The Central Ohio Symphony is preparing to open its 39th season, with Conductor Jaime Morales-Matos, now in his 15th year on the podium, and the 65 plus member ensemble first taking the stage in October.
Executive Director Warren W. Hyer said the season will offer concertgoers something old and something new.
“We have put together a season of major works of the classical repertoire,” said Hyer. “Many of these are works that are known well, but which we have either never played or have not played in almost 30 years. Mahler’s 4th Symphony, Dances of Galanta by Kodaly, Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloe: these are all new to our orchestra. We also will be performing Brahms’ Symphony No. 2, which we last played 29 years ago. So this will all be new.
“We will also have two exciting soloists this season. Frank Huang, piano professor at Miami University of Ohio, will perform Rachmaninoff’s Paino Concerto No. 2 in the fall. Soprano Laura Portune, who has performed with us before, will join us in March.”
The season will also mark the return of astronomical film synchronized with music with the presentation of the KV265 movie “Moonrise” to accompany the Ravel.
“We are very excited to welcome back Dr. José Francisco Salgado, creator of the “Moonrise” film,” said Hyer. “This will be our third time we have presented a concert with him and brought him to Delaware to make educational presentations to area schools. Moonrise is a stunning film about the relationship between the Moon and mankind.”
Hyer noted that because of overwhelmingly popular response, the Celtic band Lone Raven will be the featured artist at the annual Holiday concerts. “We will also be performing a world premiere, Welcome Sun, written by local high school student Noah Goulet, at that same concert.”
Following is the season concert schedule:
• Debut Concert, Saturday, Oct. 14, 7:30 p.m., Zoltan Kodaly, Dances of Galanta; Sergi Rachmaninoff, Piano Concerto No. 2, featuring pianist Frank Huang; Johannes Brahms, Symphony no. 2 in D.
• Holiday Concert, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2 and 4:30 p.m., Two identical concerts featuring Lone Raven Celtic band, seasonal music, and a world premiere by Delaware composer Noah Goulet.
• Sunday, March 11, 2018, 3 p.m., W. A. Mozart, overture from Cosi fan tutte; Charles Gounod, Juliette’s Waltz from Romeo and Juliette; Franz Lehár, Miene Lippen from Giuditta; Giuseppe Verdi, Sempre Libera from La traviata, featuring Laura Portune, soloist; Gustav Mahler, Symphony No. 4, featuring Laura Portune, soloist.
• Saturday, April 28, 2018, 7:30 p.m., Giuseppe Verdi, La forza del destino; Peter Tchaikovsky, Romeo and Juliet-Fantasy Overture; Maurice Ravel, Daphnis et Chloe, Suite 1 and 2, in conjunction with the Ohio premiere of Moonrise, a KV265 film and guest artist Dr. José Francisco Salgado.
All concerts take place in Gray Chapel auditorium on the Ohio Wesleyan campus.
Season subscription ticket prices for Season 39 are $80 for the four concert series. First-time subscribers have the option of purchasing season tickets anywhere in Gray Chapel or for half price in certain limited sections of the auditorium. Subscribers may purchase season tickets online, by telephone, or just by walking in the door of the Symphony Source, 24 E. Winter Street in downtown Delaware.
More information about ordering season tickets may be found on the Symphony website at www.centralohiosymphony.org, at the Symphony office at 24 E. Winter Street, or by calling the Symphony at 740-362-1799.
