Newton's New Philharmonia Orchestra's 2017-18 Season Opens with 'Soul and Redemption'

The New Philharmonia Orchestra, under the direction of Francisco Nova, will open its 23rd season on October 21 at 8 p.m. and 22 at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Newton Centre with their program Soul and Redemption. The concert will feature the ethereal and beautiful sonorities of Christopher Theofanidis' "Rainbow Body," Shostakovich's magnificent 5th Symphony - a powerful musical statement intended as a quest for redemption in the eyes of the Soviet regime - and Erich Korngold's Cello Concerto, Op. 37 from the Warner Brothers movie "Deception," featuring Bette Davis. The Korngold work will feature Boston Symphony Orchestra cellist Owen Young. Tickets and more information are available at NewPhil.org or by calling 617.527.9717.

The second season under Music Director Francisco Nova will fully embrace the NPO's mission to perform "music for all." It will include pieces that are perfect for everyone, from the classical music enthusiast, to those just starting their exploration of works from the 19th to 21st centuries. Following Soul and Redemption, NPO's season continues with a program featuring Boston Symphony Orchestra Assistant Conductor Ken-David Masur and pianist MeLinda Lee Masur on November 18 and 19 to benefit Music for Food and the Food Pantries of Newton. The NPO begins 2018 with a program starring soprano Yelena Dudochkin on February 21 and 22, followed by a performance with Grammy Award-winning folk rock music duo, The Indigo Girls on March 18 at Boston Symphony Hall. A performance with guest conductor Jorge Soto and violinist Irina Muresanu concludes the season on May 19 and 20. The orchestra will also include a series of family-friendly concerts featuring hits from "The Nutcracker," story time with Bill Harley, and an exciting afternoon of Beethoven's greatest hits, called Beethoven Rocks!

Subscription Series

October 21-22, 2017

First Baptist Church in Newton, Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.

SOUL AND REDEMPTION

Christopher Theofanidis - "Rainbow Body"

Erich Korngold - Concerto for Cello and Orchestra

Owen Young, cello

Dmitri Shostakovich - Symphony No. 5

February 10-11, 2018

First Baptist Church in Newton, Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.

THE FRENCH-RUSSIAN CONNECTION

Claude Debussy - "Prélude à l'Après-Midi d'un Faune"

Maurice Ravel - "Mother Goose Suite"

Igor Stravinsky - "Firebird"

May 19-20, 2018

First Baptist Church in Newton, Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.

ALL BEETHOVEN

Beethoven - "Consecration of the House"

Beethoven - Concerto for Violin and Orchestra

Irina Muresanu, violin

Beethoven - Symphony No. 7

Jorge Soto, Guest Conductor

Family Concerts

December 10, 2017

First Baptist Church in Newton at 3 p.m.

CELEBRATIONS!

The special holiday program with the Boston Ballet School features

seasonal favorites for music lovers of all ages.

January 28, 2018

First Baptist Church in Newton at 3 p.m.

MUSICAL TALES

Legendary story-teller Bill Harley with join the NPO in tales

of Ravel's "Mother Goose Suite" and Stravinsky's "Firebird."

April 29, 2018

First Baptist Church in Newton at 3 p.m.

BEETHOVEN ROCKS!

Join the NPO for an exciting afternoon featuring some of

Beethoven's greatest hits.

Special Events

November 19, 2017

First Baptist Church in Newton, Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.

A MUSICAL FEAST

A special program with Ken and Melinda Masur

To benefit the Music for Food and the Food Pantries of Newton

Featuring Beethoven's Triple Concerto with the Lee Trio

March 18, 2018

Symphony Hall at 7:30 p.m.

A SPECIAL EVENING WITH THE INDIGO GIRLS

Tickets go on sale October 15 at Symphony Hall

About Francisco Noya, Music Director

Francisco Noya was appointed music director of New Philharmonia in the spring of 2016, following the 20-year tenure of founding Music Director Ron Knudsen. Noya began his professional career in his native Venezuela as conductor of the Youth Orchestra of Valencia, one of the original ensembles of El Sistema. After earning advanced degrees in composition and conducting from Boston University, Noya was appointed to serve as assistant conductor of the Caracas Philharmonic and assistant to the music director of the Teatro Teresa Carreño, one of the most prestigious theaters in Latin America. Noya continued his conducting career in the United States by serving as music director of the Empire State Youth Orchestra in Albany, New York, for 10 seasons. Today, Noya is a prominent figure in the Boston and New England music scene and has earned a reputation as a versatile interpreter of symphonic and operatic literature. He served as music director of the Longwood Symphony Orchestra in Boston and Symphony by the Sea in Manchester. Noya currently serves as resident conductor of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, where he represents the Philharmonic artistically and educationally throughout the Rhode Island community. He is also a respected member of the Conducting Faculty of the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Noya has appeared as guest conductor of the Boston Pops; the Baltimore, Nashville, San Antonio and Omaha Symphony Orchestras and Cape Cod Symphony, among others. In addition, he has performed internationally with orchestras in Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Spain, Italy and Russia.

About the New Philharmonia Orchestra

The New Philharmonia Orchestra, founded in 1995, is a 75-member nonprofessional regional orchestra based in Newton, Massachusetts. The orchestra's mission to perform "music for all" has been advanced by presenting programs of diverse repertoire of classical music for the enjoyment of audiences of all ages and experiences. The orchestra also strives to provide its nonprofessional players the opportunity to achieve a high level of ensemble performance not otherwise available.

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