Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia Announces 2017-18 Season with New Music Director Benjamin Rous

Written by staff

The Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia announces its 2017-18 concert schedule, marking Benjamin Rous’s inaugural season as Music Director.  Rous, formerly Resident Conductor at the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, was one of three finalists in the search for Kate Tamarkin’s replacement.  Following her retirement in May, 2017, Tamarkin received the designation of Music Director Laureate from the Charlottesville Symphony Society.

The season opens September 23 and 24 with John Adams’ orchestral fanfare and rhythmic showpiece, Short Ride in a Fast Machine.  Shawn Earle is the featured soloist in Wolfgang Amadè Mozart’s last completed work, his soulful Clarinet Concerto.   Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A Major, described at various times as “optimistic” and “completely captivating,” concludes the program.

Shawn Earle is the orchestra’s Principal Clarinet and a Lecturer in Clarinet at the University of  Virginia.  A native of Canada, he has performed with orchestras and chamber ensembles in Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto and Nova Scotia, and championed many works by contemporary Canadian composers.

Other musical highlights of the season include Leonard Bernstein’s Three Dance Episodes from On the Town; Brahms’ bucolic and folksy Symphony No. 2; and a suite from one of Tchaikovsky’s best-loved story ballets, Swan Lake.

Pianist Clara Yang performs Rachmaninov’s Variations on a Theme of Paganini.  Rachel Duncan is the trumpet soloist in Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto.  And the UVA University Singers, conducted by Michael Slon, join the orchestra for Randall Thompson’s “The Testament of Freedom” and two movements from Todd Frazier’s “Thomas Jefferson: The Making of America” which were commissioned by the University of Virginia to help launch the UVA’s Bicentennial.

The final 2017-18 concert teams Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho’s sonic depiction of Orion, the adventurous hunter of Greek mythology, with Gustav Holst’s massive interplanetary journey, The Planets.

In addition to five pairs of Masterworks concerts, Family Holiday Concerts - presented in partnership with the UVA University Singers under the direction of Michael Slon - welcome in the holiday season with a gift-wrapped program of cherished carols, new arrangements and audience merriment.

For those who want to “Know the Score,” pre-concert lectures will be presented 45 minutes prior to each Saturday night concert.  Free of charge, these popular lectures by UVA McIntire Department of Music Associate Professor Richard Will offer a lively and informative behind-the-scenes look at classical music.

In-depth program notes are posted on the orchestra’s website, www.cvillesymphony.org two weeks prior to each Masterworks concert.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Free parking is available in the UVA Central Grounds Parking Garage, located on Emmet Street, on Saturday nights and at Charlottesville High School on Sunday afternoons.  The Charlottesville Free Trolley stops at McCormick Road near the UVA Amphitheater, in close proximity to Old Cabell Hall.  Both venues are wheelchair accessible.

Season tickets are on sale now for as little as $18 per concert.  Subscribers get the best seats at the best prices plus VIP customer service, free lost ticket replacement and unlimited ticket exchanges.  To purchase a subscription by phone or to request a 2017-18 season brochure, please call 434-924-3139.  Subscription orders are also accepted in person at the orchestra’s office located at 801 West Main Street, Suite 201, Charlottesville, Monday-Friday, from 9:00am to 5:00pm.                                                             

Single tickets are also on sale for all concerts, priced at $10-$45 for adults and $10 for students.  UVA students may request one complimentary ticket in advance.  Single tickets may be purchased at The University of Virginia Arts Box Office, (434) 924-3376, 12:00-5:00pm, Monday through Friday in the lobby of the Drama Building at 109 Culbreth Road, or online at www.artsboxoffice.virginia.edu.

All University of Virginia employees (all faculty and staff of all UVA departments and professional schools) are entitled to a 20% discount on tickets to individual performances.  This offer does not apply to subscriptions, the December Family Holiday concerts or previously purchased tickets.

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2017-18 Season
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SEASON OPENING – BEETHOVEN’S SEVENTH

Saturday, September 23, 8:00pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds
Sunday, September 24, 3:30pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center at Charlottesville High School

JOHN ADAMS – Short Ride in a Fast Machine
WOLFGANG AMADÉ MOZART – Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K. 622
      Shawn Earle, Clarinet
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN – Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92

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THE AMERICANS

Saturday, November 18, 8:00pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds
Sunday, November 19, 3:30pm, Martin Luther King, Performing Arts Center at Charlottesville High School

SAMUEL BARBER – Second Essay for Orchestra, Op. 17
LEONARD BERNSTEIN – Three Dance Episodes from On the Town
J. TODD FRAZIER – Thomas Jefferson: The Making of America; I. “We Hold These Truths” and
      VII. “University of Virginia” with the UVA University Singers
      Janice Chandler-Eteme, Soprano
      Glenn Seven Allen, Tenor
      Michael Slon conducting
RANDALL THOMPSON – The Testament of Freedom with the UVA University Singers
      Michael Slon conducting

Sponsored by the Office of the Provost and the Vice Provost for the Arts at the University of Virginia

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BRAHMS’ SECOND

Saturday, February 17, 8:00pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds
Sunday, February 18, 3:30pm, Monticello High School

NATHAN SHIELDS – Ricercar
FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN – Trumpet Concerto in E-flat Major
     Rachel Duncan, Trumpet
JOHANNES BRAHMS – Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73
The February 17 performance is sponsored by McGuireWoods LLC.
Rachel Duncan’s appearance is underwritten by the Angus Macaulay Visiting Artists Fund.

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RHAPSODY ON A THEME OF PAGANINI
      GUEST CONDUCTOR: LAURA JACKSON

Saturday, March 24, 8:00pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds
Sunday, March 25, 3:30pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center at Charlottesville High School

PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY – Suite from Swan Lake, Op. 20a
SERGEI RACHMANINOV – Variations on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43
      Clara Yang, Piano
CHRISTOPHER THEOFANIDIS – Rainbow Body
AARON COPLAND – Billy the Kid Suite
Sponsored by Vesta Gordon
Clara Yang’s appearance is underwritten by the Angus Macaulay Visiting Artists Fund.

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THE PLANETS

Saturday, April 28, 8:00pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds
Sunday, April 29, 3:30pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center at Charlottesville High School

KAIJA SAARIAHO – Orion
GUSTAV HOLST – The Planets, Op. 32

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AND (available separately)

Family Holiday Concerts
     with the UVA University Singers, Michael Slon, Conductor

Saturday, December 2, 8:00 pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds
Sunday, December 3, 3:30 pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds

Program to be announced; recommended for children five years of age and older
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost and the Vice Provost for the Arts at the University of Virginia
The December 2 performance is sponsored by HantzmonWiebel.

 

All artists, programs and venues are subject to change.

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Address

UVA Department of Music
112 Old Cabell Hall
P.O. Box 400176 Charlottesville, VA 22904-4176

Email: music@virginia.edu