Carmel Symphony Orchestra Shuffles Its 2021–22 Season

Carmel Symphony Orchestra

Shuffles Its 2021–22 Season

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Kim Kiely and Terry Bonneau

The Carmel Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is shuffling its schedule amid the current surge of COVID-19 omicron variant cases. CSO—a resident company of the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts—is in the middle of its 2021–22 season and has decided to postpone—not cancel—five upcoming concert dates in the interest of the health and safety of the community, orchestra family and its supportive audience.

Erring on the Side of Caution

hree of the affected concerts are our family concerts,” stated Robert Schlegel III, chairman of the CSO board of directors. “Normally, at Family Fun and Side-by-Side, young people are actually on the stage with our musicians, literally side by side with them. With the current COVID surge, and with so few among the younger age groups vaccinated, or even able to be vaccinated, our board determined that this probably isn’t the best thing to be doing at this time.”

Masterworks 4 on Saturday, March 12, and Masterworks 5 with guest artist Edgar Meyer on Saturday, April 23, will run as scheduled. The Family Fun concert, originally set for January 23, is being rescheduled for May 14. The other concerts affected by the temporary pause will be booked for the 2022–23 season.

Patrons holding tickets for the postponed events can elect to donate their ticket amount to the CSO or obtain a refund by calling the box office at (317) 843-3800. “T

A Few Words From CSO’s Artistic Director

Versatility, passion and innovation are the hallmarks of American conductor Janna Hymes. And it is more than appropriate to add flexibility and determination to that list as Hymes continues to navigate CSO through the ever-changing pandemic waters.

The new year kicked off Jan. 8 with a Palladium-based CSO Pops Concert with guest artist the great jazz trumpeter Byron Stripling. Hymes emphasized that CSO is not losing its powerful momentum this season, it just simply is hitting the pause button until March.

“All I’m thinking about right now is the safety of people,” Hymes said. “It is disheartening that we’re going through this right now, but we’re not canceling our season. We’ve already had a great start to this season playing amazing concerts, and the orchestra is on fire right now. We’re going to be playing these amazing concerts [that have been postponed], and we’re definitely making the right decision. We’ve all had to adjust and lose a little sleep, and as a leader in the arts community here, I feel like I’m making the best decisions for our organization. I see what we’re doing as smart and empathetic and putting safety first.”

Get Ready for an Outstanding March and April at CSO

Experience the Exceptional this March with Beethoven’s “Leonore Overture No. 3.” This overture is one of four overtures

Beethoven wrote for the opera “Leonore,” later named “Fidelio.” Ginastera’s “Estancia Four Dances” were written for a ballet with the dances being focused on the life of the gauchos on one of the estancias in the pampa. The concert closes with “Scheherazade” by Rimsky-Korskaov. This piece is full of glorious solo opportunities for the orchestra.

CSO’s final Experience the Exceptional concert closes as Edgar Meyer joins the CSO in performing Bottesini’s “Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra” and Meyer’s own “Concerto for Double Bass in D.” The concert also features works by William Schuman, Scott Joplin and George Gershwin. The orchestra rounds out the evening with a performance of Badelt and Zimmer’s beloved film score “Pirates of the Caribbean.”

Hymes added, “Edgar Meyer is amazing, and he’s an incredible bass player.”

Since Hymes’ arrival at CSO, the once-volunteer orchestra is now a paid orchestra, which Hymes is incredibly proud of and explained that it raises the level of professionalism and expectations within the organization as it relates to the musicians.

“The orchestra is playing better than ever at a really high level,” Hymes expressed. “I’m so excited about the work that we’ve done together since I’ve been here [for four years] is very audible to the audience right now. I encourage everyone to check our website to see when we will be rescheduling the Harlem String Quartet and follow us on social media as well for other [postponed] concert updates.”

For up-to-date information on orchestra activities, announcements and to purchase tickets to CSO, please visit carmelsymphony.org. Sign up for CSO e-blasts and follow CSO on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for concert updates and CSO announcements. Please note, the 2022–23 CSO schedule will be announced in April.

AFFECTED CSO 2021–22 PERFORMANCES

Family Fun Concert - originally scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 23, now is officially set for Saturday, May 14, 3 p.m. at the Palladium

Masterworks 3 with the Harlem String Quartet, Saturday, Feb. 12

Beethoven Lives Upstairs: A Classical Kids Live! Event, Saturday, Feb. 19

Pops Concert: Serpentine Fire: The Music of Earth, Wind & Fire - originally scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 26, definitely will be rescheduled for next season

Side-by-Side Concert with Fishers High School featuring CSO Young Artist Competition winner Abigail Ko, Sunday, March 6.

MASTERWORKS 4

March 12, 7:30 pm

Featuring the music of Beethoven, Ginastera, and the Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherezade.

MASTERWORKS 5

April 23, 7:30 pm

With guest artist Edgar Meyer, double bass, featuring the music of Shostakovich, Joplin, Gershwin and more!

Tickets start at just $18 at CarmelSymphony.org!

The Pal adium at the Center fo the Perfo ming Arts