“It’s the idea of people being excited by the energy of these performances,” said Symphony Executive Director Lou Ross, entering his first full year. “I think the people will be pleased.”
MasterWorks shows feature orchestral concerts performed by the Symphony and a guest soloist in a traditional setting. NightLights are two casual concerts of light classics in a more-relaxed atmosphere, featuring commentary by the performers throughout the show.
These will be under the direction of music director and conductor Peter Stafford Wilson.
The first MasterWorks performance will kick off the season Oct. 3 with “Totally Beethoven” and featuring guest pianist Stanislav Khristenko, winner of the 2013 Cleveland Piano Competition.
“Beethoven is always a winner with audiences, and Peter does a good job mixing up the familiar pieces with something audiences can discover,” said Ross.
Cellist Chiara Enderle will be the guest for “Suite Dreams” on Jan. 16, 2016, followed by “Symphony at Sea” on April 2, 2016, with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra Chorale and soloists soprano Minnita Daniel-Cox and baritone Mark Spencer for Vaughn Williams’ “A Sea Symphony.”
Rounding out MasterWorks and the season April 23, 2016, is “Russian Passion,” with Russian-American violinist Yevgeny Kutik taking on works from Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich.
The first NightLights show will be appropriately retitled “FrightLights” since it will be on Halloween Night, Oct. 31. Haunting tunes will include the theme from “Psycho,” Harry Potter and other seasonal fright music.
The second will be “Side by Side” and will combine the Symphony with the Springfield Youth Orchestra and Springfield Children’s Chorus on Feb. 27, 2016.
NightLights and MasterWorks concerts will begin at 8 p.m. at the Clark State Community College Performing Arts Center.
All concerts are preceded by opening notes, information about the show, in the Turner Studio, and performance prelude by guest performers in the Davidson Grand Lobby at 7:15 p.m.
“The arts are about passion, and I think the people will be pleased with our performers and the young up-and-coming talented guests coming in,” said Ross.
There will be two special collaborative events with other Springfield arts organizations as well.
“Music at the Museum” will be Nov. 21 at the Springfield Museum of Art.
Following last season’s successful “Mozart at the Museum,” this will have the Symphony’s Woodwind Quintet perform as the museum’s exhibition “Authentic Narratives: Ohio’s Regionalists, 1915-1950” is featured in the main gallery.
The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with the concert at 7. This event can be added to the price of season tickets or purchased separately.
The second event, separate from the regular Symphony season, is part of the PAC’s schedule. “Celtic Woman: Home for Christmas Symphony Tour” will have the Symphony accompany the Irish vocalists on seasonal favorite songs.
“We’ve all invested in Springfield and are glad to work together,” Ross said of the collaborations.
For more information on Symphony events or for ticket information, go towww.springfieldsym.org or go call 937-325-8100.
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