Contact:Gretchen Miller Basso
Public Relations Director
The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra
Phone: 407/896-6700 x 223
Fax: 407/896-5512
gmiller@orlandophil.org
www.orlandophil.org
(Orlando, FL – August 26, 2009) – The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra proudly kicks off its 2009-2010 season with a program featuring Beethoven’s revolutionary blockbuster, Symphony No. 9 (Choral.) The program, titled Ode to Joy, takes place on Saturday, September 26, 2009 at 8:30 PM at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, 401 W. Livingston Street, Orlando. The Sponsor of the Super Series is Darden Restaurants. The Opening Night Sponsors are The Friends of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. The Concert Sponsors are Morgan Stanley and The Peabody Orlando.
Music Director Christopher Wilkins leads the Orlando Philharmonic in this spectacular season opener, which begins with the talented musicians of the Philharmonic performing Johannes Brahms first triumphant orchestral work, Variations on a Theme of Haydn. The program continues with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, (Choral). David Glerum, Music Director of WMFE Orlando (1990-2009) writes in the notes for the program, “Arguably the most iconic work in Western art, Beethoven’s “Choral” Symphony is a colossal and towering masterpiece against which all subsequent symphonies have been measured.” He continues, “Its impact is so powerful that many of us can even remember exactly when and where we experienced it for the first time. The Ninth occupies a treasured place in our hearts and minds, moving and inspiring us to experience joy and realize nothing less than the brotherhood of man.”
Joining the Philharmonic on this work are over 200 voices from the acclaimed choruses of Orlando Opera directed by Robin Stamper, the University of Central Florida, directed by David Brunner and The Orlando Chorale, directed by Gregory Ruffer. Soloists are Stella Zambalis, soprano; Susan Platts, mezzo-soprano; Yeghishe Manucharyan, tenor and Peter Van De Graaff, bass.
The Philharmonic’s Opening Night Celebration begins with a gala dinner, hosted by the Friends of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. This gala dinner is held at the Country Club of Orlando. Dinner guests will enjoy music, mingling and wine prior to a sumptuous, seated dinner. Dinner guests are invited to an exclusive onstage reception after the concert. The cost of the dinner event is $125 per person, and includes the pre-concert opening night dinner and post-concert reception. (Tickets to the concert, Ode to Joy, are sold separately.) To make dinner reservations, phone 407-896-6700, or mail a check to The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Attn: Gretchen Miller Basso, 812 E. Rollins Street, Suite 300, Orlando, FL 32803. Reservations are limited, so be sure to order your tickets early.
We hope that you will join us as we celebrate a new season of music with this fabulous Opening Night concert on September 26. Subscriptions to the Orlando Philharmonic’s Super Series are presently on sale, and range in price from $32 to $550. Single tickets are $13, $26, $36, $48 and $65. To purchase subscriptions and single tickets, phone the Philharmonic’s box office at 407-770-0071, or visit the Philharmonic’s website at www.orlandophil.org.
