Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

Home for the Holidays (Family Concert)

Andrew Lane, conductor | The Holiday Singers, David Chernault and The Next Generation Kids

Begin the most wonderful time of the year with the Orchestra, The Holiday Singers, actor David Chernault and The Next Generation Kids in a spirited performance of holiday favorites and storytelling, including music featured in the animated movie The Polar Express.

Neel Performing Arts Center and Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

Mozart and Mahler (Masterworks 2)

Leif Bjaland, conductor

Kelley Nassief, soprano; Benedetto Lupo, piano

Mozart's aria of star-crossed love, Ch'io mi Scordi di te, features the two mediums in which he reached the pinnacle of success: piano and operatic voice. Mahler's Symphony No. 4, a work inspired by an enchanting world of childhood visions, concludes with a song of praise to the delights of heaven. Plus Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 18.

Holley Hall

I Love a Parade (Great Escapes)

Leif Bjaland, conductor

A celebration of holiday cheer with a toe-tapping pace befitting a parade-themed concert. Music perfect for the holiday season includes Jingle Bells Forever March, March of the Toys, A  Christmas Festival and Festive Sounds of Hanukkah. Plus enjoy the excitement of parades with Broadway on Parade, Meet Me in St. Louis and The Light Cavalry Overture.

Neel Performing Arts Center and Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

Splendor of the Violin (Masterworks 3)

Leif Bjaland, conductor / James Ehnes, violin

2008 Grammy Award winner James Ehnes is featured in Johannes Brahms' profound and passionate Violin Concerto. Then, the virtuosity continues as each musician in the Sarasota Orchestra is put to the test in Bartók's brilliant Concerto for Orchestra. Plus Debussy's Nocturnal Nuages and Fêtes.

Holley Hall

Glamour Girls (Great Escapes)

Dirk Meyer, conductor

Glamour girls have been the muse of composers, poets and artists from the beginning of time. In this enthralling concert, the Orchestra pays tribute to these inspirational women. Pieces include music from Madame Butterfly, Gigi, The Girl in Red Satin, Funny Girl and La Traviata.

Holley Hall

Sarasota Orchestra Chamber Players (Chamber Music)

Dirk Meyer, conductor

St. Petersburg:

Schnittke's Dialogue

Shostakovich's Piano Trio No. 2

Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings Opus 48

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

Cirque De La Symphonie (60^th Anniversary Gala)

Leif Bjland, conductor | Karen Gomyo, violin

Be a part of history in the making! Our 60th-anniversary concert will be action packed and one-of-a-kind with Cirque de la Symphonie, a show that features the best aerial flyers, acrobats and dancers in the world all choreographed to perform in perfect harmony with awe-inspiring live symphonic music. Violin virtuoso and Sarasota Music Festival alumna Karen Gomyo takes the stage to perform a piece selected by internet voting (view the results here). The evening culminates with a thrilling performance of the 1812 Overture followed by fireworks over the bay.

Neel Performing Arts Center and Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

From America to Scotland (Masterworks 4)

David Lockington, guest conductor / Bharat Chandra, clarinet

From the wild west to bonny Scotland, we take a tour of musical places near and far guided by British conductor David Lockington. Bharat Chandra, Sarasota Orchestra principal clarinet, provides a jazzy detour with Copland's Benny Goodman-inspired Clarinet Concerto. Plus Copland's The Suite from Billy the Kid and Mendelssohn's "Scottish" Symphony No. 3.

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

Bugs Bunny on Broadway (Pixel Pops)

George Daugherty, conductor

Bugs Bunny on Broadway is a critically acclaimed concert showcasing classic Warner Bros. Studio cartoons projected on the big screen, while their original scores are performed live by the Orchestra. This unique concert features the musical masterpieces by Wagner, Rossini, Strauss and Tchaikovsky that were employed as cartoon scores in such beloved Looney Tunes as What's Opera Doc?, The Rabbit of Seville, Baton Bunny, Long-Haired Hare and many more.

TM & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
(s08)

Neel Performing Arts Center

Side-by-Side

Dirk Meyer, conductor

The Youth Philharmonic plays side-by-side with the Sarasota Orchestra. Soloists for the evening are the winners of the Edward and Ida Wilkof Young Artists Concerto Competition.

North Port Performing Arts Center

Saturday, February 14, 8 p.m.
Neel Performing Arts Center Performing Arts Center

Valentine Pops

Andrew Lane, conductor

Isn't it romantic? The classiest entertainment town…your sweetheart at your side…and beautiful music. The Orchestra will create the ambiance for the perfect date. Bring your Valentine and enjoy a special evening of music for lovers!

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

Seasons and Planets (Masterworks 5)

Leif Bjaland, conductor / Lara St. John, violin

Join us in orbit as Gustav Holst's gigantic masterpiece The Planets is accompanied by vivid images of our solar system provided by NASA. Back on Earth, celebrate the season as Lara St. John plays Vivaldi's beloved score The Four Seasons.

Holley Hall

Crossroads: New Music Live

Dirk Meyer, conductor

The Sarasota Orchestra joins New College in an exciting crossroads project to perform a world-premiere composition by New College graduate Silas Durocher. Also on the program, which celebrates the music of 20th-century modernism, are the award-winning works of Arvo Pärt, Joan Tower, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Miguel del Aguila and John Corigliano.

Neel Performing Arts Center and  Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

A Thousand and One Nights (Masterworks 6)

Allan Friedman Memorial Piano Concert

Leif Bjaland, conductor / Andrew Von Oeyen, piano

Scheherazade spins beguiling tales of love and intrigue in this lush and romantic score by Rimsky-Korsakov. Storytelling was also the inspiration for Sibelius's tone poem En Saga. Then Andrew Von Oeyen displays his brilliant technique in Mendelssohn's glittering Piano Concerto No. 1.

Holley Hall

Going Green (Great Escapes)

Dirk Meyer, conductor

Remember the feeling of kicking up leaves, the smell of the forest and wondering whether the hills were really alive? Take a musical journey through the outdoors with selections from The Sound of Music, Swan Lake and Autumn Leaves. Of course, we didn't want to forget St. Patrick's Day, so we slipped in Danny Boy and Molly on the Shore!

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

Night at the Oscars (Pixel Pops)

Andrew Lane, conductor

Imagine Judy Garland swept up in a Kansas twister, Charlton Heston in a Roman chariot race and Gene Kelly dancing through the streets Paris, all accompanied by a live symphony orchestra. The musical scores are extracted from great film excerpts of Ben Hur, Gone with the Wind, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Citizen Kane, Wizard of Oz and An American in Paris. See them projected on the big screen accompanied live by the Sarasota Orchestra in this Technicolor salute to the Oscars.

Neel Performing Arts Center and Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

Ode to Joy (Masterworks 7)

Leif Bjaland and Dirk Meyer, conductors

Key Chorale

Vocal soloists Paula Rasmussen, Theresa Hamm Smith, Harold Meers, John Sauvey

The Ode to Joy, with its message of world brotherhood, represents Ludwig van Beethoven's highest artistic and spiritual aspirations. While Beethoven's Ninth Symphony is the culmination of his symphonic hero quest, his First Symphony was its joyful beginning. Experience both in one exceptional concert.

Holley Hall

Sarasota Orchestra Chamber Players (Chamber Music)

Dirk Meyer, conductor

Paris:

Debussy's Syrinx

Saint Saens' Une flûte invisible

Françaix's String Trio

Poulenc's The Story of Bábar, The Little Elephant

Sarasota Opera House

Dvorak: Lost in America (Journeys to Genius)

Leif Bjaland, conductor and narrator

One of Europe's greatest composers journeys to America to help establish a national conservatory of music and contribute to civilizing the "New World." What he discovers blazed a new course for classical music. Negro spirituals, Native American music and the endless, open beauty of the Great Plains all influence a European's sensibilities to look beyond his musical roots. Fusing his love of European traditions and history with the raw emotion, excitement and beauty of America, Dvorak writes what is often considered the quintessential American symphony. Hear Dvorak's symphony From the New World and experience what makes it so special.

Sarasota Opera House

Mr. Smith's Bowl of Notes (Family Concert)

Dirk Meyer, conductor
Gregory Smith, narrator

Mr. Smith has a bowl full of notes — the same 12 that composers have used for centuries. That's the fascinating launching point for a program that takes you on a delightful romp through centuries of music to discoveries of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20th Century musical styles, all leading up to…what? Come see what those notes become in the hands of Mr. Smith! For the Family Pack Option, simply select four or more seats and pay just $10 per seat.  The discount is calculated at checkout.

Holley Hall

Water Under the Bridge (Great Escapes)

Dirk Meyer, conductor

Set sail on a musical voyage that includes pieces from Showboat, Brigadoon, Moon River and Smetana’s The Moldau.

Holley Hall

Night and Day (Great Escapes)

Dirk Meyer, conductor

Cole Porter’s classic Night and Day, together with favorites by Mozart, Mussorgsky and Strauss, makes up an exceptional finale to this Great Escapes season.

Holley Hall

Sarasota String Quartet (Chamber Music)

Vienna -Take a musical ride to Vienna as selections from Beethoven and Janáček are performed with Dirk Meyer leading the Orchestra Chamber Players.

Van Wezel

Across America (Pixel Pops)

Andrew Lane, conductor
Michelle Amato, vocal
Bryan Harden, vocal

Pack your bags for a musical road trip across America! Along the way, the Orchestra pays tribute to a star-studded list of Kennedy Center honorees, and presents a special salute to the brave men and women of our Armed Forces.