Richmond Symphony Orchestra Releases Schedule for 2015-16 Season
By: Matt Smith Feb. 20, 2015
February 19, 2015 - Richmond, Virginia Music Director Steven Smith and Executive Director David Fisk announced the 2015-16 season of the Richmond Symphony (RSO). The season features new series, a change of location, world-renowned guest artists and concerts designed to appeal to diverse audiences throughout the Richmond region. The season will again be led by the artistic team of Steven Smith, Lewis T. Booker Music Director Chair, Keitaro Harada, Associate Conductor and Dr. Erin R. Freeman, Director of the Richmond Symphony Chorus and James Erb Choral Chair.
"Music expresses emotion in sound. Perhaps that helps explain why music plays such a strong role in our lives. In fact, memories of events are often attached to musical memories. Any time we hear that music, its effect is more powerful, because the music is so entwined with that memory. We feel it. In a wonderful way, then, when we hear music for the first time, it can inspire new emotional connections to our personal experiences.
A beautiful mystery of live performance is how music affects all of us differently. The drama, beauty, and shared experience of a live performance have no equal. Live music conveys emotions ranging from joy to sorrow; from love to anger; from calm to surprise; giving all of us an opportunity to enjoy moments that are both personal and unique. There is simply nothing else like it!" - Music Director Steven Smith.
Some highlights of the season include:
- An opening weekend concert featuring Beethoven's famous Ninth Symphony with the Richmond Symphony Chorus on September 12 & 13, 2015.
- A new series titled Casual Fridays - hour-long concerts starting at 6:30pm in the Carpenter Theatre that feature great works from the orchestral repertoire in a casual format.
- Starting this fall, the RSO is partnering with Hardywood Park Craft Brewery to move the popular one-hour, Thursday evening Rush Hour series to Hardywood's tasting room.
- An Altria Masterworks season that includes Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Nielsen's Symphony No. 4 "The Inextinguishable", an evening of Viennese New Year's favorites including Strauss' Blue Danube waltz, Tchaikovsky's Manfred Symphony with guest conductor Victor Yampolsky, Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto with pianist Orli Shaham, the choral version of Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain, Copland's Appalachian Spring suite, a new work by composer Laura Schwendinger, a work by Richmond native Zachary Wadsworth, and the complete version of Ravel's lush Daphnis et Chloé.
- A Genworth Symphony Pops season that includes a Science Fiction Double Feature of the silent film Nosferatu with the orchestra followed by a showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, a concert featuring the music of Earth, Wind and Fire and Michael Jackson, the return of symphony favorite Steve Lippia performing the music of Frank Sinatra on his centennial anniversary, and our annual holiday favorite - Let It Snow! - conducted for the first time by Associate Conductor Keitaro Harada.
"Our 2015-16 Richmond Symphony season offers you the best of orchestral music designed to touch each and every one of us in a personal way. Whether its sorrow in Tchaikovsky's Manfred Symphony, the joy of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony or the love story of Ravel's Daphnis and Chloé, you have the opportunity to be changed by the experience."
"I hope you are as excited as I am about the 2015-16 season. We can't wait for you to join us!" - Music Director Steven Smith, Lewis T. Booker Music Director Chair
"We are delighted to be announcing the Richmond Symphony's 58th Season today and want to offer special thanks to our corporate partners - especially our main series sponsors Altria, Genworth and Union Bank & Trust for renewing their generous support - and our media partners -WCVE and the Richmond Times-Dispatch. - David Fisk, RSO Executive Director
Mr. Fisk continues: "We also warmly acknowledge our partners in the performing arts community who are joining us to collaborate on concert programs next season. This includes our friends at the Virginia Opera and the Richmond Ballet, who are contributing young artists to our Masterworks and LolliPops series respectively. And we especially thank Hardywood Park Craft Brewery for letting us take over their tasting room four Thursdays next season as our new Rush Hour concert location. More than ever, it's appropriate for us to say 'cheers' to all of our sponsors, partners and patrons for a fantastic 2015-16 Season!"
Altria Masterworks Series
Under the baton of Music Director Steven Smith, the Altria Masterworks series again features fantastic guest artists and the greatest works from the classical repertoire. The 2015-16 series includes an opening of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, a guest conducted concert with Maestro Victor Yampolsky and the rare complete version of Daphnis et Chloé. Joining the RSO on stage will be: Philippe Quint, violin; Orion Weiss, piano; Orli Shaham, piano; RSO Concertmaster Daisuke Yamamoto, violin; RSO Principal Flute Mary Boodell; members of the Virginia Opera Emerging Artists program; and the Richmond Symphony Chorus.
*All Altria Masterworks Concerts take place at the Carpenter Theatre at Richmond CenterStage unless otherwise noted.
September 12 & 13, 2015 - 8:00 pm/3:00 pm
Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
Steven Smith, conductor
Richmond Symphony Chorus
John Adams: Short Ride in a Fast Machine
Berlioz: King Lear Overture
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Opus 125
October 17, 2015 - 8:00 pm
Nielsen's Fourth Symphony
Steven Smith, conductor
Zachary Wadsworth: Point - Line - Plane
Korngold: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35
Philippe Quint, violin
Nielsen: Symphony No. 4, Opus 29 "The Inextinguishable"
November 14, 2015 - 8:00 pm
Sibelius and Liszt
Steven Smith, conductor
Sibelius: The Swan of Tuonela
Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Major
Orion Weiss, piano
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Opus 43
January 9 & 10, 2016 - 8:00 pm/3:00 pm
A New Year in Vienna
Join the Richmond Symphony and Steven Smith for a special evening in the style of a Viennese New Year with selected works, waltzes, polkas and arias by Johann Strauss II and Richard Strauss. You will feel like you are celebrating the New Year in Vienna!
Steven Smith, conductor
Virginia Opera Emerging Artists, vocalists
R. Strauss: Suite from Der Rosenkavalier
J. Strauss, Jr.: The Blue Danube
Additional selections
February 6, 2016 - 8:00 pm
Manfred Symphony
Victor Yampolsky, guest conductor
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Opus 63
Daisuke Yamamoto, violin
Tchaikovsky: Manfred Symphony in B Minor, Opus 58
March 5 & 6, 2016 - 8:00 pm/3:00 pm
Beethoven, Mussorgsky and Shostakovich
Steven Smith, conductor
Richmond Symphony Chorus
Mussorgsky: Night on Bald Mountain (choral version)
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Opus 37
Orli Shaham, piano
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Opus 54
April 2, 2016 - 8:00 pm
Copland: Appalachian Spring
Steven Smith, conductor
Copland: Appalachian Spring: Suite
Laura Schwendinger: Waking Dream, for flute and orchestra
Mary Boodell, flute
Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Opus 73
May 14 & 15, 2016 - 8:00 pm/3:00 pm
Daphnis et Chloé
Steven Smith, conductor
Richmond Symphony Chorus
Griffes : The White Peacock
Barber: Symphony No. 1 in One Movement, Opus 9
Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé (complete work)
Genworth Symphony Pops Series
The Genworth Symphony Pops Series combines the excitement of a live orchestra with the best in popular music. Joining the RSO in 2015-16 are Jeans 'n Classics performing the music of Earth, Wind and Fire and Michael Jackson; The Richmond Symphony Chorus for two concerts of Let It Snow, and Steve Lippia returning to Richmond in a Frank Sinatra tribute.
*All Genworth Symphony Pops Concerts take place at the Carpenter Theatre at Richmond CenterStage unless otherwise noted.
October 24, 2015 - 8:00 pm
Science Fiction Double Feature
Two great movies on one fantastic night! First see Murnau's silent classic: Nosferatu with a live soundtrack performed by the Richmond Symphony as part of the Genworth Symphony Pops Series - then stay for a special late-night showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (and all the fun that comes with it) for just $10 more.
December 5 & 6, 2015 - 8:00 pm/3:00 pm
Let It Snow!
Kick off your holidays with a concert featuring the sounds of the season! Join the Richmond Symphony, Richmond Symphony Chorus and conductor Keitaro Harada for this annual tradition the whole family will love.
February 27, 2016 - 8:00 pm
Music of Earth, Wind and Fire & The King of Pop
From Boogie Wonderland to Billie Jean the music of Michael Jackson and Earth, Wind and Fire is what pop music is all about. Come hear your favorites with Jeans 'n Classics and the Symphony performing your favorite hits in a concert that will make everyone want to get up and dance!
April 30, 2016
Steve Lippia's Centennial Celebration: A Frank Sinatra Tribute
Frank Sinatra would have been 100 years old in 2015. Come celebrate the "Chairman of the Board's" life and music when world-renowned entertainer Steve Lippia returns to Richmond to perform the Sinatra hits that we all love with the RSO.
Metro Collection
The Metro Collection offers audiences fantastic classical music in a intimate setting. Concerts feature lesser known works from the classical canon and newer pieces by contemporary composers. RSO Musicians often take part as featured soloists.
*All Metro Collection Concerts take place in Blackwell Auditorium at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA unless otherwise noted.
October 25, 2015
Bartók, Weber, Mozart
Keitaro Harada, conductor
Jared Davis, clarinet
Bartók: Divertimento for String Orchestra
Weber: Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in E-flat Major, Opus 74
Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550
January 17, 2016
Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme
Steven Smith, conductor
Neal Cary, cello
Ives: The Unanswered Question
Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme, Opus 33
Clint Needham: Urban Sprawl
Haydn : Symphony No. 92 in G Major ("Oxford")
February 21, 2016
Beethoven: Symphony No. 1
Steven Smith, conductor
Gustav Highstein, oboe
Stravinsky: Octet
Strauss: Oboe Concerto in D Major
Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Opus 21
May 8, 2016
Mendelssohn: Scottish Symphony
Steven Smith, conductor
Fauré: Pelléas et Mélisande suite, Opus 80
Ravel: Mother Goose
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Opus 56 ("Scottish")
Union Bank & Trust LolliPops Series
The Union Bank & Trust LolliPops Series is designed with the whole family in mind. Performances include concerts that entertain, educate and most of all that are fun for children of all ages. Each performance includes a pre-concert festival with a musical instrument petting zoo and other activities for young audiences. Concerts are designed for ages 5 and up.
*All Union Bank & Trust LolliPops concerts take place at the Carpenter Theatre at Richmond CenterStage unless otherwise noted. Pre-concert festivals take place in Rhythm Hall one hour prior to concert.
October 31, 2015
Halloween Spooktacular
Keitaro Harada, conductor
Come in your favorite costume and listen to the RSO perform music from Frozen, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean and more. Your special ghosts, goblins and princesses may even receive a special pre-concert Trick or Treat bag!
November 28, 2015
The Snowman (animated film)
Keitaro Harada, conductor
A perfect holiday show for your kids - enjoy the academy award winning movie: The Snowman accompanied by the Richmond Symphony. This charming animated film tells the story of a young boy's magical friendship with a snowman.
January 30, 2016
Green Eggs and Ham
Keitaro Harada, conductor
Sara Valentine, actor and director
Kimberly Schroder, soprano
Michael Boudewyns, actor
Do you like Green Eggs and Ham? Really Inventive Stuff's fully-staged orchestral adaptation of Dr. Seuss's beloved children's classic is a feast for the ears! The unstoppable Sam-I-Am serves up a banquet of surprises for a Seussical Diva in Robert Kapilow's culinary cartoon-musical banquet.
Features Kimberly Schroder as Theodora Gieselevska, a Seussical soprano, and RVA favorite Michael Boudewyns as Sam-I-Am.
March 19, 2016
Carnival of the Animals with the School of Richmond Ballet
Keitaro Harada, conductor
Meet some of the wonderful members of the animal kingdom in Saint-Saëns famous Carnival of the Animals The School of Richmond Ballet. Each musical movement captures the essence of a particular creature - can you recognize them all? This beloved work is an all-time favorite for introducing children to classical music.
Casual Fridays - New in 2015-16
Sit back, relax, and join the Richmond Symphony to explore the world of classical music with our new Casual Fridays series. These 60 minute concerts start at 6:30 and showcase great works from the classical repertoire. Your host and conductor will provide a deeper look into the evening's work. After the performance, audience members are invited to join the RSO and its musicians for a post-concert happy-hour at a local establishment. Concerts will be held in the Carpenter Theatre.
October 16, 2015 - 6:30 pm
Nielsen: Symphony No. 4, Opus 29 "The Inextinguishable"
Hosted by Steven Smith, conductor
November 13, 2015 - 6:30 pm
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Opus 43
Hosted by Steven Smith, conductor
February 5, 2016 - 6:30 pm
Tchaikovsky: Manfred Symphony in B Minor, Opus 58
Hosted by Victor Yampolsky, guest conductor
April 1, 2016 - 6:30 pm
Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Opus 73
Hosted by Steven Smith, conductor
Rush Hour at Hardywood - Coming in Fall 2015
The RSO is taking its popular Rush Hour concerts on the road to Hardywood Park Craft Brewery. These one-hour informal concerts feature fantastic orchestral and chamber music and discussion in the Hardywood tasting room. Grab a beer, hit the food trucks and enjoy a great concert at 6:30 on a Thursday. Tickets are $15.
October 22, 2015
Bartók: Divertimento for String Orchestra
Keitaro Harada, conductor
Jared Davis, clarinet
Selections from Bartók, Weber and Mozart
January 14, 2016
Urban Sprawl
Steven Smith, conductor
Neal Cary, cello
Selections from Ives, Tchaikovsky, Needham and Haydn
February 18, 2016
Stravinsky, Strauss and Beethoven
Steven Smith, conductor
Gustav Highstein, oboe
Selections from Stravinsky, Strauss and Beethoven
May 5, 2016
Mother Goose
Steven Smith, conductor
Selections from Fauré, Ravel and Mendelssohn
Special Concerts and Partnerships
December 4, 2015 - 7:30pm
Handel's Messiah
Erin Freeman, conductor
with the Richmond Symphony Chorus
For generations, Richmonders have been delighted by this magnificent holiday classic. Don't miss the Richmond Symphony and Richmond Symphony Chorus performing Handel's Messiah.
Subscription and Ticket Information and Pricing
The Richmond Symphony offers the opportunity to experience the best in live music with exclusive benefits through subscription packages.
Why Subscribe?
Enjoy the best in live music with exclusive benefits available only to subscribers!
Savings on the Best Seats in the House
- Save up to 15% off on the price of single tickets
- Receive up to 25% off ticket purchases to additional series concerts
- Priority Seating - choose you seats before the general public and receive them every season
- Avoid single ticket and venue fees
Flexibility and Customer Service
- FREE and easy ticket exchanges (upgrade fees may apply)
- FREE lost ticket replacement
- Personalized customer service by friendly and knowledgeable RSO staff
Subscriber Rewards
- Exclusive pre-sale opportunities for special symphony events
- Enjoy subscriber discounts to local RVA businesses and restaurants
- Invitations to attend exclusive, subscriber-only dress rehearsals
Full Series Subscriptions:
Altria Masterworks Saturday: eight Saturday night concerts*
Altria Masterworks Sunday: four Sunday matinee concerts
Genworth Symphony Pops: four Saturday night concerts
Union Bank & Trust LolliPops: four Saturday morning concerts
Metro Collection: four Sunday matinee concerts
Casual Fridays: four Friday night concerts
*One free child (18 and under) subscription with each adult Altria Masterworks series subscription
Compose Your Own Subscription: Choose three or more concerts from any series (excluding special concerts and Casual Fridays) to compose your own subscription and save 10% off single ticket prices.
Subscription Pricing for Series:
|
|
Full Subscription |
Compose Your Own* |
|
|
Masterworks Saturday |
Adult* |
Child |
(per ticket) |
|
Mezzanine |
$522 |
$522 |
n/a |
|
Front Orchestra |
$400 |
$96 |
$54 |
|
Rear Orchestra |
$367 |
$96 |
$50 |
|
Side Orchestra |
$294 |
$96 |
$41 |
|
Front First Dress |
$367 |
$96 |
$50 |
|
Rear First Dress |
$294 |
$96 |
$41 |
|
Front Second Dress |
$171 |
$96 |
$23 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Masterworks Sunday |
Adult* |
Child |
(per ticket) |
|
Mezzanine |
$261 |
$261 |
n/a |
|
Front Orchestra |
$200 |
$48 |
$54 |
|
Rear Orchestra |
$184 |
$48 |
$50 |
|
Side Orchestra |
$147 |
$48 |
$41 |
|
Front First Dress |
$184 |
$48 |
$50 |
|
Rear First Dress |
$147 |
$48 |
$41 |
|
Front Second Dress |
$86 |
$48 |
$23 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pops |
Adult* |
Child |
(per ticket) |
|
Mezzanine |
$261 |
$261 |
n/a |
|
Front Orchestra |
$200 |
$48 |
$54 |
|
Rear Orchestra |
$184 |
$48 |
$50 |
|
Side Orchestra |
$147 |
$48 |
$41 |
|
Front First Dress |
$184 |
$48 |
$50 |
|
Rear First Dress |
$147 |
$48 |
$41 |
|
Front Second Dress |
$86 |
$48 |
$23 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Casual Fridays |
Adult* |
Child |
|
|
Mezzanine |
$180 |
$180 |
N/A |
|
Front Orchestra |
$144 |
$48 |
N/A |
|
Rear Orchestra |
$126 |
$48 |
N/A |
|
Side Orchestra |
$90 |
$48 |
N/A |
|
Front First Dress |
$126 |
$48 |
N/A |
|
Rear First Dress |
$90 |
$48 |
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Metro Collection |
Adult* |
Child |
(per ticket) |
|
General Seating |
$68 |
$40 |
$18 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
LolliPops |
Adult* |
Child |
(per ticket) |
|
General Seating |
$42 |
$34 |
$15 |
*Child compose your own tickets are $11 for LolliPops and $12 for all other series.
Single Ticket Pricing:
|
Masterworks & Pops |
Single Tickets |
|||
|
Section |
Adult |
Senior |
Child |
|
|
Mezzanine |
$78 |
$78 |
$78 |
|
|
Front Orchestra |
$60 |
$54 |
$12 |
|
|
Rear Orchestra |
$55 |
$50 |
$12 |
|
|
Side Orchestra |
$45 |
$41 |
$12 |
|
|
Front First Dress |
$55 |
$50 |
$12 |
|
|
Rear First Dress |
$45 |
$41 |
$12 |
|
|
Front Second Dress |
$25 |
$23 |
$12 |
|
|
Rear Second Dress |
$10 |
$9 |
$10 |
|
|
|
||||
|
Casual Fridays |
Single Tickets |
|||
|
Section |
Adult |
Senior |
Child |
|
|
Mezzanine |
$50 |
$50 |
$50 |
|
|
Front Orchestra |
$40 |
$36 |
$12 |
|
|
Rear Orchestra |
$35 |
$32 |
$12 |
|
|
Side Orchestra |
$25 |
$23 |
$12 |
|
|
Front First Dress |
$35 |
$32 |
$12 |
|
|
Rear First Dress |
$25 |
$23 |
$12 |
|
|
Front Second Dress |
$15 |
$14 |
$12 |
|
|
Rear Second Dress |
$10 |
$9 |
$10 |
|
|
|
||||
|
Metro Collection |
Single Tickets |
|||
|
Section |
Adult |
Senior |
Child |
|
|
General Seating |
$20 |
$18 |
$10 |
|
|
|
||||
|
Rush Hour at Hardywood |
Single Tickets |
|||
|
Section |
Adult |
Senior |
Child |
|
|
General Seating |
$15 |
n/a |
$12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LolliPops |
Single Tickets |
|||
|
Section |
Adult |
Senior |
Child |
|
|
General Seating |
$17 |
N/A |
$12 |
|
|
|
||||
|
Messiah |
Single Tickets |
|||
|
Section |
Adult |
Senior |
Child |
Student |
|
Mezzanine |
$50 |
n/a |
$50 |
n/a |
|
Front Orchestra |
$45 |
n/a |
$12 |
n/a |
|
Rear Orchestra |
$35 |
n/a |
$12 |
n/a |
|
Side Orchestra |
$25 |
n/a |
$12 |
n/a |
|
Front First Dress |
$45 |
n/a |
$12 |
n/a |
|
Rear First Dress |
$35 |
n/a |
$12 |
n/a |
|
Front Second Dress |
$25 |
n/a |
$12 |
n/a |
|
Rear Second Dress |
$20 |
n/a |
$12 |
n/a |
Group Sales:
The Richmond Symphony offers a range of group sale discounts starting at 10% off single ticket prices for as few as 8 people. Discounts vary by concert and by the size of the group.
SOUNDWAVE
The RSO is offering college students best available seating and unlimited access to any Altria Masterworks series concert in the 2015-16 season for just $25!
For more information on pricing and subscriptions, please contact Patron Services: patronservices@richmondsymphony.com or (804) 788.1212
About the Richmond Symphony
Founded in 1957, the Richmond Symphony is the largest performing arts organization in Central Virginia. The organization includes an orchestra of more than 70 professional musicians, the 150-voice Richmond Symphony Chorus and more than 270 students in the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra programs. Each season, more than 200,000 members of the comm
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