2022/23 season
photo: Michael Ensminger
IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES
n behalf of our musicians, staff, and Board of Trustees, welcome to our 2022/23 Season! I am thrilled to be joining your Colorado Symphony as Principal Conductor, as I have always enjoyed working with this extraordinary orchestra and have been consistently impressed by the support and passion of the Denver arts community. The level of musicianship and dedication among our players and the organization’s willingness to experiment, collaborate, and push the boundaries of what an American orchestra can be, makes this a very exciting partnership. Each of us is committed to bringing the best in live, symphonic music to an eclectic and ever-growing audience, and we’re well positioned to embark on an exciting path forward in the years to come. We’re delighted to present to you a season brimming with extraordinary talent and exciting repertoire that we hope will ignite your imagination, and I’m particularly honored to begin my first season at the helm alongside legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman on September 10 for an evening featuring some of Hollywood’s greatest violin scores. Some personal highlights from the upcoming season include: n
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O pening Weekend on September 16-18, where we’ll feature Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with pianist Jon Kimura Parker and Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances. F rom January 27-29, we’ll host a mini festival we’re calling Mozart and Now, reimagining the traditional concert weekend experience with three unique performances contrasting the music of Mozart with pieces from four of today’s brightest composers. In March, I’m delighted to conduct the German Requiem by Brahms, one of the most stunning pieces ever composed for chorus and orchestra. e'll conclude our Classics season in May with Stravinsky’s groundbreaking The Rite of Spring and Brahms’ Violin Concerto performed by W stellar violinist Augustin Hadelich.
Debuting this season is an exciting new creation called the Imagination Artist Series, featuring collaborations with Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA, Broadway’s Mary-Mitchell Campbell, and Colorado’s own Nathaniel Rateliff. We’ll be providing these artists with unparalleled creative access to the entire orchestra to curate orchestral programs while sharing three unique artistic visions that will debut exclusively for Colorado Symphony audiences during this season. Mary-Mitchell Campbell’s Tribute to Stephen Sondheim debuts this September while RZA and Nathaniel Rateliff’s concerts will be announced at a later date, but we can’t wait to see what they dream up. Our 2022/23 Season promises to be an imaginative and spectacular journey through some of the best music ever composed. I look forward to seeing you in Boettcher Concert Hall and can’t wait to create a wealth of incredible musical memories together over the seasons to come. Sincerely,
Peter Oundjian Principal Conductor, Colorado Symphony PRESENTING SPONSOR
COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG
P R O U D LY S U P P O R T E D B Y
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photo: Lisa Marie Mazzucco
ONE-NIGHT-ONLY
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SEP 10, 2022 | 7:30 PM BOETTCHER CONCERT HALL
Perlman Plays Hollywood with your Colorado Symphony
SPOTLIGHT
Peter Oundjian, conductor Itzhak Perlman, violin
One of the most extraordinary masters of the violin, with a spectacular career spanning more than 50 years, violinist Itzhak Perlman brings his celebrated brilliance to a performance featuring many of the greatest film scores ever written for violin including excerpts from Casablanca, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Sabrina, Schindler’s List, and more!
For this extra special evening, Luminary Society members will have first access to purchase seats. T o receive presale access to Itzhak Perlman with the Colorado Symphony as a Luminary Society member, renew your 2022/23 Season subscription or subscribe for the first time and become an annual donor of $2,500 or more by May 16, 2022. L uminary Society members will be contacted in the order in which their membership/subscription is received to select their seats. These calls will take place starting May 16, 2022.
COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG
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RZA
photos: Amanda Tipton
NATHANIEL RATELIFF
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IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES
MARY-MITCHELL CAMPBELL
IMAGINATION ARTIST SERIES Starting this fall, the Colorado Symphony will partner with three leading musicians from diverse musical backgrounds to reimagine the future of the American symphony. Featuring collaborations with the Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA, Broadway’s Mary-Mitchell Campbell, and Colorado’s own Nathaniel Rateliff, the Imagination Artist Series will provide these artists with unparalleled creative access to the entire orchestra, offering a blank canvas to innovate, imagine, and curate orchestral programs while sharing three unique artistic visions that will debut exclusively for Colorado Symphony audiences during the 2022/23 Season. Mary-Mitchell Campbell’s Tribute to Stephen Sondheim debuts this September while RZA and Nathaniel Rateliff’s concerts will be announced at a later date. Imagination Artists will also act as brand ambassadors for the Colorado Symphony’s Classics programs, advocating on behalf of the orchestra’s core repertoire to new audiences around Colorado while also supporting Colorado Symphony education efforts within the community. Together, we envision a bright future for live, symphonic music filled with unlimited possibilities. Join us as we push boundaries, meld genres, and inspire new generations of music lovers. ✹
COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG
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photo: Amanda Tipton
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IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES
Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with Peter Oundjian SEP 16-18
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
Peter Oundjian, conductor Jon Kimura Parker, piano JOHN ADAMS Short Ride in a Fast Machine STILL Poem GERSHWIN Rhapsody in Blue RACHMANINOFF Symphonic Dances, Op. 45
CLASSICS P R E LU D E S / TA L K B AC K S
Join your Colorado Symphony and Principal Conductor Peter Oundjian as they usher in the start of a spectacular new season that will inspire, delight, and ignite your imagination from its first note to its last. Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances creates a wondrous kaleidoscope of instrumental colors in a work that is retrospective yet astonishingly youthful, showing the aging composer was still at the peak of his powers. International superstar Jon Kimura Parker — famed for his interpretations of Gershwin — joins the orchestra to deliver a peerless rendition of the composer’s intoxicating Rhapsody in Blue. This uniquely American classic continues to charm listeners by occupying the intersection between classical music, jazz, and Broadway. The legacy of William Grant Still is remarkable both for the barriers he broke and the inventive works he wrote, blending European art music with African-rooted folk tunes. His Poem for orchestra takes inspiration from the hope of a world spiritually reborn following the desolation of war. John Adams' Short Ride in a Fast Machine offers the perfect energetic introduction to an opening weekend spectacle that shouldn't be missed. Imagination Artist Series
Tribute to Stephen Sondheim with Mary-Mitchell Campbell
SYMPHONY POPS
SEP 23-24 FRI-SAT 7:30
Mary-Mitchell Campbell, conductor Colorado Symphony Chorus
The Colorado Symphony’s Imagination Series begins with a Tribute to Stephen Sondheim, celebrating one the most important figures in 20th-century musical theater. From the mind of Mary-Mitchell Campbell, the Music Director behind numerous Broadway shows including Mean Girls, The Prom, My Love Letter to Broadway with Kristin Chenoweth, Tuck Everlasting, Sweeney Todd, and more, this program will feature some of Sondheim’s greatest works from broadway hits like A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Sunday in the Park with George, and Into the Woods. COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG
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Dragon Conducts Scheherazade SEP 30 - OCT 2
CLASSICS
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
Christopher Dragon, conductor Hannah Ludwig, mezzo-soprano HUMPERDINCK Hansel and Gretel: Prelude ELGAR Sea Pictures, Op. 37 RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Scheherazade, Op. 35
P R E LU D E S / TA L K B AC K S
The spirit of adventure calls to you as your Colorado Symphony presents Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, an exhilarating journey through love, intrigue, and suspense. This poignant adaptation of the classic Arabian Nights tale casts the violin as the cunning Scheherazade, who outwits her murderous Sultan husband through the telling of exotic stories. Rimsky Korsakov's score is filled with such dynamic emotion and riveting melodies that you’ll feel instantly transported into a fairy tale world. The classic Hansel and Gretel tale awakens in the Prelude to Engelbert Humperdinck’s opera of the same name, while superstar vocalist Hannah Ludwig breathes new life into five poems which inspired Elgar’s Sea Pictures, capturing the beauty, symbolism, and power of the sea. With Resident Conductor, Christopher Dragon at the helm, this is an exhilarating program that will delight audiences of all ages.
Latin Beats: Sonidos de las Américas OCT 6
FREE CONCERT
THU 7:00
Scott O’Neil, conductor
The Mexican Cultural Center and your Colorado Symphony present the sixth annual Latin Beats: Sonidos de las Américas. This unique, free concert celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month and Latin culture’s influence on sound in the Americas, showcasing a fusion of traditional, classical, and contemporary music augmented by the Colorado Symphony’s soaring orchestrations. In partnership with the Mexican Cultural Center and Denver Arts & Venues, this event is a free concert. Tickets for this performance are available two weeks prior to the event online or in-person at the Colorado Symphony Box Office. All seating is general admission and a ticket does not guarantee a seat.
Warner Bros. presents Bugs Bunny at the Symphony OCT 8-9
M O V I E AT T H E S Y M P H O N Y
SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 2:30
Created and conducted by George Daugherty
HalfNotes
Relive the Saturday mornings of your childhood when Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Wile E. Coyote, and Road Runner are projected larger than life on the big screen, while the Colorado Symphony plays the original scores live. Conducted by George Daugherty and created by the Emmy Award-winning team of Daugherty and David Ka Lik Wong, this new edition celebrates the 30th Anniversary of Bugs Bunny at the Symphony…and the 80th Birthday of Bugs Bunny…with classics like "What’s Opera, Doc?," "The Rabbit of Seville," and "Rhapsody Rabbit," plus new additions "Dynamite Dance," "Wet Cement," and three new 3-D Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner Looney Tunes shorts. LOONEY TUNES and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and ©Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s22)
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Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons
CLASSICS
Aram Demirjian, conductor Paul Huang, violin JESSIE MONTGOMERY Strum VIVALDI The Four Seasons, Op. 8, No. 1-4 TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36
P R E LU D E S / TA L K B AC K S
photo: Marco Borggreve
OCT 14-16 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
Symphonic bliss awaits you as your Colorado Symphony and guest conductor Aram Demirjian present a powerhouse program highlighted by Vivaldi’s programmatic masterpiece, The Four Seasons. As striking and admired as ever, this work conjures imagery that deftly captures the essence of spring, summer, autumn, and winter through music that manages to remain strikingly modern three centuries after its debut. Paul Huang is just the virtuoso to embrace this beloved concerto in its return to Boettcher Concert Hall. The grand finale — Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony — is a meticulously structured meditation on fate that endures as one of his most popular and identifiable compositions. Over four movements, Tchaikovsky transforms his personal battle with fate into one of humanity’s most powerful works of art. Among today’s best and brightest composers, Jessie Montgomery’s Strum draws on the spirit of dance, movement, and American folk expressions in an ecstatic celebration that will have you on the edge of your seat.
COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG
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Disney's Hocus Pocus in Concert
M O V I E AT T H E S Y M P H O N Y
HalfNotes
OCT 21-22 FRI-SAT 7:30
A curious youngster moves to Salem, where he struggles to fit in before exploring an abandoned house with his sister, Dani and their new friend, Allison and awakening a trio of diabolical witches from the 17th century. Now, with the help of a magical cat, the kids must steal the witches' book of spells to stop them from becoming immortal! Movie screened with live orchestra performing the full film score. Stay for the credits, you’ll be glad you did! Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts. ©Disney. All rights reserved. MPAA Rating: PG
Disney In Concert: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
M O V I E AT T H E S Y M P H O N Y
HalfNotes
OCT 28-29 FRI-SAT 7:30 Christopher Dragon, conductor
What’s this?! Back by popular demand, see one of Tim Burton’s most celebrated films like never before! The full-feature film, The Nightmare Before Christmas, will be projected on the big screen with dialogue, singing, and effects accompanied by Danny Elfman’s darkly charming score played live by your Colorado Symphony. Families are welcome and costumes are encouraged. After all, this is Halloween! Movie screened with live orchestra performing the full film score. Stay for the credits, you’ll be glad you did! Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts. ©Disney. All rights reserved. MPAA Rating: PG
Halloween Spooktacular! OCT 30
F A M I LY
HalfNotes
SUN 2:30
It’s a spooktacular event for all boys and ghouls! This family-favorite concert features music from films, television, and more! Costumes are encouraged — the best of the bunch will be invited to show off their creations on stage for the whole crowd! It’s a ghostly-good time for every little monster and their mummy!
Dancing Queen - A Tribute to ABBA with Rajaton NOV 10
SYMPHONY POPS
THU 7:30
Christopher Dragon, conductor Rajaton
You Can Dance – You Can Jive – Having The Time Of Your Life! Experience an explosion of sheer grooviness with The Music of ABBA featuring the Finnish pop sensation Rajaton and your Colorado Symphony. Dance the night away, enjoying ABBA’s infectious hits like “Dancing Queen,” “S.O.S.,” “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!,” and so much more – this is a concert not to be missed!
Colorado Symphony Presents: Vienna Boys Choir in Concert *
SPOTLIGHT
FRI 7:30
The illustrious group of child musicians has been delighting music lovers across the globe for six centuries with their purity of tone, distinctive charm and diverse repertoire which includes everything from medieval to contemporary to experimental music. These gifted musicians with voices of unforgettable beauty are part of four touring choirs that hail from dozens of nations and together give over 300 concerts a year around the world. Don't miss your chance to see them at Boettcher Concert Hall in 2022! * This performance does not include the Colorado Symphony
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photo: Lukas Beck
NOV 11
Beethoven Symphony No. 3 with Peter Oundjian NOV 4-6
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
Peter Oundjian, conductor Sterling Elliott, cello Colorado Symphony Chorus, Duain Wolfe, director VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Toward the Unknown Region ELGAR Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85 BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55 “Eroica”
CLASSICS P R E LU D E S / TA L K B AC K S
History is replete with turning points and with the completion of his revolutionary Third Symphony, Beethoven forever changed the idea of what a symphony could be. A clear bridging of the Classical and Romantic eras, the Eroica (“Heroic”) Symphony explores what it means to be human in a work that is larger and more emotional than a symphony had ever been before. In it, Beethoven’s passion rises to the forefront, using broad strokes of sound to convey the very nature of humanity, while reimagining a future for music filled with endless possibility. Cellist Sterling Elliott — a 2021 Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient — brings youthful energy to Elgar’s Cello Concerto, a deeply emotional work filled with soaring themes and quiet anguish that will leave audiences entranced. The Colorado Symphony Chorus takes center stage on Vaughan Williams’ Walt Whitman-inspired Toward the Unknown Region, a remarkable marriage of music and text, with Williams’ inspired music perfectly encapsulating Whitman’s noble, humanistic aspirations. These works will spring to life in the hands of Maestro Oundjian and your Colorado Symphony.
COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG
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An Evening with Bernadette Peters and your Colorado Symphony NOV 12
SPOTLIGHT
SAT 7:30
Multi Award-winning performer Bernadette Peters joins your Colorado Symphony for an evening of Broadway hits. Peters is one of Broadway's most acclaimed performers including in the musicals Hello, Dolly!, A Little Night Music, Into the Woods, and many more. Don't miss this glamorous evening at Boettcher Concert Hall as only Bernadette Peters can do.
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 with Olga Kern
CLASSICS
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky — so highly regarded for his symphonic compositions — placed himself among the greats of the keyboard with the completion of his First Piano Concerto. The work is filled with towering grandeur, gorgeously lyrical melodies, and unmistakable Romantic spirit. For pianists what Everest is to climbers, the Concerto in B-flat has become the standard against which all virtuosos must measure themselves, featuring iconic opening flourishes and a pyrotechnics-filled finale. Denver favorite Olga Kern lends her dazzling technique and innate musicality to this cornerstone of the Classical Canon. Your Colorado Symphony and Conductor Christian Reif — dubbed a “remarkable talent” by the San Francisco Chronicle — conclude the program with Shostakovich’s stormy and brooding Tenth Symphony. Written to symbolize the power of the people, Shostakovich employs memorable themes and complex orchestrations that mirror his own battles against Soviet oppression. Ending on a triumphant note, this is a finale that will leave you breathless.
Home Alone in Concert
M O V I E AT T H E S Y M P H O N Y
NOV 25-26 FRI-SAT 7:30 Christopher Dragon, conductor Colorado Symphony Chorus
HalfNotes
Celebrate the modern holiday classic, Home Alone, with your Colorado Symphony! The event features renowned composer John Williams’ charming and delightful score performed live as the film is screened for your enjoyment! Macaulay Culkin stars as Kevin McCallister, an eight-year-old boy who’s accidentally left behind when his family leaves for Christmas vacation, and who must defend his home against two bungling thieves (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern). Hilarious and heartwarming, Home Alone is holiday fun for the entire family. Movie screened with live orchestra performing the full film score. Stay for the credits, you’ll be glad you did! MPAA Rating: PG © 1990 Twentieth Century Fox
Colorado Symphony Presents: The TEN Tenors — Home For The Holidays *
H O L I D AY
SUN 2:30
Make time this holiday season to enjoy a joyous night of music featuring hit Australian classical-crossover supergroup The TEN Tenors. The show features holiday favorites such as “Feliz Navidad,” “O Holy Night,” and “Winter Wonderland” as well as modern surprises like “Bohemian Rhapsody” – all given the signature The TEN Tenors treatment with incredible 10-part harmonies. * This performance does not include the Colorado Symphony
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photo: Chris Lee
Christian Reif, conductor Olga Kern, piano TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat major, Op. 23 SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 10 in E minor, Op. 93
P R E LU D E S / TA L K B AC K S
Home Alone © 1990 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
NOV 18-20 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
NOV 27
photo: Andrew Eccles
Marvin Laird, conductor Bernadette Peters, vocalist
A Symphonic Evening with Chris Thile
CLASSICS
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
Eric Jacobsen, conductor Chris Thile, mandolin Claude Sim, violin JAMES LEE III CHRIS THILE/ Arr. ROB MOOSE CHRIS THILE JS BACH PUNCH BROTHERS/ Arr. GABE KAHANE BARBER DVOŘÁK
P R E LU D E S / TA L K B AC K S
Beyond Sensorial Portals Escape from the Tuileries New Work (TBD) Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043, Mvt. III Allegro Julep Violin Concerto, Op. 14, Mvt. III Presto in moto perpetuo Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88
photo: Josh Goleman
DEC 2-4
COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG
photo: Lock + Land
Let your imagination soar as Chris Thile — the leading mandolin virtuoso of his generation — joins your Colorado Symphony for a Classics program dripping with folk and bluegrass flair. With soaring orchestration from the Colorado Symphony, a pair of Thile compositions come alive with Escape from the Tuileries and Julep from Thile’s GRAMMY® Award-winning band, Punch Brothers, lending a modern touch to the traditional concert hall experience. Your Colorado Symphony’s own Associate Concertmaster Claude Sim will star alongside Thile on Bach’s Double Violin Concerto, with Thile’s mandolin playing the role of the first violin in a mesmerizing interplay between the two soloists and the orchestra. Thile’s mandolin embodies the violin yet again in the frenetic finale to Barber’s Violin Concerto, a virtuosic whirlwind that is played at breakneck speed. Under the baton of Eric Jacobsen — called an “interpretive dynamo” by The New York Times — the Colorado Symphony opens with a premiere of James Lee III's Beyond Sensorial Portals and concludes with Dvořák’s beloved Eighth Symphony, transporting listeners into a sunny, pastoral world filled with Bohemian folk melodies and echoes of forest birdsong. Bursting forth with color, this program pushes the boundaries of what symphonic music can be.
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photo: Amanda Tipton
sounds of the
Celtic Woman: The Best of Christmas Tour DEC 5
H O L I D AY
MON 7:30
Experience the magical sound of Celtic Woman and your Colorado Symphony this holiday season. Christmas in Ireland is all about hospitality, and we invite you to join in the festivities, as the crystalline voices of Celtic Woman melt your cares away. From delicate traditional Irish carols to magnificent uplifting anthems, Celtic Woman has a wealth of seasonal music to gladden your heart including stunning new arrangements of the classic Silent Night and the ancient Gaelic carol Dia do Bheatha.
A Colorado Christmas DEC 9-11
H O L I D AY
FRI 7:30 ✹ SAT 2:30 & 6:00 ✹ SUN 1:00
Taylor Martin, conductor Devin DeSantis, vocalist Christine Mild, vocalist Colorado Symphony Chorus Colorado Children’s Chorale, Emily Crile, Artistic Director
HalfNotes
The warm sounds of the holidays fill the Hall with festive seasonal favorites including ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, narrated live from stage by beloved Denver vocalist Devin DeSantis and Christine Mild! This family-friendly evening features traditional Christmas carols, your favorite new winter tunes, and even some newly arranged surprises – all with a chance to sing along to your heart’s content! And you better not pout because Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will be on hand to see who’s naughty and who’s nice in preparation for the big night!
Holiday Brass DEC 13
H O L I D AY
TUE 7:00
Brian Buerkle, conductor Colorado Symphony Brass & Percussion
Holiday Brass is our newest festive tradition featuring the best of brass! Witness the brilliance and power of the Colorado Symphony Brass in a resounding program of seasonal ballads, carols, and more. Whether it comes from the vitality of the Renaissance, the glory of the Baroque, or the nostalgic jubilation in the music of Hollywood’s most popular Christmas movies, Holiday Brass will end 2022 on a high note.
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Face Vocal Band Holiday Special with your Colorado Symphony DEC 15
H O L I D AY
THU 7:30
Scott O’Neil, conductor Face Vocal Band
Captivating audiences for over a decade, Face Vocal Band is an internationally acclaimed all-vocal rock ensemble from Boulder, CO. In their return to Boettcher Concert Hall, Face will be pulling out all of the stops to bring you a brand-new holiday experience with their infectious energy punctuated by an endearing love of performance. Join Face and your Colorado Symphony on a musical journey full of fun!
Too Hot To Handel
H O L I D AY
DEC 17-18 SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 2:30
Christopher Dragon, conductor Cynthia Reneé Saffron, soprano Karen Marie Richardson, mezzo-soprano Rodrick Dixon, tenor Colorado Symphony Chorus
This exuberant jazz, gospel, and R&B-infused concert brilliantly reinvents Handel’s Messiah and returns by popular demand, with Resident Conductor Christopher Dragon on the podium for the 2022 Holiday season! Featuring audience-favorite guest soloists Cynthia Renée Saffron, Karen Marie Richardson, Rodrick Dixon, and members of the Colorado Symphony Chorus, this exhilarating night of music will have you rejoicing in the aisles.
Disney's Frozen™ in Concert DEC 21
M O V I E AT T H E S Y M P H O N Y
HalfNotes
WED 7:00
Colorado Symphony Chorus
Experience the magic of Disney’s Frozen™ in high-definition this holiday season. The Colorado Symphony performs the unforgettable score alongside the modern classic Disney film live at Boettcher Concert Hall. Watch Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf embark on their heroic journey to help Elsa learn the strength of her powers and save the Kingdom of Arendelle from eternal winter. Featuring the Oscar®-winning song “Let it Go,” plus the popular “First Time in Forever,” “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” and more! Movie screened with live orchestra performing the full film score. Stay for the credits, you’ll be glad you did! Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts. ©Disney. All rights reserved. MPAA Rating: PG
Elf™ in Concert
M O V I E AT T H E S Y M P H O N Y
DEC 22-23 THU-FRI 7:00
HalfNotes
Buddy was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa’s elves. Unable to shake the feeling that he doesn’t fit in, the adult Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. This holiday season relive this heartwarming holiday classic on four giant screens as every note of John Debney’s wonderful score is played live to picture in: Elf™ in Concert! Movie screened with live orchestra performing the full film score. Stay for the credits, you’ll be glad you did! MPAA Rating: PG. ELF and all related characters and elements © & ™ New Line Productions, Inc. (s22)
A Night in Vienna DEC 31
H O L I D AY
SAT 6:30
Christopher Dragon, conductor
A Colorado cultural tradition returns featuring your symphony waltzing with you into 2023! Start your celebration in style with the Colorado Symphony’s presentation of A Night in Vienna, a rousing selection of polkas, waltzes, and marches. The festive evening is the perfect sendoff to 2022 and a can't-miss holiday mainstay conducted by your very own Christopher Dragon!
COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG
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Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone™ In Concert JAN 6-8
M O V I E AT T H E S Y M P H O N Y
HalfNotes
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
Relive the film that started it all. Watch the wand choose the wizard, a troll run amok, and magic mirrors in high-definition while the Colorado Symphony performs John Williams’ iconic score. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime event as Harry, Ron, Hermione, and all your favorite characters return to the screen and enchant the world all over again. Movie screened with live orchestra performing the full film score. Stay for the credits, you’ll be glad you did! MPAA Rating: PG. WIZARDING WORLD and all related trademarks, characters, names, and indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s22)
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute JAN 10
FREE CONCERT
TUE 7:30
Scott O’Neil, conductor
Known as the most prominent spokesperson and leader in the American Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. remains one of the most inspirational figures in history for his pursuit of equal rights and his nonviolent approach to civil rights protests. The evening will feature special guest performances and will honor recipients of the 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Awards. In partnership with the MLK, Jr. Holiday Commission and Denver Arts & Venues, this event is a free community concert. Tickets for this performance are available two weeks prior to the event online or in-person at the Colorado Symphony Box Office. All seating is general admission and a ticket does not guarantee a seat.
Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé
CLASSICS
JAN 13-15 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00 Kevin John Edusei, conductor Yumi Hwang-Williams, violin Colorado Symphony Chorus, Duain Wolfe, director BOULANGER D'un matin de printemps SZYMANOWSKI Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 35 RAVEL Daphnis et Chloé
P R E LU D E S / TA L K B AC K S
Be still my heart! A whirling celebration of pagan love awaits listeners with Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé, which he called a “symphonie chorégraphique” rather than a ballet, reflecting a sense of powerful, dramatic music which defies category and springs to life on terms all its own. Ravel’s exceptional score creates a sensuous atmosphere with a lingering explosiveness residing just underneath the surface. Scored for a massive orchestra and utilizing the ethereal, intangible tones of a wordless chorus, Ravel often spotlights solo players in a way that recalls chamber music rather than merely using it as a show of force, pulling listeners into a vast, visceral dreamscape of shimmering colors and hypnotic motion. Szymanowski’s First Violin Concerto will shine in the hands of Concertmaster Yumi Hwang-Williams, who brings expressive virtuosity to one of the first violin concertos of the modern era. The program opens with Lili Boulanger’s D’un matin de printemps, meaning ‘On a spring morning,’ capturing the genius of this prodigious composer who wrote over 50 compositions before tragically passing at the age of just 24. This sweet and playful ode to spring is just the transportive overture to carry away your winter doldrums.
Gilbert & Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore
SYMPHONY POPS
JAN 20-21 FRI-SAT 7:30
Albert Bergeret, conductor New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players Colorado Symphony Chorus, Duain Wolfe, director
Where fun and frivolity join in a harmonious evening with Gilbert and Sullivan’s first operetta, HMS Pinafore. “I’m Called Little Buttercup,” “I am the Monarch of the Sea,” “Never Mind the Why and Wherefore,” and many other tuneful songs will warm your heart in an evening full of fun for the whole family!
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Mozart & Now with Peter Oundjian
CLASSICS
JAN 27-29 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00 Peter Oundjian, conductor Conrad Tao, piano Ji Su Jung, marimba FRIDAY PROGRAM
MOZART KEVIN PUTS MOZART
Serenade No. 12 in C minor, K. 388 “Nachtmusik” Marimba Concerto Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551 “Jupiter”
SATURDAY PROGRAM
JESSIE MONTGOMERY CARLOS SIMON MOZART JOAN TOWER
Starburst Elegy: A Cry from the Grave Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488 Concerto for Orchestra
SUNDAY PROGRAM
MOZART MOZART MOZART
Serenade No. 12 in C minor, K. 388 “Nachtmusik” Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488 Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551 “Jupiter”
P R E LU D E S / TA L K B AC K S
COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG
photo: Jiyang Chen
Mozart & Now reimagines the traditional concert weekend experience with three unique performances contrasting the music of Mozart with four of today’s brightest composers, all led by Principal Conductor Peter Oundjian. On Friday, a pair of works by Mozart bookend Kevin Puts’ Marimba Concerto, highlighting one of the most unique voices in the solo percussion world, Ji Su Jung. Mozart’s “Nachtmusik” Serenade is a showcase for the Colorado Symphony winds while his Symphony No. 41 — known as “Jupiter” — is regarded by many as the pinnacle of his illustrious career, inspiring feelings of grandeur, joy, and wonder in a work celebrating life. Saturday features dazzling pianist Conrad Tao as soloist on Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23, among the classical period’s best works and a testament to Mozart’s musical genius, alongside the works of three modern day innovators. Jessie Montgomery’s Starburst utilizes fleeting melodies to create a multidimensional soundscape, while Carlos Simon — 2021 winner of the prestigious Sphinx Medal of Excellence, which promotes Black and Latinx musicians on the classical concert stage — dedicated Elegy: A Cry from the Grave to those "murdered wrongfully by an oppressive power.” Joan Tower’s Concerto for Orchestra offers a fitting finale in a work that leaves no doubt as to why she is one of the most significant modern composers of our time. Sunday’s performance is an all-Mozart affair, combining the composer’s three works from Friday and Saturday into a single showstopping performance. Join us for your favorite, or better yet, attend all three!
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photo: Andrew Eccles
photo: Sian Richards
September Perlman Plays Hollywood with your Colorado Symphony SEP 10
Colorado Symphony Presents: Vienna Boys Choir in Concert NOV 11 SPOTLIGHT
SAT 7:30
Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with Peter Oundjian SEP 16-18 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00 Tribute To Stephen Sondheim with Mary-Mitchell Campbell
CLASSICS
SYMPHONY POPS
SEP 23-24 FRI-SAT 7:30
Dragon Conducts Scheherazade SEP 30 - OCT 2 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
OCT 6
CLASSICS
Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons OCT 14-16 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00 Disney's Hocus Pocus in Concert OCT 21-22
FREE CONCERT
MOVIE AT THE SYMPHONY
CLASSICS
MOVIE AT THE SYMPHONY
OCT 30
MOVIE AT THE SYMPHONY
FAMILY
NOV 10
18
THU 7:30
A Symphonic Evening with Chris Thile DEC 2-4 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
CLASSICS
Celtic Woman: The Best of Christmas Tour
HOLIDAY
MON 7:30
A Colorado Christmas DEC 9-11 FRI 7:30 ✹ SAT 2:30 & 6:00 ✹ SUN 1:00
HOLIDAY
Holiday Brass
HOLIDAY
TUE 7:00
Face Vocal Band Holiday Special with your Colorado Symphony
DEC 17-18
HOLIDAY
THU 7:30
Too Hot To Handel
DEC 21 CLASSICS
HOLIDAY
SUN 2:30
HOLIDAY
SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 2:30
Disney's Frozen™ in Concert
November Dancing Queen - A Tribute to ABBA with Rajaton
MOVIE AT THE SYMPHONY
December
DEC 15
SUN 2:30
Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony with Peter Oundjian NOV 4-6 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
CLASSICS
Colorado Symphony Presents: The TEN Tenors — Home For The Holidays
DEC 13
OCT 28-29 FRI-SAT 7:30
Halloween Spooktacular!
Home Alone in Concert
DEC 5
FRI-SAT 7:30
Disney in Concert: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 with Olga Kern NOV 18-20 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
NOV 27
THU 7:00
Warner Bros. presents Bugs Bunny at the Symphony OCT 8-9 SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 2:30
SPOTLIGHT
SAT 7:30
NOV 25-26 FRI-SAT 7:30
October Latin Beats: Sonidos de las Américas
An Evening with Bernadette Peters and your Colorado Symphony NOV 12
SPOTLIGHT
FRI 7:30
MOVIE AT THE SYMPHONY
WED 7:00
Elf™ in Concert
MOVIE AT THE SYMPHONY
DEC 22-23 THU-FRI 7:00 SYMPHONY POPS
A Night in Vienna DEC 31
SAT 6:30
IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES
HOLIDAY
January
April
Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone™ – In Concert JAN 6-8 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute JAN 10
Gilbert & Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore
JAN 22
FREE CONCERT
CLASSICS
SYMPHOYN POPS
FAMILY
SUN 2:30
Mozart & Now with Peter Oundjian JAN 27-29 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
CLASSICS
Beethoven Symphony No. 8 FEB 10-12 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
CLASSICS
Intergalactic Symphony Spectacular
FAMILY
FEB 19
Beethoven Violin Concerto APR 21-23 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
CLASSICS
Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini APR 28-30 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
CLASSICS
May Aymée Nuviola and the Colorado Mambo Orchestra MAY 6
Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto FEB 24-26 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
CLASSICS
CLASSICS
SPOTLIGHT
THU 7:30
Colorado Symphony Gala | Mission Ballroom MAY 20
SPOTLIGHT
SAT 7:30
A Tribute to John Williams MAY 18
SUN 2:30
SPOTLIGHT
FRI 7:30
Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker conducted by Andrew Litton MAY 12-14 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
February
FAMILY
SUN 2:30
Voice and Violin with Joshua Bell and Larisa Martinez APR 14
FRI-SAT 7:30
Drums of the World
Carnival of The Animals with The Denver Zoo APR 2
TUE 7:30
Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé JAN 13-15 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00 JAN 20-21
MOVIE AT THE SYMPHONY
FUNDRAISER
SAT 6:00
Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring with Peter Oundjian MAY 26-28 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
CLASSICS
March Bartok Concerto for Orchestra MAR 10-12 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00 DYAO Side By Side MAR 15
CLASSICS
FREE CONCERT
WED 7:00
Brahms Requiem with Peter Oundjian MAR 24-26 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
CLASSICS
COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG
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Drums of the World JAN 22
F A M I LY
HalfNotes
SUN 2:30
Marimba, bongos, bass drums, woodblocks, log drums, boo-bams, Chinese cymbals, metal trash cans, darabukkas, talking drums, plastic pipe, acoustic guitar, toy trumpet, tablespoons, Burma gongs, water can, crow call, tambourine, gankogui, and sleigh bells! These are just some of the percussion instruments that the virtuoso percussionists of your Colorado Symphony will be using in this dynamic concert that is fun for the entire family.
Beethoven Symphony No. 8 FEB 10-12
CLASSICS
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
Christopher Dragon, conductor Colorado Symphony Horn Section: Mike Thornton, Kolio Plachkov, Carolyn Kunicki, Matt Eckenhoff HAYDN Symphony No. 45 in F-sharp minor, “Farewell" R. SCHUMANN Konzertstück for 4 Horns and Orchestra in F major, Op. 86 BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93
P R E LU D E S / TA L K B AC K S
Beethoven’s Eighth — which he referred to as “my little Symphony in F,”— is the most cheery, joyful, and experimental of his symphonies. Its relatively compact scale allowed Beethoven to be more imaginative and structurally radical than he could dare to be on the larger canvases of his other symphonies. Light-hearted and full of charm, the Eighth is an often-overlooked gem that will shine under the baton of Resident Conductor Christopher Dragon. Celebrate the Colorado Symphony Horns as they take center stage on Schumann’s Konzertstück for 4 Horns and Orchestra, incorporating the warmth, nobility, and hunting-horn origins of German Romantic-era music while conjuring images of the unspoiled forests of the German landscape. In an ironic twist, the performance begins with a “Farewell”, harkening back to the piece’s debut when Haydn instructed his musicians to stop playing one by one during the final movement, snuff out the candle on their music stand, and walk off the stage in turn, leaving just two violins to convey the final notes. In this uniquely imaginative performance, seeing is believing.
Intergalactic Symphony Spectacular FEB 19
F A M I LY
SUN 2:30
HalfNotes
The Colorado Symphony is boldly going where no orchestra has gone before! With space-themed favorites from John Williams' scores for Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T. the Extra Terrestrial, and Star Wars, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Holst's The Planets, and more, this program will be out of this world!
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IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES
photo: Andrew Garn
Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto
CLASSICS
Teddy Abrams, conductor Stewart Goodyear, piano PERKINSON Worship: A Concert Overture BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73, “Emperor" PROKOFIEV Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major, Op. 100
P R E LU D E S / TA L K B AC K S
One of the most accomplished of all piano works, Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto features a striking opening movement and a glorious finale, with beauty and virtuosic style throughout that makes it one of the composer’s best. Your Colorado Symphony welcomes electrifying pianist Stewart Goodyear who is just the firebrand to live up to the wiles of this majestic and vigorously demanding concerto. Teddy Abrams — Musical America’s 2022 Conductor of the Year — brings dynamic flair to Perkinson’s energetic Worship Overture. Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony was so well received that within months of its American premiere, a portrait of the composer was featured on the cover of Time magazine. Prokofiev wrote that he “conceived of it as glorifying the grandeur of the human spirit, praising the free and happy man— his strength, his generosity, and the purity of his soul." This heroic and joyous work offers a brilliant conclusion to a performance of energizing masterworks.
Bartók Concerto for Orchestra
CLASSICS P R E LU D E S / TA L K B AC K S
photo: Christina Kernohan
MAR 10-12 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00 Alexander Shelley, conductor Pablo Sainz Villegas, guitar ANNA CLYNE This Midnight Hour RODRIGO Concierto de Aranjuez BARTÓK Concerto for Orchestra
photo: Jon Cherry
FEB 24-26 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
One of the foremost conductors of his generation, Alexander Shelley joins your Colorado Symphony for a program that will leave you simply spellbound. Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo’s classical guitar concerto Concierto de Aranjuez fills the concert hall with the immortal sounds and traditions of Spanish romanticism in a must-hear interpretation from guitar virtuoso Pablo Sainz Villegas who was hailed as “The global ambassador of Spanish guitar” by Billboard Magazine. Anna Clyne’s This Midnight Hour is mysterious and foreboding, with musical twists and turns that show why she is considered one of the preeminent composers of our time. Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra was called a concerto rather than a symphony as each section of instruments is treated in a soloistic and virtuosic way, combining elements of Western art music and Hungarian folk songs in a stirring finale to an evening of symphonic sublimity.
COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG
21
Brahms Requiem with Peter Oundjian
CLASSICS
MAR 24-26 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00 Peter Oundjian, conductor Colorado Symphony Chorus, Duain Wolfe, director Karina Gauvin, soprano Joshua Hopkins, baritone WEBER Oberon: Overture, J. 306 RAVEL Shéhérazade BRAHMS Ein deutsches Requiem, Op. 45
P R E LU D E S / TA L K B AC K S
Unlike other Requiem Masses, Brahms’ A German Requiem is not primarily a Mass for the dead. Instead, it is intended as comfort and solace for those left behind as they mourn the death of others. Confronting life as much as it does death, Brahms further differentiates his Requiem by setting excerpts from the Lutheran Bible and apocrypha in German instead of the Catholic, Latin text used in the Requiem Masses by Mozart, Verdi, and Berlioz. The Colorado Symphony Chorus and two vocal soloists lend distinction to this stunning masterpiece, which remains one of the most revered choral works ever composed. A taste for the exotic surfaces often in the catalogue of Maurice Ravel and his orchestral song cycle Shéhérazade is no exception. Named for the protagonist of One Thousand and One Nights, Shéhérazade is a woman who employs her imagination as a means of escape. "Je voudrais voir…", she repeats, meaning "I would like to see…", this refrain sets the tone for Ravel’s song cycle which drips with color evoking images of the far east. Drawing on music from the opera, Weber’s Overture to Oberon is a celebration of the supernatural realm. Like in Mozart's The Magic Flute, Weber establishes Oberon's horn as a mystical instrument and its call as a leitmotif throughout the overture, unleashing an exuberant conversation between instrumental voices and concluding with a virtuosic flourish conducted by Maestro Oundjian. 22
IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES
photo: Shervin Lainez
DYAO Side By Side MAR 15
FREE CONCERT
WED 7:00
HalfNotes
Your Colorado Symphony continues its shared vision of music education with longstanding partner the Denver Young Artists Orchestra (DYAO). Celebrate this partnership that allows young musicians from the DYAO greater access and mentorship from the full-time professional musicians of the Colorado Symphony. In partnership with the Denver Young Artists Orchestra and Denver Arts & Venues, this event is a free concert.
Carnival of the Animals with the Denver Zoo APR 2
SUN 2:30
Scott O’Neil, conductor SAINT-SAËNS Carnival of the Animals
F A M I LY
HalfNotes
This performance introduces little ones to the joys of the orchestra with Carnival of the Animals, one of the best-known pieces by French Composer Camille Saint-Saëns. Each movement depicts a different animal — from the royal lion to the graceful swan — and animals from Denver Zoo will join musicians on stage, creating truly a fantastic family experience for all ages!
Voice and Violin with Joshua Bell and Larisa Martinez APR 14
SPOTLIGHT
FRI 7:30
Joshua Bell, violin Larisa Martinez, soprano
COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG
photo: Shervin Lainez
Experience the dynamic husband and wife duo of violinist Joshua Bell and soprano Larisa Martinez together as they present an evening of beloved romantic arias and modern classics. Together with your Colorado Symphony, this program features music by Mozart, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Saint-Saëns, Verdi, Bernstein, and more.
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Beethoven Violin Concerto
CLASSICS
APR 21-23 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00 Peter Oundjian, conductor James Ehnes, violin BEETHOVEN Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61 BRUCKNER Symphony No. 7 in E major, WAB 107
P R E LU D E S / TA L K B AC K S
Join your Colorado Symphony and Principal Conductor Peter Oundjian in welcoming acclaimed soloist and 2021 Gramophone Artist of the Year, James Ehnes, to Boettcher Concert Hall for a reinvigoration of Beethoven’s majestic Violin Concerto. Beethoven’s output in nearly every musical genre was prolific, yet surprisingly he wrote only one concerto for the violin. The four opening drum taps that begin this masterpiece remain one of the most surprising and audacious ideas that the composer ever committed to paper, setting the stage for a transcendent work that stands among the greats of the repertoire. Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony emphatically elevated him into the ranks of legendary 19th century composers in a work that is epic in scope and scale, with knowing nods to Beethoven’s Third Symphony and Wagner’s Ring Cycle, including his use of the famous Wagner tubas. This revered work caps an awe-inspiring program of inspiring masterworks led by Maestro Oundjian.
Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
CLASSICS
APR 28-30 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00 Carolyn Kuan, conductor Simon Trpčeski, piano MASON BATES Liquid Interface RACHMANINOFF Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43 VALERIE COLEMAN Seven O’Clock Shout MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90, “Italian”
P R E LU D E S / TA L K B AC K S
Mendelssohn’s Fourth Symphony — the aptly titled “Italian” — evokes the exuberant spirit of Italy by conveying the warmth and vitality of its people in a can’t-miss work teeming with energetic color. Hailed by Marin Alsop as “One of the most exciting, innovative, and outstanding conductors of her generation,” Carolyn Kuan lends her incendiary talents to Mendelssohn’s extraordinary example of musical portraiture. Kuan and your Colorado Symphony will be joined by Simon Trpčeski, who brings trademark virtuosity and dynamic stage presence to Rachmaninoff’s iconic Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini — a masterpiece of the Romantic period. A pair of contemporary compositions couple nicely next to the works of these symphonic legends as Mason Bates’ Liquid Interface portrays the perils of global warming and rising sea levels while Valerie Coleman’s Seven O’Clock Shout is an anthem inspired by the tireless efforts of frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering a fitting celebration of life and a salute to their sacrifice. 24
IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES
Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Conducted by Andrew Litton MAY 12-14 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00 Andrew Litton, conductor Courtney Hershey Bress, harp BERNSTEIN Fancy Free: Three Dance Variations MICHAEL DAUGHERTY Harp Concerto (Commission – Title TBD) TCHAIKOVSKY The Nutcracker, Op. 71: Act II
CLASSICS P R E LU D E S / TA L K B AC K S
Visions of sugar plum fairies will dance in your head as Tchaikovsky’s enchanting music from The Nutcracker moves from the theatre stage to the concert hall under the baton of our distinguished former Music Director, Andrew Litton. The choreographer George Balanchine once said that “dancing was music made visible” but the opposite is also true: ballet music is dance made audible. Tchaikovsky’s brilliant orchestrations blur the lines between fantasy and reality while his imaginative use of instrumental color showcases the emotional depth of the familiar musical themes that make The Nutcracker so irresistible. Your Colorado Symphony’s own Principal Harp, Courtney Hershey Bress, will play a starring role as featured soloist on the world premier commission of GRAMMY® Award-winning composer Michael Daugherty’s Harp Concerto, lending a wild and magical quality to the proceedings. Opening with Leonard Bernstein’s Three Dance Variations from his ballet Fancy Free, the frenetic Galop, melancholy Waltz, and elegant Danzón launch a tantalizing performance that will have you dancing in your seat.
COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG
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photo: Brandon Marshall
Aymée Nuviola and the Colorado Mambo Orchestra MAY 6
SPOTLIGHT
SAT 7:30
Scott O’Neil, conductor Aymée Nuviola, vocalist Colorado Mambo Orchestra Raul Murciano Jr., piano
You’ll be hard-pressed to stay in your seat when the rhythm comes out to get ya! Join Aymée Nuviola, the Colorado Mambo Orchestra, and your Colorado Symphony for an evening of high-energy Cuban music from smokin’ dance classics and lush romantic boleros, to an assortment of well-known contemporary American Pop hits in never-before-heard “salsa” arrangements.
A Tribute to John Williams MAY 18
SPOTLIGHT
THU 7:30
Christopher Dragon, conductor
A Colorado favorite returns as your Colorado Symphony celebrates the music of the legendary John Williams, including selections from his celebrated scores from films such as Star Wars, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and more!
Colorado Symphony Gala MAY 20
FUNDRAISER
SAT 6:00
MISSION BALLROOM
The Colorado Symphony’s biggest fundraiser of the year returns better than ever to the crown jewel of Denver’s RiNo District — the Mission Ballroom! Resident Conductor Christopher Dragon and the Colorado Symphony will be joined onstage by special guests, providing music and style for an evening celebrating symphonic excellence. Join us for the biggest party of the season and support your Colorado Symphony.
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IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES
Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring with Peter Oundjian MAY 26-28 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00 Peter Oundjian, conductor Augustin Hadelich, violin Colorado Symphony Chorus, Duain Wolfe, director WILLIAM HILL (Commission with Colorado Symphony Chorus) BRAHMS Violin Concerto in D major, op. 77 STRAVINSKY The Rite of Spring
CLASSICS P R E LU D E S / TA L K B AC K S
Join Principal Conductor Peter Oundjian, your Colorado Symphony, and Chorus for an unforgettable sendoff to our concert season highlighted by Stravinsky's groundbreaking masterpiece, The Rite of Spring. Renowned for inciting a riot at the 1913 Paris debut, The Rite of Spring radically redefined 20th century music through Stravinsky’s use of rhythmic complexity, lavish dissonance, deliberately harsh sound, and cacophonously loud music, which stirred the unsuspecting Parisian audience into a riotous frenzy. Despite its inauspicious introduction, it is now widely recognized as a transformational triumph that continues to astonish listeners to this day. Audiences can enjoy a world premiere of their own as Colorado Symphony Principal Timpanist William Hill debuts his latest composition with the help of the Colorado Symphony Chorus, followed by the highly anticipated return of GRAMMY® Award-winning violinist Augustin Hadelich to the Boettcher Concert Hall stage as featured soloist on Brahms’ passionate Violin Concerto — adding a final flourish to a season of extraordinary live symphonic music.
COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG
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photos: Brandon Marshall
Season Packages
CLASSICS 8 A Friday, Saturday, or Sunday
CLASSICS 8 B Friday, Saturday, or Sunday
Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with Peter Oundjian SEP 16-18
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
Dragon Conducts Scheherazade See Page 7
Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons OCT 14-16
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
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FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
See Page 13
JAN 27-29
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
See Page 17
FEB 24-26
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
See Page 21
MAR 24-26
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
See Page 22
Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini See Page 24
Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker conducted by Andrew Litton MAY 12-14
DEC 2-4
Brahms Requiem with Peter Oundjian See Page 21
Beethoven Violin Concerto APR 21-23
See Page 12
Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto See Page 20
Bartok Concerto for Orchestra MAR 10-12
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
Mozart & Now with Peter Oundjian See Page 16
Beethoven Symphony No. 8 FEB 10-12
NOV 18-20
A Symphonic Evening with Chris Thile See Page 11
Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé JAN 13-15
See Page 8
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 with Olga Kern See Page 9
Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony with Peter Oundjian NOV 4-6
SEP 30 - OCT 2 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
See Page 25
APR 28-30
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
See Page 24
Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring with Peter Oundjian MAY 26-28
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES
See Page 27
CLASSICS 16 Friday, Saturday, or Sunday
Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini APR 28-30
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
See Page 7
SEP 30 - OCT 2 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
See Page 8
Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
See Page 9
Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony with Peter Oundjian NOV 4-6
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
See Page 11
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 with Olga Kern NOV 18-20
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
See Page 12
A Symphonic Evening with Chris Thile DEC 2-4
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
See Page 13
Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé JAN 13-15
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
See Page 16
Mozart & Now with Peter Oundjian JAN 27-29
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
See Page 17
Beethoven Symphony No. 8 FEB 10-12
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
See Page 20
Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto FEB 24-26
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
See Page 21
Bartok Concerto for Orchestra MAR 10-12
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
See Page 21
Brahms Requiem with Peter Oundjian MAR 24-26
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
See Page 22
Beethoven Violin Concerto APR 21-23
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
MAY 12-14
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
See Page 25
Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring with Peter Oundjian
Dragon Conducts Scheherazade
OCT 14-16
See Page 24
Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker conducted by Andrew Litton
Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with Peter Oundjian SEP 16-18
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
See Page 24
MAY 26-28
FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00
See Page 27
POPS PACKAGE Tribute To Stephen Sondheim with Mary-Mitchell Campbell SEP 23-24
FRI-SAT 7:30
See Page 7
Disney's Hocus Pocus In Concert OCT 22
SAT 7:30
See Page 10
Dancing Queen - A Tribute to ABBA with Rajaton NOV 10
THU 7:30
See Page 10
A Colorado Christmas DEC 10
SAT 6:00
See Page 14
Gilbert & Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore JAN 21
SAT 7:30
See Page 16
A Tribute to John Williams MAY 18
THU 7:30
See Page 26
CUSTOM DESIGN 4, 8, or 16 package
Want great flexibility and the best seating? Our Custom Design packages let you pick the concerts you want to attend throughout the season — mix-andmatch for your perfect package of 4, 8, or 16 concerts. Perlman Plays Hollywood with your Colorado Symphony and An Evening with Bernadette Peters and your Colorado Symphony are not eligible to be part of a Custom Design package. Add on concerts announced at later dates throughout the season may also not be eligible, are subject to availability, and limitations will apply.
COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG
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photo: Amanda Tipton
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IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES
SYMPHONY IN THE SUMMER Jerry Garcia 80th Birthday Symphonic Celebration with the Colorado Symphony JUN 29 WED 7:00 Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
TICKETS @ dillonamphitheater.com
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ Part 2 in Concert
JUL 8-10 FRI-SAT 7:30 ✹ SUN 1:00 Boettcher Concert Hall TICKETS @ coloradosymphony.org
Mozart Under Moonlight with the Colorado Symphony
JUL 15 FRI 7:30 Arvada Center Outdoor Amphitheatre TICKETS @ arvadacenter.org
Lettuce & Tower of Power with the Colorado Symphony JUL 20 WED 7:30 Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
TICKETS @ AXS.com
Boyz II Men with the Colorado Symphony JUL 22 FRI TIME TBD Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
JUL 24 SUN 7:00 Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
TICKETS @ AXS.com
TICKETS: AXS.com
Independence Day with your Colorado Symphony JUL 4 MON 4:00 Dillon Amphitheater
Josh Groban with the Colorado Symphony
TICKETS @ AXS.com
A Tribute to Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops with the Colorado Symphony
JUL 29 FRI 7:30 Arvada Center Outdoor Amphitheatre TICKETS @ arvadacenter.org
Father John Misty with the Colorado Symphony JUL 31 SUN 8:00 Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
TICKETS @ AXS.com
An Evening with Kristin Chenoweth and your Colorado Symphony AUG 12 FRI 7:30 Boettcher Concert Hall
TICKETS @ coloradosymphony.org
Kristin Chenoweth with the Colorado Symphony AUG 13 SAT 7:00 Vilar Performing Arts Center
TICKETS @ vilarpac.org
Amos Lee with the Colorado Symphony AUG 14 SUN 7:00 Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG
TICKETS @ AXS.com
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F irst right of refusal to keep your seats for all renewing Classics and Symphony Pops package subscribers. Custom Design packages are seated in the order in which they are received, with renewing subscribers receiving priority. Seats are always the best available based on subscriber preferences.
Great Savings n n
S avings on every concert in your subscription package. Exclusive 15% subscriber discount when you add additional concerts in Price Levels 1, 2, & 3 throughout the season. Seats in Price Levels 4 & 5 are not eligible for discounts. Some limitations and restrictions apply.
Split Payment n
P ay half now and be automatically charged for the remainder on July 1, 2022. Just check the Split Payment box on your renewal form and add the $5.00 fee. Valid on Credit Card orders only, expiration date must be after 8/22. Not available online.
Easy Exchanges & Replacements S ubscribers never pay exchange fees! Exchange for a different concert up to the start of the performance or return your tickets to the Colorado Symphony as a tax-deductible contribution. Some exchanges may result in seat upgrade costs. n Online ticket exchanges and returns! n Ticket Insurance: misplaced your tickets or left them at home? We will gladly provide duplicates free of charge. n
Advance Purchase n n
A ccess to the entire season before single tickets go on sale to the general public on July 18, 2022. Advance notice and presale opportunities for newly announced concerts and events all season.
Need More Flexibility? n
See page 31 for information about our Flex Pass!
COLORADO SYMPHONY BOX OFFICE
Our Patron Services Associates are ready to help with all your ticketing needs.
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Mon-Fri 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sat 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., and 90 minutes before each performance, in-person only. Boettcher Concert Hall at the Denver Performing Arts Complex 303.623.7876 | tickets@coloradosymphony.org
IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES
FLEX PASS $240*
photo: Amanda Tipton
6 Flex Pass Vouchers
Our Flex Pass offers all our subscriber benefits, a savings on single ticket prices, and the flexibility to enjoy your Colorado
Symphony when you want. You can split up your passes to see six different concerts yourself or combine them to see concerts with friends!
What are the benefits of the Flex Pass? Great savings over single ticket prices. You pay only $240*+ plus a one-time $20 processing fee for six ticket vouchers. We waive the single ticket service fee when you redeem your vouchers. n Vouchers can be shared with family or friends. n Use your pass all at once or concert by concert. Reserve your seats up to a week in advance or use them spontaneously! + n n
How does the Flex Pass work? You receive six Flex Pass vouchers. Each voucher is redeemable for one seat. n Choose from most concerts at Boettcher Concert Hall.+ n Reservations can be made by calling the Box Office or by exchanging your voucher(s) on the My Upcoming Events page of your Colorado Symphony account at coloradosymphony.org starting the Monday before the concert and up to the day of the show, pending availability. You will be seated in the best available seats at the time of your reservation, often in Price Level 1. n Your tickets will be emailed to you and can be accessed through the My Upcoming Events page of your Colorado Symphony account online. They can be scanned directly from your phone at the concert. n n
*A 10% Facilities Development Admissions Tax (Seat Tax) will be added, per voucher, to each Flex Pass Purchase. This tax is assessed by the City and County of Denver. + NOTE: Some Spotlight, Alternative, Movie, and concerts outside of Boettcher Concert Hall may not be eligible for Flex Pass redemption. For specific information, please visit coloradosymphony.org and view the details of the concert you wish to attend. Flex Passes do not guarantee seats to a concert. Flex Pass holders are encouraged to check availability of shows ahead of time. Flex Passes expire on May 31, 2023.
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Get involved! Browse our selection of membership groups and consider supporting the Colorado Symphony while enjoying the orchestra with fellow symphonic music-enthusiasts. By joining, you receive access to extraordinary benefits and help share the music you love with your community.
Luminary Society Luminary Society members are a group of highly engaged patrons and donors who share the Colorado Symphony’s passion for artistic excellence, innovation, and symphonic music. Throughout the 2022/23 Season, members are invited to attend special insider events; participate in an exclusive conductor's “Masterclass"; receive the "From the Podium" Newsletters; and are given advance access to specially announced concerts with one-night-only special guest artists. Luminary Society membership is a benefit associated with purchasing a subscription to four (4) or more concerts for the current or upcoming season and a $2,500* or more annual tax-deductible contribution.
Crescendo Society The Crescendo Society’s mission is to foster a community of young professionals while creating a deeper awareness and appreciation for the Colorado Symphony among the next generation. Starting at $250 per year, you can join an enthusiastic group of young professionals and receive discounted tickets to select performances, meet the musicians, attend happy hours, get invited to donor-only events, and much more. Want to try it out FREE? Join for free at the Patron Level and help make a difference by supporting the arts today. Just for signing up, we will keep you in the know for upcoming Crescendo Society events and discounted tickets to select performances.
Women of Note Interested in supporting women in the arts? This group of invested women are goodwill ambassadors of the Colorado Symphony that collectively supports and honors women in the musical arts community. Annual membership is $1,000 and includes special access to open rehearsals, Women of Note luncheons, discounts, and much more. By joining today, you will become part of an amazing community of women supporting the arts.
Colorado Symphony Gala Save the date for the Colorado Symphony Gala! Saturday, May 20, 2023. It’s the best party in town and, more importantly, the largest fundraiser for your Colorado Symphony!
Colorado Symphony Guild For 84 years, the Colorado Symphony Guild has been the premier support organization for the Colorado Symphony. This incredible group includes chapters around the state and annual dues begin at $50. The Guild manages the amazing Gift Shop located in Boettcher Concert Hall where proceeds support Colorado Symphony programming and youth initiatives.
Info For more information, or if you have questions about how to get involved, our membership groups, or events, visit coloradosymphony.org/ memberships call 303.308.2463, or email giving@coloradosymphony.org. ✹ * Due to IRS regulations, contributions made through IRA, Donor Advised Fund, or Family Foundation may not be eligible for donor benefits that include a fair market value. Contact our Development team to learn more.
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IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES
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photo: Brandon Marshall
“ We believe
in the power of music to uplift our communities and hope that through this offering we can bring the transformative power of music to classrooms and homes throughout the state.”
photo: Amanda Tipton
Jesse Martinez, Director of Community Support & Education
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IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES
The future of live, symphonic music. Offering a beacon of hope to teachers and students after what’s been a challenging two-year period, the Colorado Symphony made the unprecedented decision to provide free access to its virtual education concerts and curriculum for all schools in Colorado for the entire 2021/22 Season. The free access included the Lift Every Voice Youth Concert, Sensory Friendly Concert, Petite Musique: The Three Little Pigs Concert, and The Story of Paul Bunyan, as well as content specific educational curriculum including bilingual resources, digital story and activity books, and video interviews from artist collaborators. “In our commitment to make symphonic music accessible to all, we were delighted to offer teachers, students, and families across Colorado access to our inspiring educational virtual concerts,” said Jesse Martinez, Director of Community Support & Education. “We believe in the power of music to uplift our communities and hope that through this offering we can bring the transformative power of music to classrooms and homes throughout the state.” As the Colorado Symphony looks towards the future, our goal remains clear: to provide programming that allows students and the community to not only experience the live sounds of symphonic music, but to see themselves in our music, in our musicians, and in Boettcher Concert Hall. That includes additional inclusive programming featuring bilingual performances, inspriring repertoire from an array of diverse composers, and outreach efforts that extend to every school district across the state through in person performances and the distribution of virtual content. The future of live symphonic music belongs to all of us and together we can make a lasting impact on Colorado youth for generations to come. Your support today will allow the Colorado Symphony to provide free virtual education content to schools around the state for years to come, continue offering financial aid so that every student is able to experience symphonic music and open the door for innovative future opportunities. ✹ To learn more about how you can support the educational programs of the Colorado Symphony, contact Jesse Martinez, Director of Community Support & Education, at jmartinez@coloradosymphony.org.
Frankie Le'Troy, Lift Every Voice Youth Concert
For more information about the Colorado Symphony's MusiCurious Education Programs, please visit coloradosymphony.org/Education.
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photo: Amanda Tipton
Our greatest asset is you!
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IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES
HORACE TUREMAN LEGACY SOCIETY
Create an enduring legacy For nearly a century, your Colorado Symphony has made live symphonic music a vital cornerstone of this community. Our musicians inspire and impact lives, not just from the stage, but in classrooms, studios, and homes across Colorado. But none of this would have been possible without you. Each year, thousands of donors, patrons, volunteers, students, and community members show their support for our orchestra in so many ways — attending concerts, volunteering time, making tax-deductible donations, and contributing assets to support the mission of the Colorado Symphony. This year individual contributions allowed us to expand our educational programming to include the creation of dual language curriculum with virtual and in-person concerts for Colorado educators and youth. Help us build on this recent success by supporting your Colorado Symphony today. There are countless ways to make your impact felt including incorporating the Colorado Symphony in your will or trust, a gesture that will enrich the lives of Coloradans as your gift lives on through our music. Our greatest asset is you! To learn more about planned giving or major gifts of assets, please contact Cecile Forsberg-Kerr, Director of Individual Giving & Strategic Support, at 303.308.2495 or email cforsbergkerr@coloradosymphony.org. We hope you will renew your investment in the Colorado Symphony today! Join us in securing a bright, prosperous future for live symphonic music and innovative music education programming that will impact music lovers for generations to come. ✹
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COLORADOSYMPHONY.ORG
| 303.623.7876
1000 14th St. No. 15, Denver, CO 80202 | Boettcher Concert Hall | Denver Performing Arts Complex Box Office: Mon-Fri: 11 a.m.–6 p.m. | Sat: 12 p.m.–6 p.m. 90 minutes before each performance, in-person only, subject to change. PRESENTING SPONSOR
PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY