MOBILE SYMPHONY LOOKS FORWARD TO "ENERGETIC" SEASON
Jenine Baines
March 22, 2008
MOBILE, Ala. As anyone addicted to exercising with an Ipod will attest, music can be energizing. Music lovers throughout the Mobile Bay area will soon be able to reap the exhilarating benefits of that experience, however, without breaking a sweat – simply by visiting the historic Saenger Theatre for performances of the Mobile Symphony Orchestra throughout the 2008-09 Season.
"The only heavy lifting required is to pick up the phone and contact our box office," says Stephen Hedrick, Executive Director. "The rest is up to us. We´ve linked the music in each concert next season to a different source of energy."
The 2008-2009 season, the first of three in the MSO´s "Universal Energy Series," will offer concerts that musically investigate several kinds of energy: "Kinetic Energy (September 13/14, 2008); "Vibrant Rhythms" (October 18/19); "Prodigy Power" (November 8/9); "Solar Energy" (January 17/18, 2009); "Quantum Energy (April 4, 5); and "Cosmic Energy" (April 25, 26). Included in the season as well are three Pops concerts: Fantasy Pops, featuring the Wizard of Oz and Other American Classics (November 22/23); the annual Holiday Pops presenting the orchestra´s popular Sounds of Christmas performance (December 13/14); and St. Patrick´s Pops, Mithril and Lord of the Rings (March 14/15).
Nor is it an accident that the orchestra also describes next year´s series as a "Season of Stars!" World-renowned soloists who will visit Mobile include violinist Midori, percussionist Evelyn Glennie and 9-year-old wunderkind pianist Marc Yu.
"The orchestra is in wonderful shape artistically and we look forward to collaborating with artists who are truly Olympian in musical stature," says Music Director Scott Speck. "Many of the works on the program are among the most challenging ever composed."
Highlights of the 2008-09 Season of Stars include:
Kinetic Energy/Big Blue (September 13/14, 2008) with Gershwin´s Rhapsody in Blue and Ravel´s Piano Concerto, both performed by pianist Alaine Lefevre
Vibrant Rhythms/Percussive Energy (October 18/19) with Kevin Puts´ Percussion Concerto, featuring percussionist Evelyn Glennie, and Tchaikovsky´s 1812 Overture
Beethoven and Blue Jeans/Prodigy Power (November 8/9), presenting Beethoven´s Piano Concerto No. 1, performed by Marc Yu, and Beethoven´s epic Symphony No. 5
Fantasy Pops (November 22/23) – Wizard of Oz and Other American Classics
Holiday Pops (December 13/14) – Sounds of Christmas
Solar Energy/From the Land of the Midnight Sun (January 17/18, 2009), featuring Grieg´s Piano Concerto performed by Per Tengstrand, and Sibelius´ Symphony No. 2
St. Patrick´s Pops (March 14/15) – Mithril and Lord of the Rings
Quantum Energy/Midori with the MSO (April 4/5), presenting world renowned violinist Midori in a performance of Brahms´ Violin Concerto
Cosmic Energy/Season Finale (April 25/26), with Strauss´ Fanfare from Also sprach Zarathustra; Holst´s The Planets; and Elgar´s Cello Concerto, featuring cellist Alexandre Bouzlov
Tickets for Season Subscription Renewals are now available online at www.mobilesymphony.org, by calling 251.432.7080 or visiting the MSO box office at 257 Dauphin Street in Mobile. Subscriptions are available for three separate series: Classics & Pops Series (Nine Concerts); Classics Series (Six Concerts); and Pops Series (Three Concerts). Tickets may be purchased as well for an Education Special Event with Midori on Thursday, April 2, 2009, featuring the violinist in a performance of Mendelssohn´s Violin Concerto. The Saenger Theatre is located at 6 South Joachim Street in Mobile.
The Mobile Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1970 as the Symphony Concerts of Mobile. Its mission was to present world-class touring orchestras such as Alabama Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra for six evening concerts. In 1996, the Board of Directors decided that to serve the educational, quality of life, and economic development needs of the community, it should create its own orchestra of local professional musicians.
Today, the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, under Music Director Scott Speck, is the premier producer of live symphonic music in the Gulf Coast region. It is committed to enhancing the lives of every member of the community by achieving the highest standards in live symphonic music and music education.
"The only heavy lifting required is to pick up the phone and contact our box office," says Stephen Hedrick, Executive Director. "The rest is up to us. We´ve linked the music in each concert next season to a different source of energy."
The 2008-2009 season, the first of three in the MSO´s "Universal Energy Series," will offer concerts that musically investigate several kinds of energy: "Kinetic Energy (September 13/14, 2008); "Vibrant Rhythms" (October 18/19); "Prodigy Power" (November 8/9); "Solar Energy" (January 17/18, 2009); "Quantum Energy (April 4, 5); and "Cosmic Energy" (April 25, 26). Included in the season as well are three Pops concerts: Fantasy Pops, featuring the Wizard of Oz and Other American Classics (November 22/23); the annual Holiday Pops presenting the orchestra´s popular Sounds of Christmas performance (December 13/14); and St. Patrick´s Pops, Mithril and Lord of the Rings (March 14/15).
Nor is it an accident that the orchestra also describes next year´s series as a "Season of Stars!" World-renowned soloists who will visit Mobile include violinist Midori, percussionist Evelyn Glennie and 9-year-old wunderkind pianist Marc Yu.
"The orchestra is in wonderful shape artistically and we look forward to collaborating with artists who are truly Olympian in musical stature," says Music Director Scott Speck. "Many of the works on the program are among the most challenging ever composed."
Highlights of the 2008-09 Season of Stars include:
Kinetic Energy/Big Blue (September 13/14, 2008) with Gershwin´s Rhapsody in Blue and Ravel´s Piano Concerto, both performed by pianist Alaine Lefevre
Vibrant Rhythms/Percussive Energy (October 18/19) with Kevin Puts´ Percussion Concerto, featuring percussionist Evelyn Glennie, and Tchaikovsky´s 1812 Overture
Beethoven and Blue Jeans/Prodigy Power (November 8/9), presenting Beethoven´s Piano Concerto No. 1, performed by Marc Yu, and Beethoven´s epic Symphony No. 5
Fantasy Pops (November 22/23) – Wizard of Oz and Other American Classics
Holiday Pops (December 13/14) – Sounds of Christmas
Solar Energy/From the Land of the Midnight Sun (January 17/18, 2009), featuring Grieg´s Piano Concerto performed by Per Tengstrand, and Sibelius´ Symphony No. 2
St. Patrick´s Pops (March 14/15) – Mithril and Lord of the Rings
Quantum Energy/Midori with the MSO (April 4/5), presenting world renowned violinist Midori in a performance of Brahms´ Violin Concerto
Cosmic Energy/Season Finale (April 25/26), with Strauss´ Fanfare from Also sprach Zarathustra; Holst´s The Planets; and Elgar´s Cello Concerto, featuring cellist Alexandre Bouzlov
Tickets for Season Subscription Renewals are now available online at www.mobilesymphony.org, by calling 251.432.7080 or visiting the MSO box office at 257 Dauphin Street in Mobile. Subscriptions are available for three separate series: Classics & Pops Series (Nine Concerts); Classics Series (Six Concerts); and Pops Series (Three Concerts). Tickets may be purchased as well for an Education Special Event with Midori on Thursday, April 2, 2009, featuring the violinist in a performance of Mendelssohn´s Violin Concerto. The Saenger Theatre is located at 6 South Joachim Street in Mobile.
The Mobile Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1970 as the Symphony Concerts of Mobile. Its mission was to present world-class touring orchestras such as Alabama Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra for six evening concerts. In 1996, the Board of Directors decided that to serve the educational, quality of life, and economic development needs of the community, it should create its own orchestra of local professional musicians.
Today, the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, under Music Director Scott Speck, is the premier producer of live symphonic music in the Gulf Coast region. It is committed to enhancing the lives of every member of the community by achieving the highest standards in live symphonic music and music education.