Announcing the Orlando Philharmonic’s 2016-2017 Season!

We are pleased to announce the Orlando Philharmonic’s 2016-2017 season!


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2016/2017 SEASON

A Season of Russian Masters and a Celebration of John Adams’ 70th Birthday


Classics Series

OPENING NIGHT: RUSSIAN MASTERS

Sat, Oct 1, 2016 at 8 pm

Eric Jacobsen, conductor | Steven Copes, violin

PROKOFIEV Romeo and Juliet Suite No. 3

BERG Violin Concerto

TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4

Music Director Eric Jacobsen and the Philharmonic open the 2016-2017 season with iconic works of Russian masters Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky. Steven Copes, brilliant concertmaster of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, will perform Berg’s intense and beautiful Violin Concerto.


 

EMANUEL AX PERFORMS

Sat, Dec 3, 2016 at 8 pm | Sun, Dec 4, 2016 at 2 pm

Eric Jacobsen, conductor | Emanuel Ax, piano

BEETHOVEN Overture to Egmont

MOZART Piano Concerto No. 16

BIELAWA Drama/Self Pity for Orchestra (World Premiere)

BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 2

Seven-time Grammy winner and piano superstar Emanuel Ax will perform Mozart’s exuberant 16th piano concerto, as well as the delightful and charming Concerto No. 2 by Beethoven. A world premiere by American composer Lisa Bielawa and Beethoven’s heroic Egmont Overture complete this stellar program.


 

BRAHMS SYMPHONY NO. 3

Sat, Jan 21, 2017 at 8 pm

Eric Jacobsen, conductor | Carmen Knoll, piano | Maria Laetitia, soprano

ADAMS Short Ride in a Fast Machine

RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 3

ADAMS “Am I In Your Light?” (from Doctor Atomic Symphony)

BRAHMS Symphony No. 3

The Philharmonic honors the greatest living American composer with performances of two of his most well-known works. 18-year old American Carmen Knoll, presented by the Philharmonic’s Genius of Youth sponsors, Dr. & Mrs. Leonard Dreifus, will perform Rachmaninoff’s spectacular Third Piano Concerto. This celebratory program ends with the first Philharmonic performance of Brahms’ Symphony No. 3.


 

RIMMA PLAYS TCHAIKOVSKY

Sat, March 18, 2017 at 8 pm

Gemma New, conductor | Rimma Bergeron-Langlois, violin

ZHURBIN World Premiere

TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto

SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 5

New Jersey Symphony’s Associate Conductor Gemma New will lead the Philharmonic in this all-Russian program, featuring our own concertmaster Rimma Bergeron-Langlois performing the dazzling Violin Concerto of Tchaikovsky. Shostakovich’s brilliant response to Stalin’s condemnation of his artistic style, written under fear of arrest and death, unfolds in his Symphony No. 5. Borodin’s enchanting showpiece, inspired by Russian folk music and influenced by popular Asian themes of his day, opens this concert.


 

MAHLER 2: RESURRECTION

Sat, April 8, 2017 at 8 pm

Concert sponsor: University of Central Florida

Eric Jacobsen, conductor | Soprano TBD | Alto TBD | UCF Chorus

MAHLER Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection”

With a large orchestra and chorus, plus alto and soprano soloists, Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony tells the story of life, the search for understanding and meaning, and a universal expression of hope. This quest can best be summed up in this excerpt from the final movement text:

O Pain, You piercer of all things,

From you, I have been wrested!

O Death, You masterer of all things,

Now, are you conquered!

Mahler Symphony No. 2 is generously supported by the University of Central Florida.


 

Pops Series

Saturday afternoons and evenings at Bob Carr Theater


 

GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK

Sat, Oct 22, 2016 at 2 & 8 pm

Albert George Schram, conductor | Christiane Noll & Doug LaBrecque, vocals

Audience favorite Albert George Schram and guest vocalists will perform works from “The Great American Songbook,” including some of the most popular and enduring songs from the 1920s to the 1950s that were created for Broadway, musical theater, and Hollywood. Enjoy classics by Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Richard Rodgers, Jerome Kern, and others.


 

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Sat, Nov 26, 2016 at 2 & 8 pm

Albert George Schram, conductor | The Holiday Singers | Opera Orlando Youth Choir | Handbell Choir from First United Methodist Church Winter Park

Ring in the holidays with the Orlando Philharmonic as we are joined for the first time by the Handbell Choir from the First United Methodist Church of Winter Park, along with our long-time friends and collaborators, The Holiday Singers and the Opera Orlando Youth Choir.


 

IRISH ROMANCE

Sat, March 4, 2017 at 2 & 8 pm

Eric Jacobsen, conductor | Three Gaelic Tenors

May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks.

May your heart be as light as a song.

May each day bring you bright, happy hours.

That stay with you all the year long. (Old Irish blessing)

Join the Philharmonic as we celebrate an early St. Patrick’s Day in this concert celebrating the love of all things Irish!


 

A TRIBUTE TO MARVIN HAMLISCH: ONE SINGULAR SENSATION

Sat, April 1, 2017 at 2 & 8 pm

Larry Blank, conductor | Donna McKechnie, Jodi Benson & Doug LaBrecque, vocals

The Philharmonic will honor the legacy of the late Marvin Hamlisch in this concert featuring many of his most beloved songs, such as “Through the Eyes of Love,” “Nobody Does it Better,” “The Way We Were,” and “What I Did For Love.” Joining the Philharmonic on stage will be Tony award-winner Donna McKechnie (from the original Broadway cast of A Chorus Line), Jodi Benson (the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid) and Doug LaBrecque (Broadway actor and frequent Hamlisch collaborator).


 

THE FINAL FRONTIER

Sat, April 15, 2017 at 2 & 8 pm

Jack Everly, conductor | Jonathan Frakes, narrator

Science fiction and space travel have never been more exciting than they will be in this salute to famous space movies, sci-fi television programs and superheroes. From “Lost in Space” to “E.T.”, from “Star Trek” to “Star Wars” we’ll journey through space and time with the help of Commander William T. Riker of the Starship Enterprise himself, Jonathan Frakes.


 

Focus Series

Monday evenings at The Plaza Live


GLORIOUS SCHUBERT

Mon, Nov 14, 2016 at 7 pm

Eric Jacobsen, conductor

MENDELSSOHN Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream

ADAMS Shaker Loops

SCHUBERT (arr. Ljova) Gretchen am Spinnrade

SCHUBERT (arr. C. Jacobsen) Brooks Lullaby

SCHUBERT Symphony No. 4 “Tragic”

This concert will start with the ethereal Overture to Mendelssohn’s incidental music to Shakespeare’s play and end with the moody and dramatic “Tragic” Symphony of Schubert. In between we will hear masterful arrangements of two of Schubert’s most famous songs and one of John Adams’ most popular works, Shaker Loops, loosely inspired by a traditional Shaker spiritual dance.


 

CHRISTMAS CONCERTO

Mon, Dec 12, 2016 at 7 pm

Conductor TBD | Rimma Bergeron-Langlois, violin

BACH Brandenburg Concerto No. 3

MOZART Violin Concerto No. 4

CORELLI Concerto Grosso in G minor “Christmas Concerto”

MOZART Eine kleine Nachtmusik

The Baroque & Classical worlds come together in this concert featuring the Philharmonic’s concertmaster Rimma Bergeron-Langlois performing Mozart, as well as the sublime Christmas Concerto of Corelli. The concert will be bookended by two icons of the orchestral repertoire, one from each period.


 

THE BIRDS

Mon, Jan 16, 2017 at 7 pm

Eric Jacobsen, conductor | Colin Jacobsen, violin

BEETHOVEN Violin Concerto

RESPIGHI Gli Uccelli (The Birds)

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS The Lark Ascending

arr. C. JACOBSEN Ascending Bird

Eric Jacobsen says of his brother Colin: “I wouldn’t be a musician without my brother. I’m not sure I’d be alive without my brother! He is one of the great violinists and composers of our time. I can’t wait to share his artistry with Orlando!” We are delighted to welcome Colin to the Philharmonic family to perform Beethoven’s virtuosic concerto, as well as Vaughan Williams’ evocative “The Lark Ascending,” and Colin’s arrangement of a traditional Persian song, “Ascending Bird.” The orchestra will bring the aviary world to life in Respighi’s colorful Gli Uccelli.


 

EAST MEETS WEST

Mon, Feb 27, 2017 at 7 pm

Eric Jacobsen, conductor | Kayhan Kalhor, kamancheh (Iranian bowed string instrument)

WEBER Overture to Oberon

PURCELL Fantasia Upon One Note

KALHOR Silent City

SCHUMANN Symphony No. 3 “Rhenish”

Iranian-born Grammy nominee Kayhan Kalhor is known world-wide as a master of the kamancheh, a traditional instrument of his homeland. Fantasia Upon One Note, written around 1680, is a short study on counterpoint, with the viola maintaining a single note throughout. This eclectic program will start with the magical overture to Weber’s opera Oberon and end with Schumann’s homage to the Rhineland.


 

WOLFGANG & IGOR

Mon, April 24, 2017 at 7 pm

Conductor TBD | Matthew Marshall, guitar

STRAVINSKY Concerto in E-flat Major “Dumbarton Oaks”

CHRISTOPHER MARSHALL Guitar Concerto (U.S. Premiere)

MOZART Symphony No. 41 “Jupiter”

New Zealand’s foremost classical guitarist Matthew Marshall will give the U.S. premiere of Orlando-based, New Zealander Christopher Marshall’s (no relation) Guitar Concerto. Igor Stravinsky’s chamber concerto, commissioned by the owners of the Dumbarton Oaks estate, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s unequaled “Jupiter” complete the final concert of the 2016-2017 Focus Series.


 

OPERA SERIES

Thursday & Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons at The Plaza Live


 

CANDIDE

Thurs, Oct 13 at 7 pm | Fri, Oct 14 at 8 pm | Sun, Oct 16 at 2 pm

Eric Jacobsen, conductor

Composed by Leonard Bernstein and based on Voltaire’s satiric comedy of the same name, Candide is the story of a young man (Candide) who sets off with his friends to find the true meaning of life. Their exploits along the way, including separation amid war, mistaken identity, kidnapping, murder and a shipwreck, cause them all to question their philosophy that “all is for the best.” In the end, optimism remains, but good sense prevails. Fully-costumed and staged; sung in English with supertitles.


 

THE ELIXIR OF LOVE

Thurs, Feb 2 at 7 pm | Fri, Feb 3 at 8 pm | Sun, Feb 5 at 2 pm

Eric Jacobsen, conductor

Celebrate an early Valentine’s Day with Gaetano Donizetti’s romantic comedy L’elisir d’amore. Poor peasant Nemorino purchases a love potion from a traveling salesman to get the beautiful (and rich) Adina to fall in love with him before she marries the pompous Belcore. Will the potion work? Will true love conquer all? Bring your Valentine and find out! Full-costumed and staged; sung in Italian with English supertitles.


 

SOUNDS OF SUMMER SERIES

Monday evenings at The Plaza Live


HEROES AND VILLAINS

Mon, June 27, 2016 at 7 pm

Orlando Philharmonic Principal Percussion John Patton will present this program featuring Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat (The Soldier’s Tale) which tells the story of Joseph, a soldier returning home on leave, and his encounters with the devil along the way. Also on this concert is Kevin Puts’ And Legions Will Rise, which Puts describes as representing “the power in all of us to transcend during times of tragedy and personal crisis.”


 

GIRLS RULE

Mon, July 11, 2016 at 7 pm

Led by Associate Concertmaster Joni Hanze-Bjella, the ladies of the Philharmonic will perform a diverse program of music by female composers.


 

BRASS IN THE U.S.A.

Mon, July 25, 2016 at 7 pm

The popular Sovereign Brass is back with this America-themed program, including music of Bernstein, Ives and Sousa.


 

DUO SOLÉ: MUSIC AND DANCE

Mon, Aug 8, 2016 at 7 pm

Alexander Stevens and Mauricio Céspedes, Principal Second Violin and Principal Viola respectively, along with friends from the Philharmonic’s string section, return to perform dance music from Bolivia, Spain, Argentina and the Middle East.


 

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 7 pm

An evening of musically like-minded colleagues performing French and German chamber music, presented by Principal Bassoon Diane Bishop. Diane will be joined by Jamie Strefeler, Colleen Blagov, Nikolay Blagov, Mark Fischer, Alexander Stevens, Mauricio Céspedes, and other Philharmonic friends to perform music of Poulenc, Bozza, Françaix, and Brahms.