Department of Music

CHARLOTTESVILLE – The Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia opens its 48^th season on Saturday, September 24, 8:00pm, at Old Cabell Hall on the Grounds of the University of Virginia and Sunday, September 25, 3:30pm, at Charlottesville High School’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center.   

As Music Director Benjamin Rous planned the return of the full orchestra to the stage for a full season of concerts after three seasons of COVID-related disruptions, he notes, “As we emerge from the pandemic, my thoughts turn to the feeling of coming together, and the urgent need to cherish some much-beloved music.  The coming season features three of the most famous symphonies in the repertoire, including Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony and Dvořák’s New World Symphony.  Opening Night also offers some smaller scale, but equally precious gems by Saint-Saëns, Brahms and Schubert.  Although we’ve scheduled more blockbusters than usual, there are also two brand new finds that I can’t wait to share with our musical family.  I come to this season with a fresh sense of joy, and I each weekend is going to bring the grandeur and beauty that we’ve come to expect from the players of the Charlottesville Symphony.”

The September program includes something for every musical taste.  Franz Schubert’s Rosamunde Overture gives no clue to the long-forgotten plot of “Rosamunde, Princess of Cyprus” – but remains a charming standard in the orchestral repertoire.

Elizabeth Roberts, the orchestra’s Principal Bassoon, is the soloist in Johann Hummel’s Bassoon Concerto in F Major.  Hummel was a child prodigy and a young pupil of Mozart in Vienna.  Charm prevails over grandeur in this seldom-heard work.

Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres) is one of American composer Missy Mazzoli’s signature works.  She describes it as “music in the shape of a solar system…a collection of small loops of material that combine to form bigger loops of material” – all meant to illustrate the elliptical motion of planets in their orbit.  Ten harmonicas join the orchestra on this cosmic journey.

Benjamin Rous has selected three – Nos. 6, 14 and 5 from a set of Johannes Brahms’ 21 Hungarian Dances, lively and jubilant dances based mostly on Hungarian folk music.  This diverse program ends with the “Bacchanale” from French composer Camille Saint-Saëns opera Samson and Delilah.  Bacchus was the mythological god of wine and fertility.  Following the biblical story, Delilah dances a wild and percussion-driven showpiece to taunt Samson, resulting in his destruction of the Philistine temple.

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

Currently, wearing masks is optional at both Old Cabell Hall and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center.

Free parking is available in the UVA Central Grounds Parking Garage, located on Emmet Street South on Saturday nights and at Charlottesville High School’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center 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.                           

Single tickets are $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, Tuesday through Friday in the lobby of the UVA Drama Building at 109 Culbreth Road, or online at www.artsboxoffice.virginia.edu.

Season Subscriptions are available.  More information at the Charlottesville Symphony. Subscribers receive Priority Seating, Great Savings, Free Ticket Exchanges, Free Lost Ticket Replacement and a Complimentary Ticket Voucher to introduce friends to the Charlottesville Symphony. Order your subscription today for the best seats in the house!  Contact: Keith Perry at (434) 924-3139 or visit cvillesymphony.org.

All University of Virginia employees (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.

"Know before you go"  Answers to frequently asked questions about Charlottesville Symphony Concerts.

REMAINING 2022-23 CONCERTS INFORMATION

SONGS OF DESTINY
Friday, November 11, 8:00pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds
Sunday, November 13, 3:30pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center
NOTE:  Friday is the correct day, avoiding the UVA home football game on Saturday, November 12.

ARVO PÄRT – Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten
ARVO PÄRT – Da Pacem Domine with the UVA University Singers
JOHANNES BRAHMS – Schicksalslied with the UVA University Singers
JOHANNES BRAHMS – Symphony No. 3 in F Major

FORCES OF NATURE
Saturday, February 11, 8:00pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds
Sunday, February 12, 3:30pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN – Symphony No. 6 (“Pastoral”)
ANNA THORVALDSDÓTTIR - Metacosmos
MAURICE RAVEL – Alborada del gracioso

NEW WORLD SYMPHONY
Saturday, March 18, 8:00pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds
Sunday, March 19, 3:30pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center
Paul Ghun Kim, Guest Conductor

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN – Violin Concerto in D Major, Brendon Elliott, Violin
ANTONĺN DVOŘÁK – Symphony No. 9 (“From the New World”)

DAZZLING DANCES
Saturday, April 22, 8:00pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds
Sunday, April 23, 3:30pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center

CHRISTOPHER ROUSE – Flute Concerto with Kelly Sulick, Flute
JOHANN STRAUSS II – Accelerationen; Banditen-Galopp; Frühlingsstimmen; Éljen a Magyar!
NICOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV – Capriccio Espagnol

AND

FAMILY HOLIDAY CONCERTS
Saturday, December 3, 8:00pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds
Sunday, December 4, 3:30pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds
Holiday favorites with the UVA University Singers
Conducted by Michael Slon

All artists, programs and venues are subject to change.

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View the Charlottesville Symphony season announcement here.

"Know before you go"  Answers to frequently asked questions about Charlottesville Symphony Concerts.