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rockford illinois entertainment guide
Date: 02/06/2008
Rockford Symphony Orchestra Announces 2008-2009 Concert Season
by Press Release

The Rockford Symphony Orchestra—winner of the 2007 Illinois Orchestra of the Year award—is pleased to announce plans for its 2008/09 concert season. Maestro Steven Larsen has crafted many exciting, high-caliber performances featuring world-class guest artists, the orchestra premier of an emerging Rockford piano prodigy, and an exciting festival.
 
Subscription packages are now on sale.  All subscription packages include substantial savings - with the opportunity for first-time subscribers to receive up to 50% off single ticket prices.  Each subscriber receives exclusive benefits including reserved seats, flexible ticket exchange, discounts to area restaurants and the Coronado Corner Gift Shop, and the opportunity to buy single tickets before they go on sale to the general public.
 
Listed below are details for each performance, including music and guest artist information for the RSO’s Classics Series and Pops Series, as well as the Nutcracker ballet with the Rockford Dance Company and the Brahms/Schumann Festival featuring pianist Alon Goldstein.

Brahms/Schumann Festival

After the huge success of the RSO’s Beethoven Festival in 2007, the orchestra will continue the story by giving you a glimpse into the lives of three other composers, each profoundly affected by Beethoven’s greatness while creating their own musical legacy - Robert Schumann, Clara Schumann, and Johannes Brahms. 

Renowned pianist Alon Goldstein returns to join the RSO to explore the works of these composers in two intimate chamber performances at Court Street United Methodist Church and a full orchestral concert at the Coronado Theatre.  Join us as the story unfolds in music for three concerts including multi-media presentations and conversation, making for an unforgettable journey filled with musical genius, romantic intrigue, and tragic despair.

The festival can be included in all subscription packages.  Tickets for individual festival performances will not be available until single tickets go on sale in August.

February 3, 2009
Court Street United Methodist Church
Clara Schumann – 3 Romances for Oboe and Piano
Robert Schumann – Fantasy for solo piano
Robert Schumann – Piano Quartet Op. 47
 
February 5, 2009
Court Street United Methodist Church
Brahms – Scherzo for solo piano Op. 4
Brahms – trio for Clarinet Cello and Piano Op. 114
Brahms – Piano Quartet Op. 25
 
February 7, 2009
Coronado Performing Arts Center
Robert Schumann – Introduction and Allegro appassionato
Robert Schumann - Symphony No. 4 (original version, 1841)
Brahms – Concerto No. 1

 
ComEd Classics Series
The 2008/09 season will be filled with orchestral blockbusters including masterpieces by Beethoven, Wagner, Mozart, and Puccini.  The RSO will welcome accomplished guest artists known for their incredible virtuosity, including renowned flutist Carol Wincenc, violinist Tim Fain, and returning favorites pianist Alon Goldstein and soprano Amy Johnson.
 
Opening night at the RSO is Saturday, September 27, 2008, with a concert featuring Carol Wincenc, considered one of the finest flutist in the world.  The concert opens with Wagner’s majestic Rienzi Overture followed by world renowned Carol Wincenc performing Christopher Rouse’s passionate and explosive Flute Concerto. The concert concludes with DvoYák's stirring Symphony No. 7.
Wagner:  Rienzi Overture
Rouse:      Flute Concerto
Carol Wincenc, flute                                                                           
DvoYák:  Symphony No. 7

The ComEd Classics Series continues on Saturday, November 15, 2008, with an all French concert featuring soprano Kathy Pyeatt and the Mendelssohn Chorale.  The RSO will perform Daniel Auber’s effervescent Fra Diavolo overture and Arthur Honegger’s powerful symphonic poem inspired by a huge steam locomotive, Pacific 231.  Kathy Pyeatt will sing heart-melting melodies in Joseph Canteloube’s luscious arrangements of folk themes in Songs of the Auvergne. The Mendelssohn Chorale will join the RSO on Poulenc’s elegant Gloria and the concert will conclude with one of history’s most talked-about and well-known works, Ravel’s Bolero. 
Auber:  Overture to Fra Diavolo
Honegger:  Pacific 231
Canteloube:  Songs of the Auvergne
        Kathy Pyeatt, soprano                                                 
Poulenc:  Gloria
        Mendelssohn Chorale, Martha Bein, Director
Ravel:  Bolero

On Saturday, January 10, 2009, the RSO will perform Beethoven triumphant Symphony No. 7.  The concert will begin with Michael Abels' Global Warming, celebrating the fall of the Berlin Wall and the thaw of the Cold War followed by the young and charismatic violinist Tim Fain joining the RSO on Prokofiev’s violin concerto.  The second half of the concert will include famed Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavarra's Cantus Articus and will conclude with Beethoven's seventh.
Abels:  Global Warming                                    
Prokofiev:  Violin Concerto No. 2
Tim Fain, violin
Rautavaara:  Cantus Articus  
Beethoven:  Symphony No. 7

On Saturday, February 7, 2009, the RSO will conclude the Brahms/Schuman Festival as part of the ComEd Classics Series.   Pianist Alon Goldstein returns after his brilliant exploration of Beethoven’s five concerti to explore the works of Schumann and Brahms in this finale that is sure to be a highlight of the season.
Schumann – Introduction and Allegro appassionato
Schumann - Symphony No. 4 (original version, 1841)
Brahms – Concerto No. 1
    Alon Goldstein, pianist

Rockford’s own piano prodigy Emily Bear makes her orchestra debut on Saturday, March 28, 2009.  Spirited music abounds from youthful composers and a budding young performer in a concert that begins with Britten’s Simple Symphony, based on themes he wrote as a child.  Emily Bear joins the RSO to perform Mozart's charming Piano Concerto No. 23.  The concert concludes with Bizet's energetic and engaging Symphony in C.
Britten:  Simple Symphony                                           
Mozart:  Piano Concerto No. 23                                  
Emily Bear, piano
Bizet:  Symphony in C    

The ComEd Classics Series concludes on Saturday, April 25, 2009, with "The Final Works of Wagner, Strauss, and Puccini."  The concert begins with Wagner’s Good Friday Music from the opera Parsifal.  Soprano Amy Johnson, lead singer In the RSO's productions of La Bohème and Tosca, returns to perform Strauss’ autumnal Four Last Songs.  The season concludes with highlights from Puccini’s masterful final opera Turandot, including the breath-taking Nessun dorma, Pavarotti’s most often-requested aria.
Wagner:  Good Friday Music from Parsifal
R. Strauss:  Four Last Songs
Amy Johnson, soprano
Puccini:  Highlights from Turandot
 
The RSO Classics Series is graciously sponsored by ComEd. All concerts are held at the Coronado Theatre at 7 p.m.  Great savings are available by purchasing a subscription package with discounts equal to getting up to two concerts for free.  Subscription packages including the classics concerts are on sale now and range from $108 to $446 for renewing subscribers, and $108 to $296 for new subscribers.  Single tickets go on sale August 25, 2008, and will be priced $18 - $54.
 
Rockford Health System Pops Series
The RSO kicks off the Rockford Health System Pops Series on Saturday, October 25, 2008, with hometown favorite and Broadway’s golden couple Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley returning to sing popular songs of Broadway’s past and present.  Rockford native Marin and Jason have been seen in some of the most memorable musicals on the Broadway stage. 
 
The RSO celebrates the Christmas season on Saturday, December 20, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, December 21, 2008, at 3 p.m., with its annual Holiday Pops concert at the Coronado Theatre. New this year, the RSO will be joined by the Agape Ringers—Chicago’s premier handbell ensemble, and of course members of the Mendelssohn Chorale.

In a performance that is sure to sell out, the RSO will conclude the Rockford Health System Pops Series on Saturday, March 14, 2009, with the "Classical Mystery Tour" Beatles Tribute.  The four musicians in Classical Mystery Tour look and sound just like The Beatles.  This amazing performance presents Beatles tunes sung, played, and performed exactly as they were written, with full orchestration.  From early Beatles music on through the solo years, Classical Mystery Tour is the best of The Beatles like you've never heard them.

The RSO Pops Series is graciously sponsored by Rockford Health System.  All Saturday concerts are held at the Coronado Theatre at 7 p.m.  Subscription packages including the pops concerts are on sale now and range from $60 to $446 for renewing subscribers, and $60 to $296 for new subscribers.  Single tickets go on sale August 25, 2009 and will be priced $18 - $54.
 
Nutcracker Ballet
Filled with beloved melodies, dynamic guest artists, and vibrant set and costumes, this is the premiere production in Northern Illinois.  The collaboration of the Rockford Dance Company and the Rockford Symphony Orchestra makes this holiday classic a true original.  The collaboration of the Rockford Dance Company and the Rockford Symphony Orchestra makes this holiday classic a true original. Featuring professional lead dancers from The Joffrey Ballet and the Florida Ballet, the Nutcracker Is performed Thanksgiving weekend on Saturday, November 29, 2008 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.  Live music from the Rockford Symphony Orchestra, colorful sets, and dazzling costumes make this the premier production in Northern Illinois.  New this year subscribers can be the first to buy tickets to the Nutcracker at a very, special low price of $25 with a subscription order - a savings of up to 50% off.

 
All programs, artists, and prices subject to change.
 
Subscriptions
Subscriptions for the Rockford Symphony Orchestra’s 2008/09 season are available by calling the Rockford Symphony Orchestra box office at (815) 965-0049 or online at www.rockfordsymphony.com.

Contact Information
Rockford Symphony Orchestra
(815) 965-0049
www.rockfordsymphony.com
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