Las Vegas Philharmonic Announces 20th Season Lineup

The Las Vegas Philharmonic and Music Director Donato Cabrera announced the 2018 - 2019 concert season today, which will include 13 performances from September 15, 2018 - May 11, 2019 at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts. This marks the orchestra's 20th concert season and Cabrera's 5th season as Music Director for the Las Vegas Philharmonic. The upcoming season begins with works by Leonard Bernstein as part of a world-wide celebration of his 100th birthday and the orchestra performs selections from West Side Story and Candide. Other composers featuring prominently in the new season include Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, John Williams and others. The critically-acclaimed horror film Psycho will be presented in full on the large screen with the orchestra performing the entire spine-tingling score live in a concert for film and music lovers alike in October. In November, a piano concerto composed by Philip Glass and commissioned by the Las Vegas Philharmonic as part of a consortium of orchestras will be performed by pianist Simone Dinnerstein. Two holiday concerts in December will delight with nostalgia and feature a special reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas as well as powerful vocal performances by Kristen Hertzenberg and Travis Cloer. Once again, we dedicate an entire evening to epic film scores by John Williams and perform music spanning four decades of fan favorites from films including Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Harry Potter, and Memoirs of a Geisha in January. The orchestra features two of its own principal musicians, De Ann Letourneau (violin) and Andrew Smith (cello), as guest soloists in February's An Evening of Brahms. For the first time, the orchestra is joined by the group Time For Three, an American trio that boasts an uncommon mix of virtuosity and showmanship on music from Bach to Brahms in addition to originals and their own arrangements of everything from bluegrass to mash-ups of hits by the Beatles, Justin Timberlake and more at the March 2019 concert. In April, the second installment of the Music Unwound initiative with the National Endowment for the Humanities explores Czech composer Antonín Dvo?ák and his New World Symphony. The Philharmonic's chorus-in-residence, the Las Vegas Master Singers will perform at the holiday concerts in addition to May's presentation of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. Marking the third year of the orchestra's American German Cultural Exchange Fellowship, violinist Thomas Reif will perform Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in May's season finale. In a finale befitting a 20th Anniversary celebration, acclaimed vocalists Felicia Moore (soprano), Kelley O'Connor (Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano), Sean Panikkar (tenor) and Raymond Aceto (bass) will also perform on Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.

"To mark such an important milestone, as well as to celebrate what the future has in store for our fantastic orchestra, I've chosen a mix of pieces that our orchestra has performed during its beginnings, as well as set a path forward with concert experiences that will define this orchestra for the next twenty years," says Cabrera.

Subscriptions to the new season start at just $110 and go on sale Thursday, April 5, 2018 through The Smith Center Box Office. Music Director Donato Cabrera and special guests will continue to host pre-concert conversations one hour prior to each performance in Reynolds Hall to discuss the works to be performed and the history behind the music (no pre-concert conversation for Time For Three performance - March 2, 2019).

Ticket pricing in the 2018-19 season will stay consistent with the 2017-18 season pricing. Subscribers save 10% when they renew before June 5, 2018 and can choose among three different concert packages at five different price points. In addition, subscribers can purchase additional single tickets with their subscription order at the 10% discount.

The Las Vegas Philharmonic will continue to offer its shuttle bus services from its Henderson and Summerlin locations in Las Vegas to its Reynolds Hall evening performances during the 2018-19 concert season.

Concert Line-up

OPENING NIGHT - CELEBRATING BERNSTEIN
RACHMANINOFF & TCHAIKOVSKY
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2018 - 7:30pm
Pre-concert conversation at 6:30pm in Reynolds Hall
Opening Night Cocktail Party On Stage at 9:30pm - $50 per person; reservations required; ticket purchase separate from concert

Donato Cabrera, conductor
Joyce Yang, piano

BERNSTEIN Overture to Candide
RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Opus 18
TCHAIKOVSKY Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy
BERNSTEIN Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

Timeless stories of forbidden love, an American Icon and Russian Romantics kick off our 20th season. We celebrate the 100th Birthday of the renowned composer, conductor, educator, humanitarian and American treasure, Leonard Bernstein. Joyce Yang returns for Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2, one of the composer's most enduringly popular pieces, demonstrating once again, her "poetic and sensitive pianism" (Washington Post). Listen to Donato's Spotify playlist: http://tinyurl.com/lvphilsept15.

PSYCHO

Alfred Hitchcock's Masterpiece Film Presented with Live Orchestra

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2018 - 7:30pm
Pre-concert conversation at 6:30pm in Reynolds Hall

Donato Cabrera, conductor

Experience the critically acclaimed psychological horror film and its spine-tingling score with your symphony orchestra. Bernard Herrmann was an American composer best known for his collaborations with director Alfred Hitchcock, most famously Psycho, North by Northwest, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and Vertigo. Terror and tension are heightened when a large screen presentation of the film meets live music, demonstrating the ability of the score to tie it all together and deliver goose-bumps. Listen to Donato's Spotify playlist: https://tinyurl.com/lvphiloct61819.

GLASS, MOZART & BACH
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2018 - 7:30pm
Pre-concert conversation at 6:30pm in Reynolds Hall

Donato Cabrera, conductor

Simone Dinnerstein, piano

MOZART Overture to Cosi fan tutte, K588
GLASS Piano Concerto No. 3
BACH Concerto for Keyboard No. 7 in G Minor, BMV 1058
MOZART Symphony No. 40 in G Minor,

Mozart's opera Cosí fan tutte is a comedic opera (opera buffa) whose title roughly translates to "they're all like that," deals with the themes of love and fidelity and in the 19th and 20th centuries was considered by some to be risqué. Philip Glass's newest piano concerto was commissioned by a consortium of orchestras, including the Las Vegas Philharmonic, and composed for phenomenal pianist, Simone Dinnerstein. Concerto for Keyboard No. 7 is speculated to be Bach's first attempt at a full harpsichord concerto. Symphony No. 40, written in 1788, is sometimes referred to as the "Great G Minor Symphony", and is one of the only two minor key symphonies Mozart wrote. Listen to Donato's Spotify playlist: https://tinyurl.com/lvphilnov3.

A CLASSIC HOLIDAY
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018 - 2:00pm & 7:30pm
Pre-concert conversation at 1:00pm and 6:30pm in Reynolds Hall

Richard McGee, conductor
Kristen Hertzenberg, vocalist

Travis Cloer, vocalist

Las Vegas Master Singers, David Weiller, director

BASS Deck the Halls
BIZET Farandole
DRAGON (arr.) Ave Maria
TANOUYE Mary, Did You Know?
TANOUYE God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
JAVITS Santa Baby

THOMPSON (arr.) O Little Town of Bethlehem
TYZIK Hanukkah Suite
ANDERSON Sleigh Ride
TRADITIONAL Little Drummer Boy
WILLIAMS "Somewhere in my Memory" from Home Alone
BASS Gloria

BASS 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
TCHAIKOVSKY "Trepak" from The Nutcracker Suite
TANOUYE The Prayer
BASS Sing We Now of Christmas
BERLIN White Christmas

A festive musical celebration for the entire family featuring your favorite holiday classics. Vocalists Kristen Hertzenberg and Travis Cloer lend their considerable talents on Ave Maria, White Christmas and other melodies in addition to narrating 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. We'll close the show with our traditional audience sing-along. Listen to Donato's Spotify playlist: https://tinyurl.com/lvphildec1.

THE MUSIC OF John Williams

Saturday, January 12, 2019 - 7:30pm
Pre-concert conversation at 6:30pm in Reynolds Hall

Donato Cabrera, conductor

WILLIAMS Liberty Fanfare
WILLIAMS The Patriot
WILLIAMS Sayuri's Theme from Memoirs of a Geisha
WILLIAMS Music from Close Encounters of the Third Kind
WILLIAMS Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
WILLIAMS Flight to Neverland from Hook
WILLIAMS Theme from Jurassic Park
WILLIAMS Raider's March from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
WILLIAMS Star Wars Suite

Return to Devil's Tower, a booby-trapped temple in Peru, and a galaxy far, far away. Hear epic film scores spanning four decades of fan favorites. John Williams has won 23 Grammy Awards, seven British Academy Film Awards, five Academy Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards, composing some of the most popular and recognizable film scores in cinematic history. Listen to Donato's Spotify playlist: https://tinyurl.com/lvphiljan12.

AN EVENING OF BRAHMS

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2019 - 7:30pm
Pre-concert conversation at 6:30pm in Reynolds Hall

Donato Cabrera, conductor
De Ann Letourneau, violin

Andrew Smith, cello

BRAHMS Academic Festival Overture, Opus 80
BRAHMS Concerto for Violin and Cello in A Minor, Opus 102
BRAHMS Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Opus 98

The mastery of Johannes Brahms is celebrated with three of his greatest works written during the height of his fame. A prolific and innovative composer, he composed for symphony orchestra, chamber ensembles, piano and organ, as well as voice and chorus. Academic Festival Overture is half of Brahms's musical "thank you" to the University of Breslau, in response to being awarded an honorary doctorate. Our own Concertmaster and Principal Cellist feature in the composer's double concerto for violin and cello, his final composition for orchestra. Symphony No. 4 is Brahms's final symphony. Listen to Donato's Spotify playlist: https://tinyurl.com/lvphilfeb9.

TIME FOR THREE
SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2019 - 8:00pm

Donato Cabrera, conductor

Ranaan Meyer, double bass

Nick Kendall, violin

Charles Yang, violin

Time for Three is a group that defies any traditional genre classification, happily and infectiously. With an uncommon mix of virtuosity and showmanship, the American trio performs music from Bach to Brahms and beyond as well as playing originals and their own arrangements of everything from bluegrass and folk tunes to ingenious mash-ups of hits by the Beatles, Kanye West, Katy Perry, Justin Timberlake and more. This performance will include the orchestra in addition to the members of Time For Three. Please note the later start time for this concert. Listen to Donato's Spotify Playlist: https://tinyurl.com/lvphilmarch2.

MUSIC UNWOUND: DVO?ÁK IN AMERICA

SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2018 - 7:30pm
Pre-concert conversation at 6:30pm in Reynolds Hall

Donato Cabrera, conductor

Kevin Deas, bass-baritone

Joseph Horowitz, producer

DVO?ÁK Scherzo Capriccioso, Opus 66

HOROWITZ and BECKERMAN The Hiawatha Melodrama (after Dvo?ák)

DVO?ÁK Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Opus 95 "From the New World"

The second year of "Music Unwound," funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities, explores Czech composer Antonín Dvo?ák and his time spent in New York in the late 1800s while directing the National Conservatory of Music of America. Dvo?ák absorbed the music of African Americans and Native Americans, and the spirit of their music pervades his Symphony No. 9, the "New World Symphony". This performance will be the culmination of a week-long series of events in conjunction with UNLV. For more information, please visit www.musicunwoundvegas.com. Kevin Deas has gained international renown as one of America's leading bass-baritones. He is perhaps most acclaimed for his signature portrayal of the title role in Porgy and Bess, having performed it with many illustrious orchestras in North America. Listen to Donato's Spotify playlist: https://tinyurl.com/lvphilapril6.

SEASON FINALE - ODE TO JOY
SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2019 - 7:30pm
Pre-concert conversation at 6:30pm in Reynolds Hall

Donato Cabrera, conductor

Thomas Reif, violin, American German Cultural Exchange Fellowship recipient

Las Vegas Master Singers, UNLV Concert Singers, UNLV Chamber Chorale, David Weiller and Joseph Svendsen, directors

Felicia Moore, soprano
Kelley O'Connor, mezzo
Sean Panikkar, tenor

Raymond Aceto, bass

MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto in E Minor, Opus 64
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Opus 125 "Choral"

Our American German Cultural Exchange Fellowship is made possible by the generosity of German Philanthropist Mrs. Dorothee Hennings-Holtmann and honors cultural unity while showcasing American and German soloists exchanged between the Las Vegas Philharmonic and Cottbus State Theater Orchestra. Violinist Thomas Reif is highly sought after for his versatility and has performed with orchestras throughout Europe. Beethoven's 9th was the first example of a major composer using voices in a symphony (thus making it a choral symphony). The Las Vegas Master Singers, our Chorus-In-Residence, join acclaimed vocalists Felicia Moore (soprano), Kelley O'Connor (Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano), Sean Panikkar (tenor) and Raymond Aceto (bass) on Beethoven's final symphony. Listen to Donato's Spotify playlist: https://tinyurl.com/lvphilmay11.

Spotlight Concerts
Our Spotlight concert series features members of our symphony orchestra performing some of their most cherished pieces composed for small ensembles in the intimate Troesh Studio Theater. The series is offered as an add-on to the 9, 6 or 4-concert subscriptions or as a stand-alone package.

Spotlight I: AN EVENING OF WORKS FOR BRASS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2018 - 7:30pm

Tom Wright, trumpet
Bill Bernatis, horn
Nathan Tanouye, trombone
Voltaire Verzosa, piano

HINDEMITH Sonata for Trumpet and Piano

PEASLEE Arrows of Time for Trombone and Piano

POULENC Trio pour trompette, cor, et, trombone

SCHNYDER le monde miniscule

PLOG Trio for Trumpet, Horn, and Trombone

Spotlight II: THE PASSION AND ROMANCE OF THE HARP

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2019 - 7:30pm

Kim Glennie, harp
De Ann Letourneau, violin

Andrew Smith, cello

DUSSEK Sonate en Trio, Opus 34, No.1 for Violin, Cello and Harp
IBERT Trio pour Violon, Violoncello et Harpe
SAINT-SAËNS Fantasie, Opus 124 pour Violon et Harpe

SAINT-SAËNS Le Cygne (The Swan) pour Violoncello et Harpe
GLINKA Romance "Somnenie" (The Doubt)
PIAZZOLLA Two Tangos

Spotlight III: THE HARMONY OF 14 STRINGS

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2019 - 7:30pm

Jason Bonham, viola
Andrew Smith, cello
Richard Cobo, guitar
Voltaire Verzosa, piano

PAGANINI Terzetto Concertante for Viola, Cello, and Guitar

FRANCK Sonata in A Major for Violin and Piano (transcribed for viola by F. Schwartz)

Various duets for Guitar and Viola

About the Las Vegas Philharmonic
The Las Vegas Philharmonic, led by Music Director, Donato Cabrera, established its presence in Southern Nevada in 1998. The mission of the organization is to perform music that enriches and educates, helping to build a vibrant, culturally rich community.

Music education and outreach are the cornerstones of the Philharmonic's commitment to community. Our Youth Concert Series brings more than 23,000 children annually into the concert hall for a vital music education program, and our Cox Communications Young Artists' Concerto Competition recognizes and encourages emerging talent among Nevada youth in the area of music performance.

Our season of concerts showcases local talents alongside stellar nationally and internationally known guest artists on the magnificent Reynolds Hall stage. At the orchestra's core are 76 contracted professional musicians, many of whom are esteemed educators who also perform in other professional productions in Las Vegas, bringing depth and variety to the organization.

As a 501(c)(3) organization, the Philharmonic's community, education and artistic programs are made possible by the generous donations and support of individuals and corporations. To join us in our mission or learn more, visit lvphil.org or call 702.258.5438.

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