has been an audience favorite for 100 years. World-renown pianist Garrick Ohlssen returns to Sarasota for a performance of Serge Rachmaninoff's towering Piano Concerto No. 3. Known as one of the most fiendishly difficult works in the repertoire, the piece requires extraordinary technical prowess and stamina from the soloist. Ohlssen will be joined by fellow pianist and conductor Jeffrey Kahane on the podium, in what is certain to be an exhilarating conclusion to an exceptional season of music.
7 Sunday concerts at 2:30pm | Van Wezel
$200/C, $284/B, $349/BB, $449/A, $549/AA
-
Masters of Melody
Masterworks 1
November 6November 7November 8Jeffrey Kahane, Artistic Advisor, SMF Music Director, conductor and piano
GERSHWIN Piano Concerto in F
RACHMANINOFF Symphony No. 2Celebrate the opening of the 2020-2021 Masterworks season with the infectious rhythms and unforgettable melodies of George Gershwin. The jazz-influenced Concerto in F, one of Gershwin's most beloved works for the concert hall, infuses the sounds of the Charleston, Ragtime and Blues into a stunning showpiece for both piano and orchestra. Celebrated American pianist and conductor Jeffrey Kahane will serve in both roles for these performances. Following intermission, Kahane, Music Director of the Sarasota Music Festival and Artistic Advisor for Sarasota Orchestra, will take the podium to lead the orchestra in Serge Rachmaninoff's glorious Symphony No. 2. One of the most treasured works of the venerated Romantic composer, the expansive, arching melodies of the Symphony have found their way into movie soundtracks and even pop music. This triumphant work marked a high point in Rachmaninoff's career, and will provide an electrifying kick off to an extraordinary season of music.
-
Beethoven Violin Concerto
Masterworks 2
December 4December 5December 6Yaniv Dinur, Music Director, New Bedford Symphony
Angelo Xiang Yu, violinGABRIELLA SMITH Field Guide
BEETHOVEN Violin Concerto
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4December 16, 2020 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven, and the Sarasota Orchestra celebrates with a performance of his serene, yet astoundingly difficult Violin Concerto. Acclaimed young violinist Angelo Xiang Yu, described by the Cincinnati Enquirer as "a seasoned soloist with a dazzling technique", makes his debut with the Sarasota Orchestra following several spectacular performances at the Sarasota Music Festival. The rhythms and sounds of the natural world will provide an arresting opening to the concert. Field Guide, by American composer Gabriella Smith, takes its inspiration from the sounds of bird sanctuaries and tropical rainforests, and combines them in a work the San Francisco Classical Voice called "dauntingly original". The program concludes with Tchaikovsky's iconic Symphony No. 4, undoubtedly one of the most cherished works by the Romantic giant. Resident Conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony, Jerusalem-born Yaniv Dinur makes his Sarasota Orchestra debut with this expansive and exhilarating program.
-
Musical Heroines
Masterworks 3
January 7January 8January 9January 10Kensho Watanabe, Assistant conductor at Philadelphia Orchestra
Isata Kanneh-Mason, pianoBEETHOVEN Leonore Overture No. 3
CLARA SCHUMANN Piano Concerto
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV ScheherazadeThree strong women, three wonderful stories. Beethoven's Lenore is one of the great operatic heroines, disguising herself and risking everything to save her husband from unjust imprisonment. The overture to Beethoven's only opera about love and sacrifice will provide an energetic opening to this colorful program. Clara Schumann was one of the most celebrated pianists of the mid-19th century and a composer of great talent. She also happened to be married to the great composer Robert Schumann, and the two were a powerful force in music during their lives. Clara composed her Piano Concerto in A Minor at the tender age of 14. British pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, oldest of the extraordinary Kanneh-Mason siblings, makes her Sarasota Orchestra debut performing this delightful work. Her 2019 recording of the piece earned a spot on the NY Times' list of best classical recordings. The program concludes with Rimsky-Korsakov's technicolor symphonic suite Scheherazade, based upon Tales from the Arabian Nights. Guest conductor Kensho Watanabe, whose tenure as Assistant Conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra earned him notable praise, will lead the musicians through the exotic stories spun by the mythical Scheherazade to save her own life. Rimsky-Korsakov's virtuosic score will provide an electrifying end to this program spotlighting heroines of music.
-
Symphonie Fantastique
Masterworks 4
February 4February 5February 6February 7Carl St. Clair, Music Director, Pacific Symphony
Augustin Hadelich, violinMOZART Overture to The Abduction from the Seraglio
MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto
BERLIOZ Symphonie FantastiqueMusical visions of heaven and hell swirl through this vibrant program. Mozart's Overture to his beloved opera Don Giovanni begins with the menacing sounds of the gates of hell opening to receive the notorious womanizer, and then morphs seamlessly into a lively, almost comedic romp. Grammy Award winning violinist Augustin Hadelich makes his Sarasota Orchestra debut in Mendelssohn's sunny Concerto in E Minor, perhaps the most popular composition in the entire violin repertoire. Hadelich, who nearly lost his life in a severe fire and could not play for months, has been heralded for his extraordinary sound and was Musical America's 2018 Instrumentalist of the Year. The program concludes with Hector Berlioz's psychedelic Symphonie Fantastique. Maestro Carl St. Clair, Music Director of the Pacific Symphony for 30 years, returns to the Sarasota Orchestra podium to lead the musicians through Berlioz's opium-fueled visions of bucolic country sides, masked balls and witches' sabbaths. This exhilarating orchestral tour de force is guaranteed to leave concertgoers both breathless and thoroughly enchanted.
-
Pictures at an Exhibition
Masterworks 5
February 18February 20February 21Marcelo Lehninger, Music Director, Grand Rapids Symphony
Orion Weiss, pianoGUARNIERI Festive Overture
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 23
MUSSORGSKY Pictures at an ExhibitionMusic Director of the Grand Rapids Symphony, Maestro Marcelo Lehninger returns to Sarasota in a lively program featuring not one, but two Mozarts. The Abertura festiva (Festive Overture) by Brazilian composer Mozart Camargo Guarnieri opens the program with the tangy flavors of South America. The rhythmically rich work is a showpiece for the woodwind section of the orchestra. Pianist Orion Weiss, whose last performance with Sarasota Orchestra was called "simply breathtaking", returns with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23. One of Mozart's most introspective and intimate works for piano, it will provide the perfect vehicle for the highly sought-after Weiss, lauded by critics as "an effortlessly brilliant performer". The program concludes with Modest Mussorgsky's orchestral showpiece Pictures at an Exhibition. Originally a virtuoso piece for solo piano, the brilliant Maurice Ravel orchestrated the work, creating one of the most cherished pieces in the entire orchestral repertoire. Ten vivid miniatures, each corresponding to a painting by Mussorgsky's friend, artist and architect Viktor Hartmann, depict castles, gnomes, markets and catacombs. The final movement, The Great Gate of Kiev, is one of the most majestic and moving moments in orchestral music and will provide a powerful conclusion to this colorful program.
-
From the New World
Masterworks 6
March 19March 20March 21Thomas Wilkins, Music Director, Omaha Symphony
Chee-Yun, violinJIM BECKEL Toccata for Orchestra
LALO Symphonie espagnole
DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9 (New World Symphony)Maestro Thomas Wilkins returns to Sarasota in a captivating program of orchestral favorites. Music Director of the Omaha Symphony and Principal Conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Wilkens opens the concert with American composer James Beckel's orchestral showpiece Toccata. The work's driving rhythms and brilliant orchestration have been enormously popular with audiences nationwide. Violinist Chee-Yun, whom the New York Times praised for her "high-gloss tone that pulls sensuously at the listener's ear" will dazzle with Édouard Lalo's Symphonie Espagnole. Composed for 19th century Spanish virtuoso violinist Pablo de Sarasate, the work is imbued with the scintillating sounds and rhythms of Spain, and offers the soloist both seductive and electrifying moments. The program concludes with Antonin Dvořák's love letter to America, his Symphony No. 9, "From the New World". Written during the composer's three-year residency in Iowa, the treasured work overflows with Dvořák's impressions of America and American music. The iconic theme of the 2nd movement, reverently scored for the English horn, was later utilized for the spiritual "Goin' Home", and is one of the most beloved melodies ever composed.
-
Russian Tales
Masterworks 7
April 9April 10April 11Jeffrey Kahane, Artistic Advisor, SMF Music Director
Garrick Ohlsson, pianoSTRAVINSKY Petrushka
RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 3Sarasota Orchestra closes its Masterworks season with a program featuring two Russian jewels. Legendary Ballets Russes Impresario Serge Diaghilev commissioned several of the most important early 20th century composers to write for his ensemble, among them his countryman Igor Stravinsky, whose 1911 ballet music for Petrushka opens this program. The vibrant score tells the story of the jealous puppet Petrushka, and brilliantly combines Russian folk music with Stravinsky's ingenious rhythmic shifts and angular melodies, creating a work that has been an audience favorite for 100 years. World-renown pianist Garrick Ohlssen returns to Sarasota for a performance of Serge Rachmaninoff's towering Piano Concerto No. 3. Known as one of the most fiendishly difficult works in the repertoire, the piece requires extraordinary technical prowess and stamina from the soloist. Ohlssen will be joined by fellow pianist and conductor Jeffrey Kahane on the podium, in what is certain to be an exhilarating conclusion to an exceptional season of music.
3 concerts at 8:00pm | Neel Performing Arts Center
$115/B, $138/A, $174/AA
Neel 3 subscription does not include Masterworks 1, 2, 6 and 7
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Musical Heroines
Masterworks 3
January 7January 8January 9January 10Kensho Watanabe, Assistant conductor at Philadelphia Orchestra
Isata Kanneh-Mason, pianoBEETHOVEN Leonore Overture No. 3
CLARA SCHUMANN Piano Concerto
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV ScheherazadeThree strong women, three wonderful stories. Beethoven's Lenore is one of the great operatic heroines, disguising herself and risking everything to save her husband from unjust imprisonment. The overture to Beethoven's only opera about love and sacrifice will provide an energetic opening to this colorful program. Clara Schumann was one of the most celebrated pianists of the mid-19th century and a composer of great talent. She also happened to be married to the great composer Robert Schumann, and the two were a powerful force in music during their lives. Clara composed her Piano Concerto in A Minor at the tender age of 14. British pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason, oldest of the extraordinary Kanneh-Mason siblings, makes her Sarasota Orchestra debut performing this delightful work. Her 2019 recording of the piece earned a spot on the NY Times' list of best classical recordings. The program concludes with Rimsky-Korsakov's technicolor symphonic suite Scheherazade, based upon Tales from the Arabian Nights. Guest conductor Kensho Watanabe, whose tenure as Assistant Conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra earned him notable praise, will lead the musicians through the exotic stories spun by the mythical Scheherazade to save her own life. Rimsky-Korsakov's virtuosic score will provide an electrifying end to this program spotlighting heroines of music.
-
Symphonie Fantastique
Masterworks 4
February 4February 5February 6February 7Carl St. Clair, Music Director, Pacific Symphony
Augustin Hadelich, violinMOZART Overture to The Abduction from the Seraglio
MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto
BERLIOZ Symphonie FantastiqueMusical visions of heaven and hell swirl through this vibrant program. Mozart's Overture to his beloved opera Don Giovanni begins with the menacing sounds of the gates of hell opening to receive the notorious womanizer, and then morphs seamlessly into a lively, almost comedic romp. Grammy Award winning violinist Augustin Hadelich makes his Sarasota Orchestra debut in Mendelssohn's sunny Concerto in E Minor, perhaps the most popular composition in the entire violin repertoire. Hadelich, who nearly lost his life in a severe fire and could not play for months, has been heralded for his extraordinary sound and was Musical America's 2018 Instrumentalist of the Year. The program concludes with Hector Berlioz's psychedelic Symphonie Fantastique. Maestro Carl St. Clair, Music Director of the Pacific Symphony for 30 years, returns to the Sarasota Orchestra podium to lead the musicians through Berlioz's opium-fueled visions of bucolic country sides, masked balls and witches' sabbaths. This exhilarating orchestral tour de force is guaranteed to leave concertgoers both breathless and thoroughly enchanted.
-
Pictures at an Exhibition
Masterworks 5
February 18February 20February 21Marcelo Lehninger, Music Director, Grand Rapids Symphony
Orion Weiss, pianoGUARNIERI Festive Overture
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 23
MUSSORGSKY Pictures at an ExhibitionMusic Director of the Grand Rapids Symphony, Maestro Marcelo Lehninger returns to Sarasota in a lively program featuring not one, but two Mozarts. The Abertura festiva (Festive Overture) by Brazilian composer Mozart Camargo Guarnieri opens the program with the tangy flavors of South America. The rhythmically rich work is a showpiece for the woodwind section of the orchestra. Pianist Orion Weiss, whose last performance with Sarasota Orchestra was called "simply breathtaking", returns with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23. One of Mozart's most introspective and intimate works for piano, it will provide the perfect vehicle for the highly sought-after Weiss, lauded by critics as "an effortlessly brilliant performer". The program concludes with Modest Mussorgsky's orchestral showpiece Pictures at an Exhibition. Originally a virtuoso piece for solo piano, the brilliant Maurice Ravel orchestrated the work, creating one of the most cherished pieces in the entire orchestral repertoire. Ten vivid miniatures, each corresponding to a painting by Mussorgsky's friend, artist and architect Viktor Hartmann, depict castles, gnomes, markets and catacombs. The final movement, The Great Gate of Kiev, is one of the most majestic and moving moments in orchestral music and will provide a powerful conclusion to this colorful program.
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