Last Wednesday, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra announced its programming for its upcoming 2012-2013, 20th Anniversary season in its “Sneak Peek” event held at Full Sail Live at Full Sail University. The orchestra’s lineup includes renowned classical artists Sarah Chang, Deborah Voigt and Yefim Bronfman; a variety of Pops entertainment, and not one, but two operas, as the orchestra increases its commitment to opera.
The 2012-2013 “Super Series” begins with Opening Night, September 29 at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre, sponsored by the Friends of the Orlando Philharmonic. The program will feature Mahler’s powerful Third Symphony. An opening night dinner gala will be hosted by the Friends at the Sheraton Downtown Orlando beginning at 6 p.m. The remaining classical series concerts include appearances by pianist Yefim Bronfman, violinist Sarah Chang, soprano Deborah Voigt, and actors from Orlando Shakespeare Theater, who will collaborate with the orchestra for a performance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The concert, sponsored by the Bryce L. West Foundation, will feature every note of Mendelssohn’s incidental music, and an adapted version of Shakespeare’s play.
The orchestra will offer a second performance of the January concert featuring Sarah Chang. If the Sunday concert is well-attended, the orchestra will offer additional classical matinees during Sundays in the 2013-2014 season.
The orchestra’s 2012-2013 Pops season opens with “Wicked Divas,” a concert featuring the talents of Broadway Wicked stars Alli Mauzey and Nicole Parker. The pops series continues with “Home for the Holidays,” conducted by audience favorite Albert-George Schram, “My Funny Valentine,” a February program featuring Michael Andrew & Swingerhead, “Cirque de la Symphonie,” and a concert of classical excerpts accompanied by aerialists, dancers, strongmen and other circus performers. Concluding the pops series will be the fully-staged musical “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” sponsored by Harriett Lake. The production will be directed by Frank McClain.
Subscriptions for the 10-concert Super Series, including all five classical and all five pops concerts, start at $153. Five-concert Classics or Pops subscriptions are available from $76. Brand new subscribers can purchase Classics or Pops subscriptions at 50 percent off the single ticket price.
Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and Puccini’s Madame Butterfly are the two operas to be performed by the Philharmonic next season. The decision to perform two operas was made in response to recommendations from the orchestra’s Opera Task Force, commissioned in August of 2011. Among other conclusions, the task force recommended the orchestra present at least two opera productions per year, and create an opera endowment to sustain the artform in Central Florida. Beginning in 2012-2013, the two-concert opera subscription will be available to patrons, with prices ranging from $40 to $148.
To enhance the enjoyment and understanding of each opera and Super Series performance, a pre-concert conversation is held backstage at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre one hour before each performance. These popular conversations are free to all ticket-holders.
The orchestra also announced its five-concert Sounds of Summer series, running June through August, and its four-part Focus Series, featuring the orchestra’s own musicians in chamber orchestra concerts throughout the regular season. Both the Focus and Sounds of Summer series take place in the intimate 300-seat Margeson Theater in Lowndes Shakespeare Center. Focus subscriptions begin at $64, Sounds of Summer subscriptions at $70.
Single tickets for Sounds of Summer go on sale in May. Single tickets for all other concerts go on sale in late August. To purchase tickets, view detailed program lists, or learn about sponsorship opportunities, visit www.OrlandoPhil.org or call the box office at 407-770-0071.
