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The Oregon Symphony’s spectacular 12th season
The Oregon Symphony continues to innovate during its 125th anniversary season
By Michelle Talsma Everson
FRONT & CENTER
The full orchestra performing at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
This season, the Oregon Symphony celebrates its 125th anniversary and the first under its new musical director, David Danzmayr. The wellknown local symphony produces several hundred concerts and awardwinning education and community programs each year, serving more than 250,000 people in-person and tens of millions more people through broadcasts and recordings.
“Throughout his inaugural season, David [Danzmayr] has received multiple standing ovations from audiences and universal acclaim for the outstanding concerts he has conducted,” says Russell Kelban, vice president of marketing and strategic engagement for the Oregon Symphony. “Starting with the season premiere concert that reunited the orchestra with audiences after an 18-month hiatus, through his most recent concert when he reintroduced audiences to important works by under-represented composers such as William Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony. Some of David’s most popular concerts this season included conducting symphonies composed by Mahler, Beethoven and Haydn. Later this season, David presents the works by exciting young composers like Nico Muhly and Nathalie Joachim. The season ends with David conducting Beethoven’s breathtaking Ninth Symphony.”
For those who have yet to see the Oregon Symphony, Danzmayr has some helpful advice. “…The question from people, ‘What do we need to do before we come to a concert?’ I think the answer is, ‘Absolutely nothing.’ You don’t need to know when Beethoven was born, and you don’t need to wear fancy clothes to go to an orchestra concert. The only thing you need to do is show up and listen.”
Kelban notes that some upcoming shows and events that locals can look forward to include:
In addition to these upcoming events, Kelban adds that the Oregon Symphony’s gala takes place on Saturday, April 9. The theme is “What the Future Sounds Like.” “Oregonians are invited to an unforgettable evening celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Oregon Symphony,” he says. “The gala features a special concert offered both in person and free livestreaming globally, conducted by Music Director David Danzmayr and hosted by Grammy Award-winning mandolinist, singer, and composer Chris Thile.”
“To be perfectly direct, the Oregon Symphony is one of the best orchestras in the United States; there is no question about that,” Danzmayr adds. “And that is thanks to the music directors who came before… It’s thanks to the effort of the musicians to commit to the hard work. So, for me it’s a pleasure to take over now, to work with an orchestra that plays on that level with that commitment and that sound.”
The Oregon Symphony is announcing their 2022-2023 season this spring. Subscriptions for classical, pops, popcorn and kids’ series are on sale at orsymphony.org.
QJohn Williams: 90th Birthday Bash with the Oregon Symphony, March 19 and 20. This event features music from some of Williams’ most memorable film scores: Star Wars, E.T. the Extra-
Terrestrial, Jaws, Jurassic Park, and more. QThe Princess Bride in Concert: feature film with Oregon Symphony (part of the
Symphony’s Popcorn Series), on April 2 and 3. The orchestra performs the score live with the film projected on the big screen. A hilarious fairy tale adventure for the entire family. (In May, the next in the
Popcorn Series will be Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.) QFrom Oregon Symphony’s Kids’ Concert Series: “Under the Sea,” on
April 10 at 2 p.m. This event is described as, “A musical excursion into the water depths with favorite music from The Little
Mermaid, Pirates of the Caribbean and
Debussy’s mysterious, magical La Mer.”
The concert is an hour long and with family-friendly priced tickets. QJoshua Bell with the Oregon Symphony, April 23-25. One of the most celebrated violinists of our era, Joshua Bell stars in a program featuring two Romanic
Era greats. QLooking ahead, on May 7 at 6 p.m., don’t miss “An African American Requiem: a world premiere presented by Resonance
Ensemble and the Oregon Symphony.”
This concert is Portland composer Damien
Geter’s bold musical response to violence against African Americans in the Unites
States combines traditional Latin Requiem texts with civil rights declarations poetry, and the famous last words of Eric Garner,
“I can’t breathe.”
