Rhode Island Philharmonic Announces Spring Season

The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra's spring season blooms festively with American Classics featuring the much-anticipated return of pianist Jon Kimura Parker on Saturday, April 9th at 8pm at The VETS. Maestro Bramwell Tovey leads this 2021-2022 Taco Classical Series concert showcasing the RI Philharmonic Orchestra premieres of George Gershwin's Overture to Strike Up the Band, Florence Price's Symphony No.3 and Gabriela Lena Frank's Haillí-Serenata, alongside Gershwin's high-spirited Piano Concerto in F. There will also be an Open Rehearsal on Friday, April 8th at 5:30pm.

Florence Price's historical significance cannot be overstated. Her Symphony No.1 was the first symphony by a Black American woman composer to be performed by a major U.S. orchestra. Ms. Price's Symphony No.3, although premiered in 1940 and hailed by no less a luminary than Eleanor Roosevelt, remained unpublished until 2008. Fortunately, orchestras are now beginning to perform this towering work with some regularity.

Named "one of the most significant women composers in history" by The Washington Post, American composer Gabriela Lena Frank draws from a rich multicultural heritage that includes a mother of mixed Peruvian/Chinese ancestry and a father of Lithuanian/Jewish descent. Commissioned and premiered earlier this season by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Frank's Haillí-Serenata enjoys its second performance by the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra.

Vaccine Policy for April Concerts

Upon entering The VETS, patrons can quickly provide:

Proof of full vaccination* from the healthcare provider who administered the vaccination, either with a physical copy or on a smartphone, and

Accepted form of ID: A government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's license or passport for patrons 18 years and older. Patrons under 18 may use a government-issued photo ID or school photo ID.

For everyone's safety, the use of testing in lieu of vaccination is temporarily suspended. All audience members will be fully vaccinated. All staff and performers are fully vaccinated, boosted, and subject to regular Covid-19 testing.

Masks will be provided free to anyone without one upon entering for wearing at all times while in the concert hall. It is recommended that patrons bring their own four or five-ply mask if they can (K-N95 or similar).

* "Fully vaccinated" means that on the day of the performance at least 14 days have elapsed since the patron's final dose of an FDA or WHO approved two- or one-dose COVID-19 vaccine plus receipt of a booster, if eligible. For more details, visit:

https://www.riphil.org/news/audience-safety-protocols-ri-philharmonic-orchestra-at-the-vets If you have any questions, please email BoxOffice@riphil.org or call 401-248-7000.

The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra is committed to creating exceptional concert experiences, while exceeding the most current COVID-19 protocols. The Orchestra safely and successfully presented its 77th Season throughout the fall at The VETS in Providence under the baton of Bramwell Tovey. As one excited patron observed, the RIPO "shook the rafters" at the season opener, with 78 musicians on stage. In December, Tovey's first Rhode Island "Messiah" safely included the masked and fully vaccinated Providence Singers, with one hundred percent of the Orchestra's artists and staff vaccinated. Safety protocols have been vital as the Orchestra and its safety coalition partners continue to invite audiences to return for in-person performances.

The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra continues to provide livestream access to subscribers and ticket holders, guaranteeing that those with a ticket may enjoy performances at home, if they choose.

Single Tickets can be purchased at https://tickets.riphil.org or by calling 401-248-7000. Season Subscriptions are available by calling 401-248-7000 or at https://tickets.riphil.org/subscriptions. Subscription Deal: Hear Beethoven's Ninth Symphony for FREE when you subscribe to our 2022- 2023 season. Visit https://tickets.riphil.org/subscribe for more details or to purchase.

The Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School is open for lessons, ensembles, and classes in-person and online. Details on what is currently available can be accessed at:

East Providence location: https://www.riphil.org/music-school

Westerly United Theatre location: https://www.riphilunited.org

2021-2022 Taco Classical Series Season Overview:

The Music Returns! September 18, 2021 8pm Tchaikovsky's Pathétique October 16, 2021 8pm Romantic Rachmaninoff November 13, 2021 8pm Beethoven's Fifth January 22, 2022 8pm

Scheherazade! February 12, 2022 8pm Grieg's Piano Concerto March 19, 2022 8pm American Classics April 9, 2022 8pm Beethoven's Ninth May 7, 2022 8pm

2021-2022 Amica Rush Hour Series Season Overview:

Romantic Rachmaninoff November 12, 2021 6:30pm Beethoven's Fifth January 21, 2022 6:30pm Scheherazade! February 11, 2022 6:30pm Beethoven's Ninth May 6, 2022 6:30pm

Special Events:

Handel's Messiah December 12, 2021 3pm May Gala featuring Bramwell Tovey and Ray Chen, violin May 21, 2022 5pm

Open Rehearsals:

The Music Returns! September 17, 2021 5:30pm Tchaikovsky's Pathétique October 15, 2021 5:30pm Grieg's Piano Concerto March 18, 2022 5:30pm American Classics April 8, 2022 5:30pm

Pictured: Bramwell Tovey, Principal Conductor and Artistic Director

Photo Credits: Tara McMullen

To post a comment, you must register and login.