CSO Verdi's Requiem - program 11-17-23 by Charlotte Symphony Orchestra

November 17 & 18 7:30 pm | Belk Theater Kwamé Ryan conductor Melinda Whittington soprano Leann Sandel-Pantaleo mezzo-soprano Cooper Nolan tenor Robert Pomakov bass Charlotte Master Chorale

DIGITAL PROGRAM BOOK charlottesymphony.org

CONTENTS

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WHAT’S INSIDE... A Message from the President & CEO 3 Concert Program 5 Artist Biographies 6 Charlotte Master Chorale 13 2023/24 Musician Roster 14 Musician Spotlight 16 About the CSO 17 CSO Roadshow 18 Program Notes 20 Annual Fund Donors 24 Corporate & Foundation Sponsors 30 Infusion Fund 33 Board of Directors & Trustees 34 Administration 35

join the musical dialogue What did you think of the performance?

@cltsymphony #cltsymphony

WELCOME

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Welcome to Your CSO! At the Charlotte Symphony, we are reimagining what an orchestra can mean to its community. We believe in the transformative power of music, and our commitment to making this art form accessible and meaningful to all has never been stronger. Hard on the heels of our first performance at Lenny Boy Brewing Co. as part of the Symphony’s On Tap series, and a welcome return visit to Richmond County’s Cole Auditorium, we’re delighted to present The Hot Sardines with their signature take on cool jazz, and kick off the Domtar Family series with Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Missing Maestro. On November 14th, CSO musicians perform side-byside with the talented young musicians of the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra, before we welcome returning guest conductor Kwamé Ryan to lead the Symphony in stellar performances of Verdi’s Requiem, 150 years since it was written, featuring the Charlotte Master Chorale and an outstanding cast of soloists. For Thanksgiving weekend, I hope you’ll join us for the delightful holiday classic Elf in Concert: details of all our holiday offerings can be found on our website! We understand the power of music to bring people together, enrich lives, and create community, more than words ever can. That is why I am thrilled we have recently announced a trailblazing new initiative — CSO Roadshow, the Charlotte Symphony’s new mobile stage. Launching in the spring, with the first event planned for April 28th with the Latin American Coalition, this innovative traveling performance showcase will take the power of live orchestral music right into the heart of neighborhoods throughout the region. I invite you to learn more on page 18. Your continued patronage and generosity are the driving force behind our mission. As we enter this season of giving thanks, we couldn’t be more grateful for your part in the CSO family. Enjoy the performance!

David Fisk President & CEO

Your Charlotte Symphony Experience Whether you’re attending your first Symphony performance, or you’re a longtime subscriber, we’d like to extend to you a warm and inclusive welcome! Below is some helpful information to ensure you make the most of your Charlotte Symphony experience.

What should I wear? The Charlotte Symphony has no specific dress code. We encourage you to be comfortable and come as yourself in a style of your choice.

When do I applaud? Audiences applaud to welcome the concertmaster, conductor, and featured artists onstage. Some works may have several sections, or movements, separated by a brief silent pause. It is tradition to hold applause until the last movement. If you are unsure, wait for the conductor to face the audience. But if you feel truly inspired, do not be afraid to applaud!

Can I take photos? Certainly! We welcome and encourage you to capture and share photos before and after the concert, as well as during intermission. Feel free to use your cell phone for photography without flash during the performance, but please refrain from video or audio recording.

CONCERT PROGR AM

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Friday, November 17, 2023 at 7:30 pm Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 7:30 pm Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center

Kwamé Ryan, conductor Melinda Whittington, soprano Leann Sandel-Pantaleo, mezzo-soprano Cooper Nolan, tenor Robert Pomakov, bass Charlotte Master Chorale

GIUSEPPE VERDI (1813-1901) Messa da Requiem

[approx. 90 minutes]

Requiem and Kyrie (SOLO QUARTET, CHORUS) Dies irae Dies irae (CHORUS) Tuba mirum (CHORUS) Mors stupebit (BASS) Liber scriptus (MEZZO-SOPRANO, CHORUS) Quid sum miser (SOPRANO, MEZZO-SOPRANO, TENOR) Rex tremendae (SOLO QUARTET, CHORUS) Recordare (SOPRANO, MEZZO-SOPRANO) Ingemisco (TENOR) Confutatis (BASS, CHORUS) Lacrimosa (SOLO QUARTET, CHORUS) Offertorium (SOLO QUARTET) Sanctus (DOUBLE CHORUS) Agnus Dei (SOPRANO, MEZZO-SOPRANO, CHORUS) Lux aeterna (MEZZO-SOPRANO, TENOR, BASS) Libera me (SOPRANO, CHORUS) concert duration: approximately 90 minutes, with no intermission. This concert is made possible in part by

Dr. Milton Berkman and Arlene Berkman

CONDUCTOR BIO

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Kwamé Ryan guest conductor

Kwamé Ryan was born in Canada and grew up on the Caribbean island of Trinidad, where he received his early musical education. He completed his studies in the U.K. and Hungary, reading Musicology at Cambridge University, and studying conducting with Peter Eötvös. He held the position of General Music Director of Freiburg Opera between 1999 and 2003, and served as Musical and Artistic Director of the National Orchestra of Bordeaux Aquitaine between 2007 and 2013. As a guest conductor in Germany, he has conducted the Stuttgart and Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestras, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Berlin Konzerthausorchester, Saarbrücken Staatsoper, and Stuttgart Staatsoper. In France he has worked at Opera Bastille, Opéra National de Lyon, and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. His work in the United States and the UK has taken him to the Baltimore, Dallas, Detroit, Indianapolis, Atlanta, and Houston symphony orchestras, as well as Boston Lyric Opera, English National Opera, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Royal Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and London’s Philharmonia Orchestra. He has been a regular guest of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and most recently returned to Brussels’s La Monnaie for the world premiere of Kris De Foort’s The Time of our Singing, which won the International Opera Award for world premiere of the year in 2021. A recipient of international awards for outstanding work in the field of music education, Ryan has served as Musical Director of the National Youth Orchestra of France and as Director of the Academy for the Performing Arts at the University of Trinidad and Tobago. Following highly successful debuts in 2023, Ryan returns in the upcoming season to the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Concert Orchestra with debuts at Opera Theatre St. Louis, the New York Philharmonic, and Houston Grand Opera for the World Premiere of Intelligence, the long-anticipated new stage work by acclaimed composer Jake Heggie. (continued next page)

CONDUCTOR BIO (continued)

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GUEST ARTIST BIOS

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Melinda Whittington soprano

The Salt Lake Tribune praises Melinda Whittington for her “performances of emotional resonance along with their powerhouse vocals.” Her 2023-24 season includes her Minnesota Opera and role debut as Mimì in La bohème. Last season she returned to her home company, Opera Carolina, for her role debut as Violetta in La traviata. Previously with Opera Carolina, she has sung Tatyana in Eugene Onegin, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Contessa in Le nozze di Figaro, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Zweite Dame in Die Zauberflöte, as well as the Coming Home Soldier in Dye’s The Falling and the Rising. Elsewhere, the soprano has joined Arizona Opera as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni and the title role of Rusalka, Utah Opera for Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Ash Lawn Opera as Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, and North Carolina Opera as Ada in Higdon’s Cold Mountain and Nedda in Pagliacci. She has sung further performances of Contessa in Le nozze di Figaro with Opera Grand Rapids and Kentucky Opera; the title role of Arabella with Pittsburgh Festival Opera; Juliette in Roméo et Juliette with Opera Birmingham and Pensacola Opera; Micaëla in Carmen with Greensboro Opera; and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with Green Mountain Opera. The soprano also joined the roster of the Lyric Opera of Chicago for its production of Eugene Onegin, as well as the Metropolitan Opera for Akhnaten and Macbeth. Ms. Whittington is a former Resident Artist of the Academy of Vocal Arts, at which she sang Marguerite in Faust and Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte. She joined Opera Philadelphia for an exciting evening of new opera with Opera Philadelphia and their composers in residence, Lembit Beecher and Missy Mazzoli. On the concert stage, she has sung Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Philadelphia Sinfonia, Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Back Bay Chorale, and excerpts of Juliette in Roméo et Juliette with the Charlotte Symphony.

(bios continued next page)

GUEST ARTIST BIOS (continued)

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Leann Sandel-Pantaleo mezzo-soprano

Following performances of Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana, Leann Sandel-Pantaleo was praised by the Portland Press Herald with the exclamation that “she has a glorious voice…. and she took fire.” Mezzo-Soprano Leann Sandel-Pantaleo has performed on the major stages of the operatic world, including the Metropolitan Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Teatro alla Scala, BBC Proms, and Berlin Staatsoper. This season, she sings performances of Verdi's Requiem with Kwamé Ryan and the Charlotte Symphony. Her engagements in the 2022-23 season included performances with the Cincinnati Symphony May Festival as the Old Woman in Candide, followed by rescheduled performances of Verdi’s Requiem with the Portland Symphony. Past seasons have featured performances of Siegrune in Die Walküre with Teatro alla Scala, Berlin Staatsoper, BBC Proms, and the Metropolitan Opera, where she has also bowed as Flora in La Traviata, a role she also sang with San Francisco Opera; the title role in Carmen with Utah Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, Opera Omaha, Tulsa Opera, Hawaii Opera Theater, and Chautauqua Opera, where she also made her role debuts as Augusta Tabor in The Ballad of Baby Doe and The Old Lady in Candide; Ursule in Béatrice et Bénédict and Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Houston Grand Opera; Amneris in Aida with North Carolina Opera, Portland Opera, El Paso Opera, and Sarasota Opera; Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana with PORT Opera; and she created the role of Tamara in the world premiere of Enemies: A Love Story with Palm Beach Opera. Recent concert highlights include appearances with the Plano Symphony and the Santa Barbara Symphony.

(bios continued next page)

GUEST ARTIST BIOS (continued)

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Cooper Nolan tenor

Tenor Cooper Nolan, praised for his “bright, shining, tenor” (Musical America) and his “powerhouse voice” (Opera News), is increasingly making a name for himself as an important interpreter of some of opera's most demanding tenor roles. This season he debuts with Virginia Opera for a role debut in Siegfried (title role) and will be seen on the concert stage with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra in Verdi’s Messa da Requiem and Harrisburg Symphony for Jonathan Leshnoff’s Saul. Last season he returned to Boston for Verdi’s Messa da Requiem with Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra conducted by Federico Cortese and made his role debut in Aida (Radames) with Finger Lakes Opera. Recent performances include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Jacksonville Symphony and the University of Florida, Defiant Requiem in Washington, DC, and return to University of Florida for Carmina Burana. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in Elgar’s The Kingdom with the American Symphony Orchestra with Leo Botstein conducting followed by a return to Theater Aachen for Hermann in a new production of Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades. Additional recent engagements include a role/house debut as Canio in Pagliacci with Opera San José, Act III of Lohengrin with the Victoria Symphony (Canada) conducted by Christian Kluxen, Act I of Die Walküre with the HarvardRadcliffe Orchestra conducted by Federico Cortese, and was a featured soloist in Charlottesville Opera’s Encore: Opera Favorites conducted by Steven Jarvi. Mr. Nolan made his Oper Frankfurt debut as the title role in Verdi’s Stiffelio and made his role debut as Cavaradossi in Tosca with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic.

(bios continued next page)

GUEST ARTIST BIOS (continued)

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Robert Pomakov bass

This season canadian bass Robert Pomakov returned to the Canadian Opera House as Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro and First Nazarene in Salome. He also returned to Calgary Opera as Banquo in Macbeth. He will also make his deut at the Tiroler Festspiele as Hagen in Götterdämmerung. In the 2021-2022 season, he made his debut at Opernhaus Zürich as Fernando in Il Trovatore, and returned to the roster of the Metropolitan Opera to cover Monterone in Rigoletto, the Grand Inquisitor in Don Carlos, and the Bonze in Madama Butterfly. In recent seasons, Mr. Pomakov made important house debuts with Opéra National de Paris as the Bonze in a production directed by Robert Wilson, and with Den Norske Opera as Gremin in Christof Loy’s production of Eugene Onegin. In the 2018-2019 season Mr. Pomakov made role debuts as Nourabad in Les Pêcheurs de Perles in a return to Santa Fe Opera and Méphistophélès in Faust for his house debut with Vancouver Opera. He returned to Oper Frankfurt for King René in a new production of Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta directed by Lydia Steier and returned to the Metropolitan Opera to reprise the role of Monterone in Rigoletto. Concert performances included his debut with the Victoria Symphony, singing King Heinrich in Act III of Lohengrin, and the New Mexico Philharmonic as the bass soloist in Verdi’s Messa da Requiem. Mr. Pomakov made his Metropolitan Opera house debut as Monterone in Michael Mayer’s new staging of Rigoletto in a production that was seen live in HD in cinemas around the world. He has also appeared with the company as Don Basilio in Bartlett Sher’s production of Il barbiere di Siviglia, Mathieu in Andrea Chénier opposite Patricia Racette and Marcelo Álvarez, Crespel in Les Contes d’Hoffman, the Bonze in Madama Butterfly, Il Frate in Don Carlo under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and in productions of Manon with Diana Damrau and Vittorio Grigolo, and Le nozze di Figaro conducted by James Levine, among others. He covered the title role in Verdi’s Attila in a new production by Pierre Audi, led by Riccardo Muti.

CHARLOTTE MASTER CHOR ALE

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Kenney Potter, Artistic Director Philip Biedenbender, Assistant Conductor & Pianist Erin Schwarz, Chorus Manager

SOPRANO Mariah Seidel Angela Gwinn Monica Amery Emily Shusdock* Allyson Harvel Samantha Balsam* Lucy Singletary* Darlene Ifill-Taylor, MD Rachel Barber Rebecca Smith Kelly Kemp* Sarah Barton Thomas Morgan Stoeling Frances Morrison Keegan Brittain Melissa Theiss Virginia A. Neisler Romy Cawood Mary Theisen Abigail Okland Katie Colgate Sarah Towner* Lauren Pace Claire Crabtree Victoria Wojciechowski Lauren Russell Sarah L. Fink Tracy Schwartz* Sarah Gould

ALTO Brittany Bethel Carin Bissiere-Grote Brett Blumenthal Haley Bohon Cameryn Bost* Lori Garber Kimberly Gilbert Kristen Grzeca Brooke Haney Lisa M Harper Caitlin Whalan Jones Patti Kelly

Karen Kummer Marcella La Barrie Jeanette Laxton Victoria Lloret Emily Lupsor Kirsten Maley Shelby Martell Susan McConnell Claire Murphy Katie Porier Heather Potter* Lillian Quackenbush

Laura Reinbold Audrey Robinette Stephenie Santilli Jennifer Shea Paige Sisk Ryn Spires Angelica Stanley Christine Starnes Susanna Trotter Cricket Weston Evangeline Wilds

TENOR David Benton Miles Caraballo Rajah Chacko David Christopher Herring David Jacobs Skipper Johnson

Jonathan Rollin Mark Kemp* Andreas Schuhmacher Adam Krahn Jordan Taylor Zion Paul Morgan Jesse M. Tillman, III David Moser Daniel Wynkoop Andrew Neisler* Chris Pringle David Quackenbush

BASS Bennett Billard Phillip Bugaiski* Phil Bugaiski Aj Calpo David Dennis Parkes Dibble Donnell Dorsey Stephen Field

Thomas Griffin Donald Holland Jeff Hollowell Zachariah Hunter Maxim Muter Caleb H. Newman Ethan L. Price Manley Roberts

Alan Samdal Jake Spencer* Michael Stoudmire Jason Sykes* Ray Trogdon Duane Westfall* Matt Wetmore *denotes Supplemental Singer

MUSICIAN ROSTER

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YOUR CHARLOTTE SYMPHONY Christopher Warren-Green, Conductor Laureate & Music Adviser Christopher James Lees, Resident Conductor FIRST VIOLINS Calin Ovidiu Lupanu, Concertmaster The Catherine & Wilton Connor Chair Joseph Meyer, Associate Concertmaster Kari Giles, Assistant Concertmaster Susan Blumberg°° Jane Hart Brendle Cynthia Burton Emily Chatham°° Ayako Gamo Lenora Leggatt Jenny Topilow Dustin Wilkes-Kim Hanna Zhdan SECOND VIOLINS Oliver Kot, Principal The Wolfgang Roth Chair Kathleen Jarrell, Assistant Principal The Pepsi-Cola Foundation of Charlotte Chair Carlos Tarazona° Monica Boboc Martha Geissler Sakira Harley Tatiana Karpova Ellyn Stuart VIOLAS Benjamin Geller, Principal The Zoe Bunten Merrill Principal Viola Chair Alaina Rea, Assistant Principal * Chihiro Tanaka, Acting Asst. Principal Ellen Ferdon Cynthia Frank Wenlong Huang Viara Stefanova Ning Zhao CELLOS Jonathan Lewis, Principal The Kate Whitner McKay Principal Cello Chair Allison Drenkow, Acting Asst. Principal Alan Black, Principal Emeritus* Marlene Ballena Jeremy Lamb Amy Sunyoung Lee Sarah Markle Oksana McCarthy†

DOUBLE BASSES Kurt Riecken, Principal* Jason McNeel, Acting Principal Judson Baines, Assistant Principal* Justin Cheesman, Acting Asst. Principal Jeffrey Ferdon Luis Primera† FLUTES Victor Wang, Principal The Blumenthal Foundation Chair Amy Orsinger Whitehead Erinn Frechette PICCOLO Erinn Frechette OBOES Erica Cice, Acting Principal The Leo B. Driehuys Chair‡ Teil Taliesin† Terry Maskin ENGLISH HORN Terry Maskin CLARINETS Taylor Marino, Principal The Gary H. & Carolyn M. Bechtel Chair Samuel Sparrow Allan Rosenfeld E♭ CLARINET Samuel Sparrow BASS CLARINET Allan Rosenfeld BASSOONS Joseph Merchant, Principal Joshua Hood Nicholas Ritter CONTRABASSOON Nicholas Ritter

MUSICIAN ROSTER (continued) HORNS Byron Johns, Principal The Mr. & Mrs. William H. Van Every Chair Andrew Fierova Philip Brindise† The Robert E. Rydel, Jr. Third Horn Chair Richard Goldfaden Andrew Merideth† TRUMPETS Alex Wilborn, Principal The Betty J. Livingstone Chair Jonathan Kaplan Gabriel Slesinger, Associate Principal The Marcus T. Hickman Chair TROMBONES John Bartlett, Principal Thomas Burge

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TIMPANI Jacob Lipham, Principal The Robert Haywood Morrison Chair PERCUSSION Brice Burton, Principal HARP Andrea Mumm Trammell, Principal The Dr. Billy Graham Chair

This roster lists the full-time members of the Charlotte Symphony. The number and seating of musicians onstage varies depending on the piece being performed.

BASS TROMBONE Scott Hartman, Principal TUBA Colin Benton, Principal The Governor James G. Martin Chair

° Non-revolving position °° Alternates between first and second violins † Acting member of the Charlotte Symphony ‡ Funded by The Symphony Guild of Charlotte, Inc. * On leave

ARTISTIC OPERATIONS Michael Reichman, VP of Artistic Operations & General Manager Carrie Graham, Director of Artistic Planning Tim Pappas, Director of Operations Nixon Bustos, Principal Music Librarian Erin Eady, Personnel Manager Bradley Geneser, Associate Principal Librarian Claire Beiter, Operations Coordinator John Jarrell, Stage Manager

The Charlotte Symphony is a proud member of the League of American Ochestras.

MUSICIAN SPOTLIGHT

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CALIN OVIDIU LUPANU

Concertmaster Member of CSO since 2003 hometown: Timisoara, Romania

Hear Calin perform Wieniawski’s Concerto for Violin No. 2 with the Charlotte Symphony February 16–18, 2024. LEARN MORE

FUN FACTS • I play a violin made by Pierre Silvestre in Lyon, France in 1857 • I love football (America soccer)! • If I could meet one composer, it would be Beethoven. I would love to say, “Thank you for your music!” For more information about Charlotte Symphony musicians, visit

charlottesymphony.org

ABOUT THE CSO

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One of the premier music organizations in the Southeastern United States and the oldest operating symphony orchestra in the Carolinas, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (CSO) connects with more than 100,000 music lovers each year through its lively season of concerts, broadcasts, community events, and robust educational programs. The CSO is committed to its mission of uplifting, entertaining, and educating the diverse communities of Charlotte-Mecklenburg and beyond through exceptional musical experiences. The Charlotte Symphony upholds the highest artistic integrity and takes bold steps to engage with its community through music. Its 65 professional, full-time musicians perform throughout the region — from community parks and breweries, to places of worship and senior care centers — and offer significant educational support, aimed at serving the underresourced areas of our community. The Charlotte Symphony is deeply committed to the notion that music, accessible to all and experienced in its many forms, enriches and unifies our community. The CSO believes in equity and inclusion and strives to be an industry leader in imaginative, relevant programming by intentionally seeking out women conductors, underrepresented in our industry, and conductors, composers, and guest artists of color. Founded in 1932, the Charlotte Symphony plays a leading cultural role in the Charlotte area and serves the community as a civic leader, reflecting and uniting our region through the transformative power of live music.

OUR MISSION The Charlotte Symphony uplifts, entertains, and educates the diverse communities of Charlotte-Mecklenburg and beyond through exceptional musical experiences.

OUR VISION Reaching out through the transformative power of live music, the Charlotte Symphony will be a civic leader, reflecting and uniting our region.

For more information, visit us online at

charlottesymphony.org

CSO ROADSHOW

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charlottesymphony.org/csoroadshow

CSO ROADSHOW (continued)

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We're rolling out something big! This spring, your Charlotte Symphony takes the music on the road for CSO Roadshow, a traveling concert series that will bring pop-up music experiences to neighborhoods across Charlotte. Our mobile stage will bring the power of live music to the heart of local communities as our 40-foot trailer takes Charlotte Symphony musicians to streets, parks, and plazas in free "walk up" concerts for all to enjoy. Watch this page for upcoming CSO Roadshow concerts near you!

Calling Artists: Design Our Mobile Stage! Are you a talented local artist with a vision for uniting Charlotte through live music? Apply to our Mobile Stage Open Call, in partnership with Charlotte Is Creative! The winning artist's design for an exterior wrap of our mobile stage will resonate with the heartbeat of our vibrant city and showcase music's extraordinary power to bring people together and break down barriers. See full details at Charlotte Is Creative.

Upcoming Concerts: Sunday, April 28, 2024 Latin American Coalition

Sunday, May 5, 2024 Mayfield Memorial Missionary Baptist Church

Sunday, May 12, 2024 Renaissance West

Friday, June 21, 2024 Ophelia Garmon-Brown Community Center The creation of CSO Roadshow is made possible by a generous grant from the City of Charlotte and the Philip L. Van Every Foundation.

PROGR AM NOTES by Ken Meltzer

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GIUSEPPE VERDI born: October 9 or 10, 1813 in Le Roncole, Italy died: January 27, 1901 in Milan Italy

Messa da Requiem (1874) premiere: May 22, 1874 in Milan

“Stay away from priests” Composer Arrigo Boito, the librettist for Giuseppe Verdi’s final operatic masterworks, Otello (1887) and Falstaff (1893), offered this description of the maestro’s religious beliefs: This is the day, of all days of the year, that he loved best. Christmas Eve reminded him of the holy marvels of childhood, the enchantments of a faith that is truly celestial only when it attains to belief in miracles. That belief, alas, he lost early, like all of us, but perhaps more than the rest of us he retained all his life a keen regret for it. He provided an example of Christian faith by the moving beauty of his religious works, by observing rites (you must remember his beautiful head bowed in the chapel of [his home in] Sant’Agata), by his illustrious homage to (Alessandro) Manzoni (the Messa da Requiem), by the directions for his funeral found in his will: “one priest, one candle, one cross.” He knew that faith was the sustenance of hearts. ...In the ideal and moral sense he was a great Christian, but one should take care not to present him as a Catholic in the political and strictly theological sense of the word: nothing could be further from the truth. The “truth” was that Giuseppe Verdi harbored a lifelong distrust for organized religion. “Sta lontan dai pret” (“Stay away from priests”), he once cautioned a member of his family. And in such operas as Don Carlos and Aida, Verdi fearlessly portrays hypocrisy within the religious hierarchy. Verdi’s negative feelings toward organized religion may have had their origins in a childhood incident. When Verdi was about seven years old, he served as an altar boy at the church of San Michele in his birthplace of Roncole. During Mass, the young Verdi failed to respond promptly to the priest’s request for water and wine. The priest shoved Verdi, and the child fell from the altar. The humiliated boy responded with the peasant (Program Notes continued next page)

PROGR AM NOTES (continued)

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curse: “Dio t’manda ‘na sajetta!” (“May God strike you with lightning!”). In a surreal turn of events, eight years later the priest was indeed struck by lightning and killed. But Verdi was also capable of writing music of extraordinary beauty that portrayed sincere religious fervor. One need only hear the supplications of Amelia in Un ballo in maschera, Leonora in La forza del destino, Aida, or Desdemona in Otello to realize that Verdi’s operatic characters could pray with as much devotion as anyone. It should be noted that Italy’s foremost opera composer ended his career with a sacred work, the Quattro pezzi sacri (1898).

“I would have knelt before him” The 1874 Requiem Mass represents Verdi’s greatest achievement in the realm of sacred music. The work had its origin in the November 13, 1868 passing of opera composer Gioachino Rossini. Verdi proposed that several Italian composers collaborate on a Requiem Mass to be presented on the first anniversary of Rossini’s death. Verdi contributed the concluding Libera me to the Messa per Rossini. Due to various political intrigues, the work was not performed until 1988. However, the death of another immortal Italian artist five years after Rossini’s demise inspired Verdi to compose his Requiem Mass. Throughout his life, Verdi revered the beloved Italian writer Alessandro Manzoni (1785-1873), the author of the epic 1827 novel, I promessi sposi (The Betrothed). I promessi sposi tells the story of a young couple in early 17th-century Italy who are separated by political and social tyranny. This magnificent work resonated with those who, like Verdi, advocated the overthrow of foreign rulers, and the unification of Italy. Verdi himself called I promessi sposi “not just a book, but a consolation to all mankind.” After finally meeting the author in 1868, Verdi wrote: “What can I say of Manzoni? How to describe the extraordinary, indefinable sensation the presence of that saint...produced in me? I would have knelt down before him if we were allowed to worship men.” Manzoni died on May 22, 1873. Verdi was so devastated by the loss that he could not bring himself to attend the funeral. But Verdi wrote to publisher Giulio Ricordi: “I shall come in a little while to visit his grave, alone and without being seen, and perhaps (after further reflection, and after I have weighed up my strength) to propose some way of honoring his memory.” (Program Notes continued next page)

PROGR AM NOTES (continued)

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Verdi decided his homage to Manzoni would be in the form of a Requiem Mass, to be offered on the first anniversary of the author’s death. In the Manzoni Requiem, Verdi incorporated the Libera me from the ill-fated Messa per Rossini.

“His latest opera in ecclesiastical garb” The premiere of Verdi’s Requiem Mass took place in Milan at the Church of San Marco on May 22, 1874. Verdi himself conducted the orchestra, chorus, and distinguished vocal quartet of soprano Teresa Stolz, mezzo-soprano Maria Waldmann, tenor Giuseppe Capponi, and bass Ormondo Maini. Reactions of the audience and critics were generally favorable. However, on the day before the premiere, the conductor, pianist, and Richard Wagner disciple, Hans von Bülow, wrote the following for the Allgemeine Zeitung: Tomorrow will see at the Church of St. Mark, Milan, decked out like a theatre for the event, a monster performance of Verdi’s Requiem, conducted, exceptionally by the composer himself...a work with which the all-powerful corrupter of Italian artistic taste presumably hopes to sweep away the remains of Rossini’s immortality, which is so troublesome to his ambition. His latest opera in ecclesiastical garb will then be exposed to public admiration at La Scala for three evenings in succession... These words prompted Bülow’s friend Johannes Brahms to remark: “Bülow has made a fool of himself for all time; only a genius could write such a work.” Several years later, Bülow wrote to Verdi and confessed that a performance of the Requiem had moved him to tears. “Now I admire you, I love you!”, Bülow exclaimed. “Will you forgive me, will you use the sovereign’s right to grant pardon?... Long live VERDI, the Wagner of our dear allies!” Verdi replied: “There is no trace of sin in you. Besides, who knows? Perhaps you were right the first time!” Privately, however, Verdi told Ricordi that Bülow was “decidedly mad.”

(Program Notes continued next page)

PROGR AM NOTES (continued)

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Alessandro Manzoni, in whose honor Verdi wrote the Requiem.

“To the greater glory of God” Bülow's original observations, as caustic as they are, do point to a criticism that has often been leveled against the Verdi Requiem — specifically, that the music is too operatic, too overtly dramatic for a liturgical text. It is true that in the composition of the Requiem, Verdi drew upon his thirtyfive years of experience in the theater. Verdi was sixty at the time of the work’s premiere and had composed all but two of his twenty-eight operas. In Verdi’s defense, however, one might rhetorically inquire what text is more dramatic than that depicting man at the end of his days upon Earth, awaiting eternal judgment? While some may question the appropriateness of Verdi’s setting of the Requiem, few would argue with the proposition that the work is the creation of a genius at the height of his powers. For Verdi’s part, he summarized his feelings about the Manzoni Requiem: “I have done nothing but write note after note, to the greater glory of God...Now the music is done, and I am happy to have written it.”

SUPPORTERS

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We gratefully acknowledge these generous donors to the Charlotte Symphony Annual Fund. This list reflects gifts received between July 1, 2023 through November 1, 2023

BENEFACTOR CIRCLE $100,000+ Catherine & Wilton Connor*

Douglas Young

$50,000 – $99,999 J. Porter & Victoria Durham Jane & Hugh McColl*

Patricia & Thrus Morton

$25,000 – $49,999 Anonymous Joan & Mick Ankrom Richard & Ruth Ault Dr. Milton & Arlene Berkman Philanthropic Fund Mark & Judith Brodsky Roberta H. Cochran Jean & Dick Cornwell Linda & Bill Farthing John & Maria Huson

Richard Krumdieck Jacqueline B. Mars Patrick J. O'Leary Richard J. Osborne Debbie & Pat Phillips Paul & Kathy Reichs Carolyn Shaw John & Andromeda Williams

$15,000 – $24,999 Anonymous (2) Melissa & Daren Anderson Emanuel & Nicola Clark Ralph S. Grier Mary & Michael Lamach Betty P. & Jeffrey J. Lee

DeDe & Alex McKinnon Alex & Ulrike Miles Robert Norville Judy & Derek Raghavan Thomas & Sherry Skains Adam & Sienne Taylor

$10,000 – $14,999 Anonymous (3) Joye D. Blount & Jessie J. Knight Jr. Katharine & Frank Bragg Mr. & Mrs. R. Alfred Brand III Lynne & Colby Cathey Margarita & Nick Clements Jeanie & Tom Cottingham Lisa & Carlos Evans Christoph & Robin Feddersen Karen Fox Charles & Caren Gale Janet M. Haack Susan & Chris Kearney Ginger Kelly Ms. Nina Lesavoy

Laura & Perry Poole Ann & Fritz Rehkopf Mrs. Rosalind Richardson Pat Rodgers Cory & Amanda Rogers Marjorie Moses Schwab Ylida and Bert Scott Melinda & David Snyder Drs. Jennifer Sullivan & Matthew Sullivan Mary Claire and Dan Wall Kevin and Jill Walker Leigh & Watts Humphrey Richard and Lisa Worf

* The Charlotte Symphony recognizes donors of exceptional generosity whose cumulative giving to the CSO exceeds $1 million with the designation of Music Director Society.

SUPPORTERS (continued) VIRTUOSO CIRCLE $5,000 – $9,999 Howard P. Adams & Carol B. McPhee Francisco & Jeannette Alvarado Steve & Katrice Boland Mary & Charles Bowman Twig & Barbara Branch Bill & Robin Branstrom Katherine & Thomas Bunn Shirley & Michael Butterworth Mr. & Mrs. Keith Cockrell Malcomb & Tammy Coley Brian & Morgan Cromwell Denise & Peter DeMaio Donna & Alvaro de Molina Mary Anne Dickson Peggy & Richard Dreher Mary & Robert Engel Thomas & Heather Finke David J.L. Fisk & Anne O'Byrne Joan & Parker Foley Carol & Ron Follmer Eileen Friars & Scott Pyle Dr. Robert A. Gaines & Toni Burke Sarah & Frank Gentry Barry & Laurie Guy James & Rebecca Hovis Shirley & Bob Ivey Chris Jensen Page & Ed Kizer Hartmut & Irene Kossack Robert & Vivian Lamb Laszlo & Anna Littmann Zaydee López-Ibáňez Leslie & Michael Marsicano Susanne & Bill McGuire Mr. & Mrs. Paul McIntosh Susan & Loy McKeithen Mrs. Sandra Levine Dick Metzler Chuck Miller & Marcy Thailer Mr. & Mrs. Brian T. Moynihan Holly & Jason Norvell Torsten & Kim Pilz Emily & Nima Pirzadeh Nancy & Charlie Robson Sara Garcés Roselli & Dan Roselli Bette Roth Laura & Michael Schulte Donald & Susan Sherrill Glenn Sherrill, Jr in honor of Robin Branstom Mr. & Mrs. Harley F. Shuford, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Pope A. Shuford Nancy E. Simpson Lori & Eric Sklut

page 25 Kevin Taylor Chris & Jim Teat Judith & Gary Toman Mr. & Mrs. C.L. Trenkelbach Suzie & Nick Trivisonno In Memory of Tess Verbesey Floyd Wisner & Glenda Colman Glenda Colman Sidney & Bobby Youngs Abby & Albert Zue

$3,500 – $4,999 Anonymous Wedge & Debbie Abels Mr. James Biddlecome, in Loving Memory of Bernadette Zirkuli Biddlecome Philipp J. Bischoff & Dawn Beatty Si & Michael Blake Ms. Judith Carpenter Sally & Derick Close H. Clay Furches Leigh & Watts Humphrey Richard I. McHenry & Cynthia L. Caldwell Arrington & Burch Mixon Tony & Linda Pace Marsha & Robert L. Stickler Daniel & Kathleen Troy Edgar & Karen Whitener George McLendon & Carol Quillen

$2,500 – $3,499 Anonymous Julian Andretta Merilyn & Craig Baldwin Mrs. Harriet B. Barnhardt Bill & Georgia Belk Tiffany & Jason Bernd Jan & Bob Busch Cathy Bessant & John Clay Mr. & Mrs. Alan Blumenthal Amy & Philip Blumenthal Dr. & Mrs. O. Robert Boehm Ann Thomas Colley Dorothy & Mike Connor Deborah J. Cox & Bob Szymkiewicz Alfred & Amy Dawson Chris & Elizabeth Daly In Memory of Betty Haggarty Peter De Arcangelis Phil & Mary Delk Cheryl DeMaio Peggy & Charles Dickerson Timothy & Kara Gallagher Harvey & Cindy Gannt Todd & Andrea Griffith (continued next page)

SUPPORTERS (continued) $2,500 – $3,499 (continued) Mr. Billy L. Gerhart, in memory of Judith Gerhart Mariam Abdul Hamid Ivan Hinrichs Brian & Juliet Hirsch Ben & Christy Hume Fran & Greg Hyde Jim & Peggy Hynes Bruce & Martha Karsh Ginger Kemp Mr. & Mrs. Luke Kissam Dr. & Mrs. Christ A. Koconis Meghan & Luis Lluberas James Lynch Jim & Dottie Martin Rob Roy McGregor Dee Dee McKay Diane & Aderito Morais Jay & Elizabeth Monge Joan Morgan Celene & Marc Oken Dr. Reta R. Phifer Mr. Vincent Phillips & Mr. Paul Pope Kathleen D. Prokay Mr. & Mrs. Robert R. Rollins, Jr. Dr. Mahesh Sardesai Paulette Sherrill George & Tricia Sistrunk Emily & Zach Smith Morris & Patricia Spearman Elizabeth Connor Stewart Dottie Stowe in loving memory of Dickson Stowe Dr. Mark R. Swanson Drs. Chris & Lillian Teigland Eric & Annette Telljohann In Memory of Dr. Chandler Thompson Dr. John A. Thompson, Jr. & Dr. Lee Rocamora Dr. Cynthia H. Tyson Mindy & Don Upton Paul & Susan Vadnais Bill & Rita Vandiver Dr. Shante Williams Steph & Gemo Yesil

PATRON CIRCLE $1,500 – $2,499 Anonymous Marcia Adams Ross & Michele Annable Clay & Denise Armbrister Dan & Barbara Austell Dianne & Brian Bailey Sharon Baker & Peter Moore

page 26 Mr. & Mrs. Taylor Batten Erskine & Crandall Bowles Kelly & Jackie Brown Sarah & Marco Carbone Ms. Catherine P. Carstarphen Mr. Brent Clevenger Neil & Claire Cotty Elizabeth Betty Eaton William & Patricia Gorelick Family Foundation Angela & Michael Helms Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin F. Hill, Jr. Mr. James Howell & Mrs. Deanna Kelly Joan Irwin Gene & Helen Katz Christopher James Lees Elizabeth J. McLaughlin† Stacy & Adam Marino Anna Marriott Ms. Rosemarie Marshall & Mr. Lee Wilkins Mr. Glenn Mincey & Mrs. Macie Mincey Eleanor W. Neal Caroline Olzinski Pamela Pearson & Charles Peach John & Susan Rae Jane Perry Shoemaker Katie & Raleigh Shoemaker Ken Spielfogel & Richard Withem Robert & Maxine Stein Gail & Scott Syfert Tillie S. Tice Jenny & Ken Tolson James H. Trexler & Kelly Zellars Vera Watson Grant Webb Linda & Craig Weisbruch Cricket Weston & David Molinaro Mrs. Eugenia N. White Bryan Wilhelm Noni Williams Deems Wilson Ms. Deborra Wood & Mr. Russell Propst

$1,000 – $1,499 Anonymous (5) Ashley & Steve Allen Kathleen & Richard Anderson Mary Lou & Jim Babb Mr. & Mrs. Lincoln A. Baxter Morgan & Katie Beggs Katherine W. Belk John & Katherine Beltz Shirley W. Benfield Donald H. & Barbara K. Bernstein Family Foundation Ms. Brett Blumenthal & Mr. David Wax Carole Bourret (continued next page)

SUPPORTERS (continued) Khary Brown in Memory of Kyden Justice Brown Herbert Browne Mr. Charles Budd Jane & Larry Cain Maggie Callen Bill & Pauline Chinnis David M. Cody Mr. Mark Copeland & Mrs. Kathleen Goldammer-Copeland Ann F. Copeland Dr. & Mrs. Mark Couture Sarah & Larry Dagenhart Gwin Dalton Rufus Dalton Dan & Jeannette Davis Dr. Kandi & Gary Deitemeyer Dena Diorio Ralph & Troyann Dougherty Matt & Julie Drinkhahn Jay & Lisa Duggins Shobhan & Pritika Dutta Virginia Dulaney Bob & Judy Erb Martin Ericson, Jr. Julie & Tom Eiselt Lisa & Carlos Evans Trae & Kate Fletcher Ms. Toni Freeman Stephen C. & Jean S. Geller Jenn & Taylor Gherardi Kathy Gray Joyce & Ed Hamilton Anne J. Henderson Mical Hutson Paul & Linda Ibsen Martha D. Jones Lea & Stuart Johnson Mr. & Mrs. John E. Kibler Joan Kirschner Marilyn Kroll Jonathan Lamb Ms. Barbara Laughllin Mark & Katherine Love Lucinda Nisbet Lucas Dr. & Mrs. Randolph Mahnesmith Mrs. Allison Malter Holly & Christopher Maurer Ms. Nydia McCrohan Shawn & Kelly McGrath Martha Monserrate Susan D. Montgomery Janet Preyer Nelson Peter & Janet Nixon Mr. & Mrs. E. O. Oakley Michael & Debbie O’Hara Karen L. Oldham

page 27 Elaind Papadimitriou Arvind & Helen Patil Gwen Peterson & Tom Hodge Catherine Philpott Lucy Quintilliano & Leonard Fumi Dr. & Mrs. R. Pinkney Rankin, Jr. Morry Alter & Joan Rasmussen Brendan Reen Dave & Anne Regnery Rita & Thomas Robinson Sally & Russell Robinson Mrs. Gail Salmon Dr. Stephen P. Schultz & Donna Dutton Thomas & Natasha Scrivener Mr. & Mrs. William Seifert Molly & Conrad Sloan Scott Smith Murray & Hazel Somerville Kathryn Stewart Al & Alice Sudduth Ann & Wellford Tabor Richard R. Taylor Mr. & Mrs. Hans Teich Catherine Thompson B. Maureen Turner Vint & Libby Tilson Sarah S. Tull Drs. Iris Cheng & Daniel Uri Dr. & Mrs. Bill Chu & Jin Wang Ward Wellman & Laura Meyer Wellman Pam & Steve West Peter White David Wilcox Mr. Gary Wilhite Ms. Judith Wood Eugene Woods Ms. Barbara Yarbrough

$500 – $999 AAnonymous (4) Michael & Lee Abbott Doug & Linda Abel Mark Abrams & Iris Prandi Mr. Lester Ackerman & Mr. Layton Campbell Larry Anderson Leigh & Rhonda Armistead JWD Atchison Bob & Cathy Becker Emerson Bell Ms. Melody Birmingham James Broadstone Aram & Scott Bryan Greg & Mary Lou Cagle Barbara F. Caine Ms. Lisa Callen Mary Case Amanda & Kevin Chheda (continued next page)

SUPPORTERS (continued) $500 – $999 (continued) Hobart B. Cheyne Dr. W. Gerald Cochran & Mr. Timothy D. Gudger Mr. Thomas E. Collins, Jr. Mrs. Jane M. Conlan Jack Cook Dr. Kilian Cooley Martin & Leslie Cooper Ellen M. Crowley Mr. Todd Croy Mrs. Judy Crozier Angela & Jesse Cureton Craig Selimotic Danforth Dr. Roy E. DeMeo, Jr. & Ms. Linda A. Evanko Doug & Diane Doak Cheryl Drake-Bowers Rebecca Elliott Gloria Evans Melisa & Frank Galasso Dr. John & Eileen Gardella Pete & Stacy Gherardi Donna Gibson Sarah Goad Mr. Walter H. Goodwin, Esq. Dan & Linda Gordon Ms. Cynthia Greenlee Tara & Richard Harris Mr. & Mrs. Lowrance Harry Mr. Charles Haughey Patrick & Johanne Hawk Mr. & Mrs. Michael D. Heafner Mr. Stefan Heinzelmann Robert Henderson Logan & Jennifer Henderson Barbara Holt Dr. & Mrs. Alexander Horowitz Pete & Phyllis Johnson Vickie & Eugene Johnson Michael & Priscilla Johnson Tim & Kathryn Johnson Joseph & Patty Kahle Emily Kalfayan Steven & Mary Kesselman James King Nancy H. Kiser Dr. & Mrs. Jack Kramer Theodore & Dorothy Kramer Fran & Bart Landess Linda Lane Harry & Gloria Lerner Jerome & Barbara Levin Mr. Michael Lewandowski Mr. George Linfors

page 28 Shira Lissek Kathryn Long Mark & Katherine Love Vi Lyles Dr. & Mrs. William W. MacDonald Bruce & Leigh Marsh Linda Marshall Francis & Paula Martin Ed & Wendy Matthews Mr. & Mrs. Kiran H. Mehta Eric Miller Anne & Brad Mitchell Christopher Montgomery Tom & Sally Moore Gary & Fran Morrison Robert & Carla Murray Nancy Olah & Bill Pace Cookie & Jerry Parnell Janet & Rick Pfeiffer John & Wilma Pinter Mr. & Mrs. Rodney C. Pitts Jeanine & Naeem Qasim Haywood & Sabine Rankin Ana & Manuel Rey Jose & Megan Rosado Shonn Ross Nancy Rutledge & Jim Rutledge Robert & Christine Rydel Alyssa Sharpe Katy & Raleigh Shoemaker Michael Silverman Carol Smith Dr. & Mrs. Henry L. Smith II John-Palmer Smith Rebecca & Eric Smith Julia J. Souther Bill & Mary Stanton Mr. & Mrs. Larry Stern William & Catherine Stone Wesley & Claudia Sturges George & Brenda Sweet Ms. Sarah Teague Gretchen & Jean-Claude Thill Tim Timson James & Melanie Twyne Greg & Sandy Vlahos Minyan Wang Lyman Welton Barnet & Harriet Weinstock Dan & Susan Yardley

For more information on how to make a gift to the CSO Annual Fund, please contact Libby Currier, Director of Individual Givings, at 704.714.5137 or lcurrierl@charlottesymphony.org.

SUPPORTERS (continued)

page 29

The Encore Society includes individuals who have made provisions for the CSO in their estate plans. We are honored to recognize their support: Lucille & Edwin Jones Paul and Paula McIntosh Nellie McCrory† M. Marie Mitchell† Cricket Weston & David Molinaro Joan & Richard Morgan Don C. Niehus Eva Nove Richard J. Osborne Gwen Peterson & Tom Hodge James Y. Preston† Mrs. Clayton (Dusty) Pritchett Ann & Fritz Rehkopf Elizabeth Waring Reinhard Nancy W. Rutledge Mike Rutledge Harriet Seabrook Mr. & Mrs. William Seifert Morris & Patricia Spearman Bob & Maxine Stein Dr. Ben C. Taylor III Mr. & Mrs. Hans Teich Cordelia G. Thompson Tim Timson Jenny & Ken Tolson Ms. Debora Wood & Mr. Russell Propst

Anonymous (3) Geraldine I. Anderson† Richard & Ruth Ault Baldwin Family Trust Barnhardt Thomas Trust Larry & Joyce† Bennett Donald H. & Barbara K. Bernstein Mark & Louise Bernstein† Rosemary Blanchard† Twig & Barbara Branch Saul Brenner Mike & Joan Brown† Mrs. Joan Bruns† Jan & Bob Busch Dr. Helen G. Cappleman, Ph.D.† Jim Cochran† Robin Cochran Tom Covington Charles & Peggy Dickerson Mr. Martin Ericson, Jr. David J.L. Fisk & Anne P. O’Byrne Peter & Ann† Guild William G. & Marguerite K. Huey Fund† Dr. Nish Jamgotch, Jr. Betty & Stanley Livingstone† † Deceased

Leave a lasting legacy of great music through your planned gift. For more information, please contact Shayne Doty at 704.714.5104.

Support your CSO. With your gift, the Charlotte Symphony uplifts, entertains, and educates the diverse communities of Charlotte-Mecklenburg and beyond through exceptional musical experiences.

Every gift makes a difference. Make your contribution today:

charlottesymphony.org/give-today

CSO Verdi's Requiem - program 11-17-23

Articles inside

Program Notes

Guest Artist Bios

Conductor Bio

Concert Program

Welcome Note