Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra Releases Schedule of Upcoming Performances

The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra celebrates its' next season of uncommonly exceptional music and exciting performances. Classical, Family, and Chamber Recital season subscriptions are now on sale to experience outstanding performances by Michigan's premier regional orchestra and renowned guest soloists.

MAIN STAGE SERIES

Opening Night: Beethoven Festival with Garrick Ohlsson

Saturday, September 19 8:00 p.m.
Hill Auditorium

? Sponsored by U-M Frankel Cardiovascular, Depression, Kellogg Eye, and Transplant Centers

? With support from the MCACA and the NEA

Beethoven Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55, "Eroica"
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
Beethoven Fantasia for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra, Op. 80, "Choral Fantasy"

Special Guests:

• ? Garrick Ohlsson

• ? UMS Choral Union

  "Beethoven the powerhouse, the Matterhorn of ideals, the scorner of fate has become Beethoven the exquisite poet and the muse of fragrant dreams" in this festive opening night. Beethoven's personality is writ large throughout the concert - a defining symphony, a dramatic concerto played by Garrick Ohlsson, one of the world's favorite soloists, and a choral work that epitomizes Love and Strength, sung by the Choral Union and again featuring piano soloist Garrick Ohlsson.

  Romantic Tchaikovsky

  Saturday, October 24 8:00 p.m.
  Michigan Theater

Kodály Suite from Háry János
Tchaikovsky Pezzo Capriccioso, Op. 62 Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33 Dvo?ák Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60

Special Guests:

• ? Julie Albers

• ? Alex Udvary

• ? Steve Gerber, Celebrity conductor

  Harmony, tradition and a beautiful dream world meld into a thoughtfully programmed concert experience. Háry János, a peasant soldier, spins his yarns which speak to his essence as a visionary and a poet. Cellist extraordinaire Julie Albers will delight with the elegant Rococo Variations and the impossibly fast pyrotechnics of the "crazy" Pezzo Capriccioso. Dvorak blends the soul of Slavonic folk melodies with the rich Germanic tradition to create a stunning and memorable Symphony No. 6 that stands the test of time.

  Mendelssohn "Italian"

  Saturday, November 7 8:00 p.m.
  Michigan Theater

  Sibelius Karelia Suite, Op. 11
  Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26 Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90, "Italian"

  Supported by the Finlandia Foundation National

  Special Guest:

• Roman Rabinovich

Come celebrate Sibelius' 150th Birthday with the Karelia Suite, a tone poem rich with folk melodies and fond memories of his favorite region of Finland. You'll hear why soloist Roman Rabinovich won the prestigious Rubinstein Piano Competition with this very Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3, one of the best-known piano concertos of the 20th century. The concert concludes with what Maestro Arie Lipsky calls "the Perfect Symphony," Mendelssohn's "Italian" Symphony No. 4, where every shining note is brilliant and right.

Holiday Pops

Friday, December 11 8:00 p.m.

Hill Auditorium
? Cosponsored by Bank of Ann Arbor

Featuring your holiday favorites! Special Guests:

• ? Ann Arbor Youth Chorale

• ? Boychoir of Ann Arbor

• ? Measure for Measure

• ? Skyline High School Choruses

  Start your weekend with a festive mix of orchestra and voice, classical and pops at this annual A2SO tradition. It is the perfect way to welcome in this holiday season. Bring your family and friends for an evening of good music-making with some of our area's most beloved choruses including the Boychoir of Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Youth Chorale, Skyline High School Choruses and the men of Measure for Measure. It will be ear-to-ear grinning merriment concluding by a surround of singers harmonizing Let There be Peace on Earth.

  Mozart Birthday Bash

  Saturday, January 16 8:00 p.m.
  Michigan Theater

  Mozart Abduction from the Seraglio, semi-staged concert opera Special Guests:

• ? Jeanette Vecchione

• ? Suzanne Rigden

• ? Paul Appleby

• ? John Shuffle

• ? narrated by Stephen West

• ? Vocal Arts Ensemble

  The Abduction from the Seraglio was written during one of the happiest periods of Mozart's life. He was in love and about to be married to the woman whose namesake is the female lead in the opera, Constanze. Romance, suspense, an exotic setting, and a funny story make this one of the most loved operas. Sung in German, our semi- staged concert version will be narrated so that the novice as well as the long-time opera lover understands and enjoys the magnificent arias and great choruses.

Harp Magic

Saturday, March 12 8:00 p.m.
Michigan Theater

? Cosponsored by Rebecca Horvath

Handel Overture and Ballo from Ariodante Ginastera Harp Concerto, Op. 25
Brahms Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73

Special Guest:
? Primor Sluchin

Warm up our Michigan March with a concert of contrasts. A2SO goes Baroque by extracting two orchestral jewels from Handel's opera Ariodante, shining examples from 18th century symphonic music treasures. Primor Sluchin returns to mesmerize the audience in South American genius composer Ginastera's dazzling Harp Concerto. The concert concludes with Brahms' lyrical, graceful and light "Pastoral Symphony," the Symphony No. 2 where you can imagine walking in the dappled light forest.

Season Finale: The Planets

Saturday, April 9 8:00 p.m. Michigan Theater

? Sponsored by Ray and Eleanor Cross Foundation

Chambers The Tall-Eared Fox and the Wild-Eyed Man Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 Holst The Planets

Special Guests:

• ? Aaron Berofsky

• ? UMS Choral Union Women

  We close our season with a timeless message from Ann Arbor composer Evan Chambers: "we should live life like we make music, with love, a deep sense of the simple and overwhelming beauty around us, and with wild abandon." Chambers' effervescent music will delight and resound with you. The concert continues with one of Mendelssohn's most elegant and lyrical concertos played by A2SO

Concertmaster Aaron Berofsky, who plays in a most elegant and lyrical style. "I feel I must write a violin concerto for you next winter," wrote Mendelssohn. "One in E minor has been running in my head, and the beginning of it never gives me a moment's peace." The concert concludes with Holst's Planets, performed in its entirety complete with women's chorus. As a special feature, out-of-this-world NASA video footage of the planets will be projected on the screen over the orchestra.

CHAMBER RECITAL SERIES - MUSIC WITH FRIENDS

A2SO Chamber Concert Series
The A2SO Chamber Concert Series features the finest chamber recital music played by A2SO musicians. These hour-long concerts, open to listeners of all ages, combine fresh sounds of newly minted as well as time-honored classics for wind, string and brass soloists. All concerts are preceded by dessert and coffee. Subscriptions to all five concerts are just $45 and single tickets are $10. Repertoire and musicians TBD and will be posted on a2so.com.

FAMILY CONCERT SERIES

Family Concert Series

Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra Family Concerts are specially designed to introduce children and their parents to the wonders of a live symphony concert. Part performance, part family outing, these affordable concerts will spark the imagination of the whole family.

Gershwin's Magic Key

Sunday, October 25
4:00 p.m.
Michigan Theater
Pre-concert activities 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Sponsored by Toyota

The story of a chance meeting on the streets of New York City between a poor newspaper boy and the great American composer George Gershwin told with actors in costumes and the orchestra.

Sing-Along with Santa

Bethlehem United Church of Christ Saturday, December 5
4:00 p.m

Join Santa and piano accompaniment in singing your favorite carols. To help remember the fun, a photographer will snap a photo of each youngster with Santa - sent to you electronically in time for Christmas.

Magical Music of Disney - Around the World with Disney

Sunday, March 13
4:00 p.m.
Michigan Theater
Pre-concert activities 2:30-3:30 p.m.

True enjoyment for your entire family! Savor the original music from some of your favorite Disney movies played by the A2SO enhanced by projections of the animation from those classics. Come dressed in your favorite costume.

Presentation made under license from Buena Vista Concerts, a division of ABC Inc. © All rights reserved.

KINDERCONCERTS

KinderConcerts are free 30-minute concerts designed especially for children 2-to-6 years old. Members of the A2SO join a child movement expert and piano collaborationist for a guided introduction to the instruments of the orchestra. Introduce even the youngest listeners to classical music at your local libraries. To learn more about how you can schedule free KinderConcerts at your library email info@a2so.com. Sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor, Dave and Stephanie Pine and the Ray and Eleanor Cross Foundation.

ANNUAL YOUTH CONCERTS

Annual Youth Concerts

Each year, nearly 5,000 students attend Youth Concerts at the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. In 2014, students will discover the universe through music such as Holst's The Planets and Hollywood's Star Wars. Open to public, private, parochial, and home schools, these concerts offer a comprehensive educational experience that enriches in-school learning. Hill Auditorium presents itself as a unique classroom, where special performances by the A2SO combine the thrill of live music with key educational concepts. Participating teachers receive access to resource materials which include lesson plans, music selections, and a CD of all music to be performed. The programs are geared toward elementary grades three through five and meet all state and local academic standards, lending themselves to integration with other curriculum areas, such as language arts and social studies. Supported by Domino's

FUNDRAISING EVENT

Hearts for the Arts Fundraiser
Join the A2SO for the Hearts for the Arts Fundraiser on Saturday, February 13, 2016. This very special event raises money for the educational and artistic programs serving over 30,000 young people in our five-county area. A long-time favorite of symphony and community arts supporters, the evening boasts a champagne reception and silent auction, an elegant dinner, and a spectacular live auction of exciting trips and one-of- a-kind packages.

To purchase your subscription call (734)994-4801, visit www.a2so.com or email info@a2so.com. Single tickets go on sale July 21.

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