Masterworks

Maestro Leif Bjaland leads the Orchestra and guest artists in seven magnificent performances of the great masterpieces of classical music.

Mozart and Mahler (Masterworks 2)

Leif Bjaland, conductor
Kelley Nassief, soprano
Benedetto Lupo, piano

Friday, December 12, 8 p.m., Neel
Saturday, December 13, 8 p.m., Van Wezel
Sunday, December 14, 2:30 p.m., Van Wezel

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.

Splendor of the Violin (Masterworks 3)

Leif Bjaland, conductor
James Ehnes, violin

Thursday, January 8, 8 p.m., Neel
Friday, January 9, 8 p.m., Van Wezel
Saturday, January 10, 8 p.m., Van Wezel
Sunday, January 11, 2:30 p.m., Van Wezel

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.

From America to Scotland (Masterworks 4)

David Lockington, guest conductor
Bharat Chandra, clarinet

Friday, January 30, 8 p.m., Neel
Saturday, January 31, 8 p.m., Van Wezel
Sunday, February 1, 2:30 p.m., Van Wezel

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.

Seasons and Planets (Masterworks 5)

Leif Bjaland, conductor
Lara St. John, violin

Saturday, February 21, 8 p.m., Van Wezel
Sunday, February 22, 2:30 p.m., Van Wezel

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.

A Thousand and One Nights (Masterworks 6)

Leif Bjaland, conductor
Andrew Von Oeyen, piano
Allan Friedman Memorial Piano Concert

Thursday, March 12, 8 p.m., Van Wezel
Friday, March 13, 8 p.m., Neel
Saturday, March 14, 8 p.m., Van Wezel
Sunday, March 15, 2:30 p.m., Van Wezel

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.

Ode to Joy (Maseterworks 7)

Leif Bjaland, conductor (Symphony No. 9)
Dirk Meyer, conductor (Symphony No. 1)
Theresa Hamm-Smith, soprano
Paula Rasmussen, alto
Harold Meers, tenor
John Sauvey, baritone
Key Chorale (Joseph Caulkins, conductor)

Thursday, April 2, 8 p.m., Van Wezel
 Friday, April 3, 8 p.m., Neel
Saturday, April 4, 8 p.m., Van Wezel
Sunday, April 5, 2:30 p.m., Van Wezel

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.

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Masterworks Sponsors

Masterworks Series Title Sponsors: 

Alisa and Ernest Kretzmer

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