Philharmonic to perform Composer-in-Residence, Angélica Negrón’s “Puerto Rican Songs”
The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra kicks off its 2018-2019 Season with Respighi’s Pines of Rome on Saturday, September 29 at 8 p.m. at Bob Carr Theater.
The concert is the first of five in the FAIRWINDS Classics Series and includes Conductor Eric Jacobsen, Concertmaster Rimma Bergeron-Langlois on violin, and guest artist and soprano, Maria Laetitia.
“The opening concert of the Orlando Philharmonic’s 2018-19 Season asks us to think about where we come from and how we can explore and imagine outside our immediate surroundings,” said Jacobsen. “What were the songs you grew up with and what were colors and textures that made up the landscape of your summer nights? Our concert features the tone paintings of Respighi’s Pines of Rome. He has quite literally painted the trees in Rome with the colors of his orchestra. For a moment in time, Respighi can send us all for a walk in Italy.”
The program includes:
FRANK – Three Latin-American Dances
BRUCH – Scottish Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra
NEGRÓN – (Composer-in-Residence) Puerto Rican Songs
DE FALLA – Ritual Fire Dance from El Amor brujo
RESPIGHI – Pines of Rome
“Every composer on the program brings us to another beautiful place on earth,” said Jacobsen. “Gabriela Lena Frank will take us on a journey from her native Peru, Angélica Negrón, is arranging traditional songs to celebrate the rich musical culture of Puerto Rico, and Manuel De Falla brings us to the ceremony of the Ritual Fire Dance in Spain. Our virtuosic hero for opening night is our very own Rimma Bergeron-Langlois featured in Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy.”
“I’m incredibly honored and thrilled to start my residency at the Orlando Philharmonic with three arrangements of Puerto Rican folk songs showcasing and celebrating the rich and diverse musical landscape of the island,” said Négron. “The talented soprano Maria Letitia will bring to life a seis montuno with new lyrics written by the young trovador Irvin Santiago, as well as a medley of some of our most beloved plenas and the classic danza “El Coquí” amplifying the sounds of this small frog native to Puerto Rico.”
FAIRWINDS Credit Union is the Classics Series Sponsor. The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra is supported by United Arts of Central Florida, host of OrlandoAtPlay.com and UAArtsEd.com. This project is funded in part by Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs Program, and sponsored in part by the Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and the State of Florida.
Subscriptions to the FAIRWINDS Classics Series are on sale now. Single tickets will go on sale August 28 starting at $25 and can be purchased online at orlandophil.org, by calling 407.770.0071, or in person at the Box Office, located at The Plaza Live (425 N. Bumby Avenue, Orlando). The Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Ticket prices subject to change.)
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Celebrating its 26th Season, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra is led by Music Director Eric Jacobsen and comprised of accomplished musicians from around the world. The Philharmonic annually presents the FAIRWINDS Classics and Pops Series at Bob Carr Theater and its Focus Chamber Series at The Plaza Live. The mission of the Philharmonic is to enrich and inspire the diverse communities of Central Florida through the transformative power of live music, and it presents more than 170 live concerts and impacts more than 70,000 children, youth and families annually through its Young People’s Concerts, Symphony Storytime Series, Notes in Your Neighborhood program, and free outdoor community concerts. A resident company of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, the Philharmonic will perform in Steinmetz Hall when it opens in 2020. Learn more at orlandophil.org.
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About the Artists:
Maria Laetitia – http://www.marialaetitia.com/artist.php?view=bio
Rimma Bergeron-Langlois – https://orlandophil.org/orchestra-musicians/
Eric Jacobsen – https://orlandophil.org/director/
Angélica Negrón – https://www.angelicanegron.com/