The Lancaster Symphony Orchestra introduces the season beginning with a mix of Argentinean and Spanish flair. The October program (October 5-7) presents one of the most sought-after guitarists of his generation, Angel Romaro. Romero will be performing a work from one of Hollywood’s greatest composers, Lalo Schifrin. Schifrin is best known for his film and TV scores such as the “Theme from Mission: Impossible.” The outstanding talents of Romaro will be showcased in this East Coast premiere of Schifrin’s Guitar Concerto.The October program also presents Ginastera’s Variaciones Concertantes. Maestro Gunzenhauser explains: “Ginastera’s Variaciones Concertantes presents a challenge to our musicians technically and musically, combining rhythm and South American color in an exciting flamboyance.”
The second part of the program presents a traditional, Spanish flavor with a
celebratory quality honoring a mix of various nationalities. The orchestra will
perform Ravel’s Alborada del Gracioso and Rimsky-Korsakov – Capriccio Espagnol. Switching from Spanish tradition back to our roots, the November program (November 9-11) will showcase a composition from Schubert that is often overlooked and rarely ever performed as well as perhaps the greatest musical compositions ever written - Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 will feature the talents of the Lancaster Symphony Chorus
directed and conducted by Dr. William Wright. The chorus is comprised of students from the Franklin & Marshall College Chorus, Dr. William Wright, Director, Millersville University Choir, Dr. Mark A. Boyle, Chorus Director, and the
Elizabethtown College Concert Choir, Dr. Matthew Fritz, Chorus Director. Featured soloists include, the acclaimed tenor Matthew Garrett and bass-baritone Keith Harris (returning from last November’s Carmina Burana), and two amazingly talented sisters, soprano Rebecca AuYeung and mezzo-soprano Ruth Kenote will accompany the chorus.“Having the honor to feature Matthew Garrett and Keith Harris again this season is a delight and it’s a quality program that is hard to match. Performing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the chorus allows the musicians the freedom to express themselves in a historical and legendary work,” said Maestro Gunzenhauser.
Next, it’s time to get the Central PA region in a festive holiday mood with Sounds of the Season. Staff Conductor, Dr. William Wright leads the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra and the Lancaster Symphony Chorus, presenting beloved holiday classics and a few festive melodies audiences may be unfamiliar with but grow to love. Selections from “Messiah” along with favorite holiday hits like “Let It Snow,” “Feliz Navidad,” and selections from the “Nutcracker” will be performed by the Lancaster Symphony Brass Ensemble. This year’s Sounds of the Season will be Friday, December 14 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, December 16 at 3:00 PM at the Barshinger Center for Musical Arts at Franklin & Marshall College.
The Symphony’s annual tradition of a New Year’s celebration will feature “The
Beatles” on their Classical Mystery Tour, Monday, December 31, 2012 and Saturday, January 5, 2013 at American Music Theatre. Four musicians portraying The Beatles will present some 30 Beatles tunes sung, played and performed exactly as they were written. Audiences will hear the classics such as “Penny Lane” with a live trumpet section and “Yesterday” with an acoustic guitar and string quartet. Classic Mystery
Tour features Jim Owen (John Lennon) on rhythm guitar, piano and vocals; Tony Kishman (Paul McCartney) on bass guitar, piano and vocals; John Brosnan (George Harrison) on lead guitar and vocals; and Chris Camilleri (Ringo Starr) on drums and vocals.
To start 2013, we present Copland’s Billy the Kid Suite, January (11-13). One of
Copland’s most favored and widely performed pieces; the ballet is famous for its incorporation of many cowboy melodies and American folk songs. “Copland captured the visual music of the American West yet he was raised as a Brooklyn boy. You can almost smell the hay and the smoke from the guns shooting,”
states Maestro Gunzenhauser. Also part of the January program is Chesky’s Violin Concerto No. 2, featuring Michael Ludwig as soloist. We will also reveal our 2012-2013 Composer’s Award Recipient!
“Chesky is a New York composer who captures the grit of New York and the chaotic life of New York. He draws upon Jimi Hendrix in the first movement of this piece. During the second movement he builds a sexy Cuban dancon. And, the third movement is based on the work of J.S. Bach. It’s an eclectic mix and one that I have fallen in love with,” states Maestro Gunzenhauser.
Leonard Bernstein’s first venture into musical theater was also his first venture
onto the Broadway stage with On The Town, a wartime story featuring Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Jules Munshin, on a 24-hour shore leave in New York City. Three dances are used in this concert suite: Dance of the Great Lover, Pas de Deux, and Times Square Ballet. Each of the Dance Episodes was dedicated to a person intimately involved in the production of On the Town.
Concluding the January program is Gershwin’s Symphonic Suite from “Porgy & Bess.” Originally conceived by Gershwin as an “American folk opera,” Porgy and Bess featured an entire cast of classically trained African-American singers. Songs featured in Porgy & Bess include: “Summertime,” “It Ain’t Necessarily So,” “Bess, You Is My Woman Now,” and “I Got Plenty ‘O Nuttin.” The opera is admired for Gershwin’s innovative synthesis of European orchestral techniques with American jazz and folk music idioms. Porgy & Bess tells the story of Porgy, a disabled black beggar living in the slums of Charleston, South Carolina.
The February (February 22-24) program opens with an exciting Lancaster debut
showcasing the extraordinary talents of Anita Pari, a teen prodigy from Canada. Pari has won numerous awards for her age including winning first place at the Canadian Music Competition in 2009. Pari steps on stage to perform one of Saint Saëns’ most celebrated piano concertos, Piano Concerto No. 2.
Maestro Stephen Gunzenhauser explains: “Part of the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra’s mission is to introduce new artists each season in a unique manner. One of the aspects I’m looking forward to most this season is showcasing the talents of Anita Pari. Anita is a 14 year-old pianist from Canada. I met her during the Endless Mountain Music Festival last summer and was completely overwhelmed by her skill, ability and charm. Not only is she an extremely gifted pianist, she also is a cellist and composer and is quite talented at all three. Anita will be joining us for our February program.”
Saint-Saëns wrote the concerto in three weeks and had very little time to prepare for the premiere; consequently, the piece was not initially successful. Some have observed that the concerto “sounds like it begins with Bach and ends with Offenbach.”Also during the February program, audience members will hear one of Johannes Brahms’ final symphonies with Symphony No. 4. The piece begins with a dramatic opening and moves to a joyful conclusion.
April (April 5-7) sets the mood for a changing season with Vivaldi and Piazzolla’s Four Seasons, featuring the outstanding talent of soloist Jonathan Carney, Concertmaster for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra will be performing the complete seasons from both Vivaldi and Piazzolla. Each season will be connected with a set of written narratives which will be read by a guest narrator. The Classic Concert series concludes in May (17-19) beginning with Mozart’s Serenade No. 6 K. 239, featuring the Lancaster Symphony’s String Quartet. “Mozart wrote this piece specifically for outdoor concerts. It was not a simple piece to write; in fact it’s a little like a crystal structure; simple but delicate. It is a delightful piece mimicking nature and the beauty of nature,” states Maestro Gunzenhauser.
Also part of the May program is Liszt’s Les Preludes, one of Liszt’s most popular
symphonic poems. The composition is a continuous unit, divided into four Episodes, relating to the four Movements of the Traditional Symphony. These Episodes are called: (1) Dawn of Existence; Love; (2) Storms of Life; (3) Refuge and Consolation in Rural life; (4) Strife and Conquest.To end the final program of the season with even more excitement, Santiago Rodriguez, the world’s foremost interpreter of Rachmaninoff, returns to the Symphony as soloist to perform Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3. “Piano Concerto No. 3 is one of the greatest piano concertos of all time. It’s filled with gorgeous melodies and crashing chords. However, this piece creates monstrous demands on the pianist in the pursuit of great music,” said Maestro Gunzenhauser.
A new concert program (introduced in early 2012) will be featured again this season. The program called Symphony in a Snap! is a distinctive program targeted for younger professionals that combines networking, light appetizers, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, social media and symphonic music. Three Snap! concerts will be offered on Thursday, October 4, 2012, Thursday, January 10, 2013 and Thursday, May 16, 2013, all beginning at 6:15 PM at the Fulton Opera House. Tickets are $25* each (*plus a $2.50 Fulton box office processing fee) and may be purchased by calling the Fulton Opera box office at: 717-397-7425.
The Symphony’s Classic Concert Series concerts will be performed at the historic
Fulton Opera House at 12 North Prince Street in Downtown Lancaster. Ample parking is available adjacent to the Fulton and at the Prince Street garage.
Friday’s opening night performances begin at 8:00 PM. Two Saturday concerts are offered at 3:00 PM and 8:00 PM. Sunday night concerts will be performed at 7:30 PM.
The Symphony’s holiday program, Sounds of the Season, will be on Friday, December 14 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, December 16 at 3:00 PM, at the Barshinger Center for Musical Arts at Franklin & Marshall College. Tickets are available by calling Barb McConnell at: 717-291-4420.
The annual New Year’s Celebration on Monday, December 31, 2012 at 7:30 PM and Saturday, January 5, 2013 at 2:00 PM at the American Music Theatre, Lancaster. Tickets may be purchased directly by calling American Music Theatre, (800) 648-4102 or visiting their website, www.amtshows.com.
Audiences may learn about the performance prior to each concert with a free “Meet the Music” pre-concert talks, held one hour before each performance. Friday night audiences may enjoy a post-concert “Meet the Musicians” reception following every Friday night concert in the Fulton lobby. Complimentary appetizers will be served, and a cash bar will be open. Subscriptions to the 2012-2013 Classic Concert Series are on sale now by calling the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra at (717) 291-6440.
Subscription prices range from $114 to $306, a savings of as much as 18 percent over single ticket prices.Classic Concert Series subscribers receive other benefits, including 10 percent discounts on dining at many area restaurants before and after concerts, free ticket exchanges and 20 percent off the purchase of additional Symphony single tickets.
Discounted subscriber tickets for the “New Year’s Celebration” are also on sale. “New Year’s Celebration” tickets are $63-$69 for subscribers, a savings of $6.00 over generation admission tickets.
The core purpose of the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra is to enrich, entertain and educate the south central Pennsylvania community through unique, live musical performances and to provide community engagement opportunities for students of all ages. The Lancaster Symphony Orchestra is a 70-member professional orchestra, serving 52,000 music enthusiasts.
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