Oregon Symphony introduces 2015-16 lineup

From the orchestra's press release:

Music Director Carlos Kalmar and President Scott Showalter have announced the details of the Company’s 2015/16 season. It will be Kalmar’s 13^th season at the artistic helm, Showalter’s second season as President, and the Oregon Symphony’s 120^th year.

 

The new season, which opens September 12, 2015 and closes May 23, 2016, includes—at press time—40 performances of 16 Classical subscription concerts, 8 performances of 4 Pops subscription concerts and 3 performances of 3 Kids subscription concerts, for a total of 51 performances of 23 different subscription concerts.

 

Discussing the season, Music Director Carlos Kalmar commented: “At the level the Oregon Symphony is now playing, many things are possible. We can play favorite works in fresh ways. We can share previously unplayed works from familiar composers in ways that will delight our audiences. And, of course, we can—and will—treat our audiences to some new surprises.”

 

Two renowned classical performers will join the Symphony for two additional Special Concerts. Guitarist Pablo Villegas, who performed before standing-room-only audiences last October, returns this September. And the popular pianist Lang Lang takes the stage in October.

 

Each season, the Symphony performs between 20 and 30 concerts outside of its subscription series. These Special Concerts span a wide spectrum of musical offerings. Patrons can expect the full slate of these Special Concerts to be announced in May.

 

The 2015/16 season will include Colin Currie as the Oregon Symphony’s new Artist in Residence, a position that involves performing onstage as well as working around the community. Currie deploys an array of percussion instruments, including his own body, to perform and teach.

2015/16 Season Highlights

On the Classical side of things:

 

Themed as “Just for You,” the season approach focuses on the all-important experience of the audience as they enjoy music curated, rehearsed and performed just for them.

 

That audience will enjoy many classical favorites like Handel’s Messiah, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, Holst’s The Planets, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 (“Eroica”), Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27, Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1, Strauss’ Don Quixote, Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, and many others.

 

In addition to those favorites, the season is spiced with 14 Oregon Symphony debut pieces, including Strauss’ Oboe Concerto, Bloch’s Violin Concerto, Portland composer David Schiff’s Infernal, Ginastera’s Harp Concerto, Gubaidulina’s Offertorium: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, and Adés’ Violin Concert (“Concentric Paths”), among others.

 

The 2015/16 season sees the return of some of the world’s best-known classical stars as well as performers who have won favored status among Portland audiences, including violinists Joshua Bell, Simone Lamsma, Augustin Hadelich, and Vadim Gluzman; pianists Lang Lang, Kirill Gerstein, Natasha Paremski, and Garrick Ohlsson; percussionist Colin Currie; and guitarist Pablo Villegas.

 

Guest artists making their Oregon Symphony debuts include oboist François Leleux, harpist Yolanda Kondonassis, pianists Francesco Piemontesi and Benjamin Grosvenor, and cellist Christian Poltera.

 

In addition to the many performers who join us as soloists, Oregon Symphony Concertmaster Sarah Kwak steps back into the solo spotlight playing Bloch’s Violin Concerto; she will be joined by trumpet Jeff Work and English horn Kyle Mustain playing Copland’s Quiet City in March.

 

In addition to Music Director Carlos Kalmar and Resident Conductor Paul Ghun Kim on the podium, conductors Matthew Halls (Artistic Director, Oregon Bach Festival), Tomáš Netopil, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, Robert Spano, and Yan Pascal Tortelier make their Oregon Symphony debuts.

 

From a Pops perspective:

 

The popular Jeff Tyzik continues his eighth year as Principal Pops Conductor, curating and conducting the Pops Series. The 2015/16 Pops season includes eight performances of four separate Pops concerts, spanning the musical spectrum.

 

Broadway stars Lisa Vroman and Ron Raines join the Symphony for Broadway Classics in October, followed by Holiday Pops in November, a Return to the Cotton Club with trumpeter Byron Stripling in February, and showman vocalist Curtis Stigers makes his debut in The Sinatra Century, a tribute to the Chairman of the Board in honor of the centennial of his birth.

 

For the younger audience:

 

Young audiences are an important part of the Oregon Symphony family. They’ll be dazzled by three concerts, designed especially for the young and the young at heart: Blast Off! celebrates space and the solar system in November; the Musical Zoo is a musical depiction of creatures great and small in January; and kids can get their wiggle on with Dance Party in April.

 

Education and Community Engagement:

 

Beyond the concert hall, the Oregon Symphony continues its work in the community, bringing musical experiences to over 50,000 additional people in schools, libraries, hospitals, correctional facilities and public gathering spaces throughout our region.

During the 2015/16 season, 24 Symphony Storytimes are scheduled in local libraries in three counties for preschoolers, 36 Kinderkonzerts, representing all four sections of the orchestra, will be held in three area host schools for K-2^nd graders. Four Young People’s Concerts will be offered at the concert hall on three school days for the 3-8^th grade students in spring 2016.

 

The musicians of the Oregon Symphony will return to work with the students in the David Douglas School School District, through the Oregon Community Foundation’s Studio to School Grant. This will be the second in a five-year residency aimed at educating, recruiting and training the musicians of the future.

 

Prior to all 2015/16 classical concerts, early arrivers can enjoy lively discussions about the concert selections between conductors, musicians and the engaging All Classical Portland hosts. More than 40 musical performances in the lobby will be presented by local school and community groups prior to most concerts through the very popular Prelude Performance series.

 

A complete list of 2015/16 concerts can be viewed at: www.orsymphony.org/season

 

A 2015/16 Season Brochure can be viewed at: www.orsymphony.org/seasonbrochure

 

Subscription Details

Oregon Symphony subscribers will receive their renewal packages beginning today and have until March 30 to renew their seats or request seating changes. New subscribers may purchase their season ticket packages beginning immediately.

 

Tickets to the Pablo Villegas and Lang Lang Specials are available at this time only to patrons renewing their subscriptions and patrons purchasing new subscriptions. Subscribers not only have access to these shows but receive, as a subscriber benefit, a discount of up to 10% on those Special Concert tickets.

 

Tickets to all Oregon Symphony Series concerts will go on sale to the general public in August.

 

Classical Series season tickets are priced as follows:

                                                               

14-concert series, beginning at $280

12-concert series, beginning at $240

7-concert series, beginning at $147

5-concert series, beginning at $105

 

Pops Series season tickets begin as low as $84 for the 4-concert package.

 

Kids Concert Series begin as low as $27 for the 3-concert series.

 

Subscriptions may be renewed or purchased online at OrSymphony.org; by phone at 503-228-1353; or in person/by mail at 923 SW Washington, Portland.

 

For more information, go to www.orsymphony.org or call the Ticket Office at 503-228-1353.