Special concerts to mark Springfield Symphony’s 75th season

Symphony orchestras have fallen silent in many larger cities in recent years. In Springfield, the music continues.

The Springfield Symphony Orchestra will mark its 75th season with six concerts spotlighting work from Beethoven to Walt Disney, many with a local emphasis, when the 2018-2019 begins on Oct. 6.

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The Symphony’s longevity and quality are reasons for celebration, according to Symphony executive director Lou Ross.

He’s only been in Springfield for three years, but the response Ross has seen in that span has been impressive.

“When you know orchestras are closing their doors, it’s neat the community here has continued to support it,” said Ross. “I’m glad to be a part of this legacy.”

The Springfield Symphony began in the middle of World War II. That it has outlasted recessions, cultural change and other factors makes it even more impressive.

Ross credits having a consistent group of conductors, such as the current conductor and music director, Peter Stafford Wilson, as well as having dedicated musicians – some with as many as 51 years – and community support.

The 2018-2019 season will include four MasterWorks concerts focusing on certain composers and two NightLights concerts with special themes.

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The season will open Oct. 6 with a MasterWorks concert showcasing the music of Beethoven and Brahms with guest pianist Christopher Durrenberger, a Wittenberg University piano professor, who will play “Piano Concerto No. 5 ‘Emperor.’”

It’s been several years since the Symphony has had a seasonal concert and Dec. 2’s NightLights show “Holiday Pops” will return it in grand style. It will feature the orchestra side-by-side with Springfield Youth Symphony members, the Children’s Chorus and a special performance from the Gary Geis Dance Company.

The New Year will begin Jan. 12 with a piece from composer Lowell Liebermann the Springfield Symphony helped to create and performed by one of the music world’s rising stars, cellist Julian Schwarz.

Music from Rossini and Bizet will round out this second MasterWorks concert.

“The Magical Music of Disney” will include classics from “Frozen, “The Lion King,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Mary Poppins” and other beloved films with clips playing behind the orchestra at the second NightLights concert on Feb. 9.

For MasterWorks III, April 6, pianist Nikita Mndoyants will be musical guest when two epic works from the Slavic repertoire, Dvorak’s “Symphony No. 8” and Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 2,” beloved icons in the symphonic repertoire according to Wilson, are performed.

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The 75th season will close May 18 with monuments from two eras in musical history: Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No. 5” and the Beethoven’s “9th Symphony.”

Trudy Faber, a Professor Emerita at Wittenberg who performs in the area, will return to the Symphony stage playing harpsichord, and the Springfield Symphony Orchestra Chorale and soloists will add to the occasion as the Orchestra revisits one of the landmarks of music, “Ode to Joy.”

“For 75 seasons, the Symphony has demonstrated the universality of music, and Beethoven’s call for common brotherhood has never been more relevant,” said Wilson.

All concerts will be performed at Clark State Performing Arts Center.

Other special events and surprises will also be part of the special 75th celebration and announced at a later date.

Ross is hopeful the community that hasn’t yet discovered the Symphony will experience it in the upcoming season and encourages those who have to spread the word.

“We need people to realize what we are putting onstage is high quality and a darn good orchestra people should be proud is in our town. It’s going to be an exciting year.”

Season subscriptions will go on sale Monday, May 21 at the Symphony office and starting June 4 at the Performing Arts Center box office.

Individual concert tickets will go on sale July 10.

For more information, go to www.springfieldsym.org.

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