Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Announces 2012-13 Season

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra President Stanley E. Romanstein, Ph.D., Music Director Robert Spano, and Principal Guest Conductor Donald Runnicles today announced the 2012–13 season of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra - the Orchestra's 68th season and Mr. Spano's and Mr. Runnicles's 12th season as artistic partners. The Atlanta Symphony consistently affirms its position as one of America's leading orchestras by performing great music, presenting great artists, nurturing young talent, and engaging audiences. The 24-week subscription season will feature the music of past centuries while paving theway for the great music of the future with performances by today's leading composers, soloists, and conductors.

"Amazing - to think this is already my twelfth season with the Atlanta Symphony and Donald. Each one has been more than rewarding," said Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Music Director Robert Spano. "It is a privilege and honor to work every day with this magnificent Orchestra and Chorus. The attentiveness and support of our vibrant Atlanta audiences is an inspiration. This season promises to be as exhilarating as any so far, and I look forward to seeing you in Symphony Hall."

"The Atlanta Symphony is one of the finest orchestras in the world, and it has been, over this past decade, a particular joy to experience and relish the deepening of our relationship," said Principal Guest Conductor Donald Runnicles. "Collaborating with the musicians of the Orchestra, and with my friend Robert Spano, is a delight. I look forward to sharing this musical journey with the people of Atlanta."

"At our very core, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra believes in the power of music and, in particular, the power of live performance," said Atlanta Symphony Orchestra President Stanley Romanstein. "We are here to perform great music, present great artists, nurture young talent, and engage with our community - to do this alongside Robert Spano, Donald Runnicles, and the rest of our artistic team is a treasure we are honored to share with our community."

The season opens on Thursday, October 4, 2012, with Mr. Spano leading the Orchestra in a weekend of performances featuring violinist Midori playing the Beethoven Violin Concerto; also on the program is Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4. Later that month, Mr. Spano will return to Carnegie Hall on Saturday, October 27, 2012, with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus to perform the Suite from Copland's Appalachian Spring, Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, and Walton's Belshazzar's Feast. Soloists will be countertenor John Holiday and baritone Brett Polegato. In January 2013, Mr. Spano will lead the Orchestra in the world premiere of a clarinet concerto by Atlanta School of Composers member Michael Gandolfi, written for Principal Clarinet Laura Ardan.

Under Mr. Spano's direction, the Orchestra will perform two additional world premieres in April 2013: a new piano concerto by Marcus Roberts, featuring the Marcus Roberts Trio, and a new work by Atlanta Symphony Bassist Michael Kurth. In May 2013, Principal Guest Conductor Donald Runnicles will lead the Orchestra in Beethoven's Triple Concerto featuring Mr. Spano on piano, as well as Concertmaster David Coucheron, and Principal Cello Christopher Rex. Mr. Runnicles will return to close the season in June 2013, leading an all-Brahms program with pianist Lars Vogt.

Works by Michael Gandolfi and Christopher Theofanidis, members of the Atlanta School of Composers, will also be featured in the season, reflecting Mr. Spano and the Orchestra's commitment to nurturing and championing music through multi-year partnerships defining a new generation of American composers. Thirteen additional Atlanta Symphony premieres will also be performed throughout the year.

Along with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's classical concerts, presenting many of today's finest concert artists, the Orchestra also offers orchestral pops, family, and community programming, as well as the annual Coca-Cola Holiday concerts.

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is proud to be an internationally-recognized organization which remains deeply connected to, and invested in, our local communities and schools. The Orchestra also partners regularly with community organizations dedicated to the greater social good and works to ensure access to musical programs which meet a broad spectrum of needs for all of Atlanta. The Atlanta Symphony also offers approximately 50 free community performances throughout the metro area at various locations including libraries, churches, senior centers, bookstores, and parks. Additionally, Orchestra musicians provide nearly 60 master classes, clinics, and performances in metro Atlanta schools.

The Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra (ASYO), which provides Atlanta's top student instrumentalists with an opportunity to perform orchestral masterworks under the finest conductors, will perform three subscription concerts and a series of holiday concerts in December 2012.

The groundbreaking Talent Development Program (TDP) was the first intensive training program by a major American orchestra to support talented, young African-American and Latino instrumentalists who desire to pursue a career in classical music. The TDP will present its annual Fall Musicale in November 2012, as well as a Spring Recital in 2013.

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