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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, AT 7PM
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, AT 1 & 8PM
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5, AT 2PM
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince™
in Concert with the Seattle Symphony
Relive the magic of year six in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince™ in Concert. With this film, based on the sixth installment of the classic saga, fans of all ages can experience the thrilling tale of Harry’s obsession with a mysterious potions book, accompanied by the music of a live symphony orchestra.
WIZARDING WORLD and all related trademarks, characters, names, and indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s23)
FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, AT 8PM
SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, AT 2PM
Joe Hisaishi returns
Joe Hisaishi conductor & piano
Following four sold-out concerts in his 2022 Benaroya Hall debut, Joe Hisaishi returns to Seattle for a special residency in January 2024. Featuring new concert music as well as favorites from his iconic Studio Ghibli film scores, plus additional events in a week-long immersion at Benaroya Hall. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to see and hear one of today’s best-loved composers in the world.
Joe Hisaishi’s performances are generously underwritten by Yuka Shimizu, and Jeanne Berwick and James Degel.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, AT 7:30PM
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, AT 8PM
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, AT 8PM
The Princess Bride
in Concert with the Seattle Symphony
Nicholas Buc conductor
Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles... Experience one of the most beloved films of all time at Benaroya Hall as the Seattle Symphony performs Mark Knopfler’s unforgettable score live-to-picture!
© The Princess Bride Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Choose any 6 concerts & save!
Across the 2023/2024 season you will find the classics you love, plus new musical discoveries — just choose the concerts you want to hear! Visit seattlesymphony.org/cyo to get started.
Season Highlights
Violin Concertos
Joshua Bell Plays
Elements Concerto
See page 19
Reena Esmail/Kala Ramnath
Concerto for Hindustani Violin
See Transcendental Bliss on page 8
Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5
See Noah Geller’s Playlist on page 16
Vivaldi Four Seasons
See page 16
piano Concertos
Beethoven Emperor Concerto
See page 13
Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2
See Elgar & Brahms on page 9
Tchaikovsky Piano
Concerto No. 1
See Simon Trpčeski Plays Tchaikovsky on page 14
Prokofiev Piano
Concerto No. 3
See Jan Lisiecki Plays Prokofiev on page 19
classic favorites
Schubert
“Unfinished” Symphony
See Raise the Curtain on page 6
Stravinsky The Firebird
See page 6
Mahler Symphony No. 5
See page 9
Beethoven Symphony No. 5
See page 19
Pop Culture
An Evening with Audra McDonald
See page 10
Disney: The Sound of Magic
See page 8
Tribute to John Williams
See page 13
BLACKSTAR SYMPHONY: The Music of David Bowie
See page 13
silver anniversary Gala, concert & party
It’s the 25th Anniversary of Benaroya Hall and we’re celebrating in style! Join us for the glamorous Silver Anniversary Gala, be swept away by Lang Lang with the Seattle Symphony and afterwards, dance the night away with Symphony musicians at the Silver Anniversary Party. Celebrate a new season of music with these unforgettable events!
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, AT 6PM
Silver Anniversary Gala
You’re invited to our signature black-tie celebration! Join the Seattle Symphony as we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Benaroya Hall and the start of the 2023/2024 season. Gala packages include VIP access to the Friday concert with pianist Lang Lang and the Seattle Symphony plus the Silver Anniversary Party. For more information, visit seattlesymphony.org/gala
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, AT 7PM
Lang Lang with the Seattle Symphony
Peter Oundjian conductor
Lang Lang piano
JOHN ADAMS Short Ride in a Fast Machine
SAINT-SAËNS Piano Concerto No. 2
RESPIGHI Pines of Rome
Pianist Lang Lang and conductor Peter Oundjian join the Seattle Symphony on stage for a program featuring Saint-Saëns’ Second Piano Concerto, Respighi’s Pines of Rome and John Adams’ Short Ride in a Fast Machine
Lang Lang’s performance is generously underwritten by The Nakajima Family.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
silver Anniversary Party
After the concert, celebrate Benaroya Hall’s 25th anniversary with Symphony musicians at a dance party in the Samuel & Althea Stroum Grand Lobby. For more information, visit seattlesymphony.org/gala
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, AT 8PM
Raise the curtain
MASTERWORKS SERIES
Ludovic Morlot conductor
Alexandra LoBianco soprano
MASSENET Phèdre Overture
HONEGGER Pastorale d’Été
SCHUBERT “Unfinished” Symphony
WAGNER Selections from Götterdämmerung
Join us as we celebrate the Seattle Symphony’s 120th season and Benaroya Hall’s 25th anniversary with historic recreations of the orchestra’s milestone performances. The Symphony’s very first concert, in 1903, featured Massenet and the brilliant “Unfinished” Symphony of Schubert. Selections from Wagner’s Götterdämmerung were a highlight of the concert that opened Benaroya Hall.
Ludovic Morlot’s position is generously underwritten as the Judith Fong Conductor Emeritus.
YOU’D ALSO LIKE:
Beethoven Symphony No. 5 [see page 19]
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, AT 7:30PM
Pianist Emanuel Ax
IN RECITAL SERIES
Emanuel Ax piano
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 8, “Pathétique”
SCHOENBERG Three Piano Pieces, Op. 11
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 2, Op. 2, No. 2
WEBERN Variations, Op. 27
SCHOENBERG Six Little Piano Pieces, Op. 19
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 23, “Appassionata”
Known for his legendary virtuosity and warmth, Emanuel Ax presents a solo piano recital in Benaroya Hall for the first time in a decade. His superb artistry turns to Beethoven’s magnificent “Pathétique” and “Appassionata” sonatas. Complementing these masterpieces are works from Schoenberg and Webern.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, AT 8PM
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, AT 2PM
Stravinsky The Firebird
MASTERWORKS SERIES
Alevtina Ioffe conductor
Efe Baltacıgil cello
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV “The Three Wonders” from The Tale of Tsar Saltan
SHOSTAKOVICH Cello Concerto No. 1
STRAVINSKY The Firebird Complete (1910)
Three mighty Russian composers are brought together in one thrilling program. Shostakovich’s brooding concerto is paired with RimskyKorsakov’s Tale of Tsar Saltan and Stravinsky’s Firebird ballet, which launched orchestral music on a new path.
Efe Baltacıgil’s position is generously underwritten as the Marks Family Foundation Principal Cello.
YOU’D ALSO LIKE:
Simon Trpčeski Plays Tchaikovsky [see page 14]
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, AT 7:30PM
MAHANI TEAVE’S PLAYLIST
PLAYLIST SERIES
Sunny Xia conductor
Mahani Teave piano
AARON JAY KERNIS Elegy (For Those We Lost)
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 20
Mahani Teave, recognized as one of the 100 Women Leaders of her country, has performed in the world’s foremost concert halls as well as in hospitals, schools and prisons around the globe.
Sunny Xia’s position is generously underwritten as the Douglas F. King Assistant Conductor.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, AT 8PM
Transcendental Bliss
MASTERWORKS SERIES
Alexander Shelley conductor
Kala Ramnath Hindustani violin
R. STRAUSS Don Juan
REENA ESMAIL/KALA RAMNATH Concerto for Hindustani Violin
GUBAIDULINA Fairytale Poem
R. STRAUSS Death & Transfiguration
Kala Ramnath returns by popular demand to perform her Concerto for Hindustani Violin, co-written with Reena Esmail.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, AT 7:30PM
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, AT 8PM
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29, AT 2PM
Disney: The Sound of Magic
Stuart Chafetz conductor
Join us for a symphonic celebration of Disney music, animation, and memories — 100 years in the making! Favorite characters and soundtracks from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Disney Parks come together live on stage and on the big screen in a live-to-film concert like never before.
Presentation licensed by © DISNEY
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, AT 7:30PM
Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason
IN RECITAL SERIES
Sheku Kanneh-Mason cello
J.S. BACH Cello Suite No. 2, BWV 1008
GWILYM SIMCOCK Prayer for the Senses
BRITTEN Cello Suite No. 1
LEO BROUWER Cello Sonata No. 2
EDMUND FINNIS Five Preludes
GASPAR CASSADÓ Cello Suite
Winner of the 2016 BBC Young Musician Award, cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason returns to Benaroya Hall for a recital of new and classic repertoire, including works written especially for him.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, AT 8PM
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12, AT 2PM
Elgar & Brahms
MASTERWORKS SERIES
Mark Wigglesworth conductor
Stephen Hough piano
BRAHMS Piano Concerto No. 2
ELGAR Symphony No. 2
Mark Wigglesworth makes his long-anticipated Seattle Symphony debut with Elgar’s radiant Second Symphony. Its dedication to England’s Edward VII belies a ‘spirit of delight’ and complex emotion. Stephen Hough plays a masterpiece of Romanticism, Brahms’ Second Piano Concerto.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, AT 7:30PM
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, AT 12 NOON
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, AT 8PM
Nordic Passion
MASTERWORKS SERIES
Dalia Stasevska conductor
Lauri Porra electric bass
ANNA MEREDITH Nautilus
LAURI PORRA Entropia Concerto for Electric Bass
SIBELIUS Symphony No. 5
Dalia Stasevska returns to conduct music from Scotland and Finland. Sibelius’ captivating Fifth Symphony is among his most admired works. Lauri Porra, whose family traces their roots back to Sibelius, presents his own concerto for electric bass.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, AT 8PM
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, AT 2PM
Mahler Symphony No. 5
MASTERWORKS SERIES
David Robertson conductor
Orli Shaham piano
DAVID ROBERTSON Light Forming, A Piano Concerto
MAHLER Symphony No. 5
Mahler’s Fifth Symphony scales triumphant heights, from a dramatic funeral march to a sublime love letter to his wife Alma. Orli Shaham performs Light Forming, a work written for her by her husband, conductor David Robertson.
YOU’D ALSO LIKE:
Mahler Symphony No. 3 [see page 15]
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, AT 7:30PM
An Evening with Audra McDonald
Andy Einhorn conductor
Audra McDonald vocals
Six-time Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald brings her unparalleled artistry and passion to the Benaroya Hall stage for an evening of classics from Broadway and the American Songbook.
Audra McDonald’s performances are generously sponsored by Leslie and Dale Chihuly.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, AT 8PM
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, AT 8PM
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10, AT 2PM
Holiday Pops
Stuart Chafetz conductor
Aubrey Logan trombone & vocals
There’s no place like Benaroya Hall for the holidays! Join conductor Stuart Chafetz and vocalist-trombonist Aubrey Logan for this dazzling program full of holiday favorites, traditional carols and plenty of yuletide cheer. All of the heartwarming sounds of the season await you at this lighthearted and joyful concert.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, AT 8PM
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, AT 8PM
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, AT 2PM
Handel Messiah
HOLIDAY SPECIAL
Antony Walker conductor
Seattle Symphony Chorale
HANDEL Messiah
A triumph of music and text, Handel’s Messiah is a matchless December tradition. The exquisite choral writing and the exultant “Hallelujah” chorus — featuring the Seattle Symphony, Chorale and a strong cast of soloists — honor Handel’s greatest work.
Handel’s Messiah is generously sponsored by Stephen Whyte in memory of Gwendolyn Jones Whyte.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, AT 7:30PM
A Festival of Lessons and Carols
HOLIDAY SPECIAL
Jacob Winkler conductor
Northwest Boychoir
The remarkably talented and endearing Northwest Boychoir, along with Vocalpoint! Seattle, present the story of the Nativity told through readings, choral settings and audience carols.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, AT 7:30PM
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, AT 8PM
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, AT 8PM
Beethoven Symphony No. 9
HOLIDAY SPECIAL
Kahchun Wong conductor
Seattle Symphony Chorale
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9, “Choral”
The beauty and drama of Beethoven’s monumental Ninth Symphony returns to Benaroya Hall! This alternately awe-inspiring and uplifting masterpiece, with its crowning jewel of the “Ode to Joy” chorus, is a wonderful way to end the calendar year and look boldly to the year ahead.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, AT 9PM
New Year’s Eve Concert & Party
HOLIDAY SPECIAL
Kahchun Wong conductor
Seattle Symphony Chorale
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9, “Choral”
Ring in 2024 with Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and enjoy the splendor of the “Ode to Joy” chorus. Then, count down to midnight at a post-concert party featuring dancing, champagne and revelry in the Samuel & Althea Stroum Grand Lobby!
January & February
THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, AT 8PM
Metropolis
MASTERWORKS SERIES
Frank Strobel conductor
LANG/HUPPERTZ Metropolis
Fritz Lang’s landmark masterpiece, Metropolis, remains one of the greatest films in history. See a dazzling and disturbing vision of the future while the Seattle Symphony performs the original soundtrack. Metropolis has inspired countless science fiction movies since 1927, from Dr. Strangelove to Blade Runner
SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, AT 4PM
CELEBRATE ASIA
SPECIAL PERFORMANCES
Sunny Xia conductor
Quynh Nguyen piano
THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, AT 8PM
Dvořák & Rachmaninov
MASTERWORKS SERIES
Alpesh Chauhan conductor
Pablo Ferrández cello
DVOŘÁK Cello Concerto
RACHMANINOV Symphony No. 2
Pablo Ferrández makes his Benaroya Hall debut performing Dvořák’s shining Cello Concerto. Conductor Alpesh Chauhan leads Rachmaninov’s expansive Second Symphony, from its solemn opening to a resounding finale.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, AT 8PM
SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, AT 2PM
Tribute to John Williams
Sarah Hicks conductor
From Harry Potter to Indiana Jones, John Williams has penned some of the most unforgettable film scores of all time. Conductor Sarah Hicks leads the orchestra in this special tribute to the great John Williams, featuring music from Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Superman, Memoirs of a Geisha, Schindler’s List and many more!
PAUL CHIHARA Piano Concerto-Fantasy
BEETHOVEN Leonore Overture No. 3
GRIEG Peer Gynt Suite
The annual Celebrate Asia shines a spotlight on Seattle’s vibrant Asian communities. This concert is great for the whole family and includes pre- and post-concert festivities at Benaroya Hall with local dancers and music ensembles.
Sunny Xia’s position is generously underwritten as the Douglas F. King Assistant Conductor.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, AT 8PM
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4, AT 2PM
Beethoven Emperor Concerto
MASTERWORKS SERIES
Kevin John Edusei conductor
Steven Osborne piano
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor”
R. STRAUSS Ein Heldenleben
The Emperor and Hero come together for a program of orchestral brilliance. Steven Osborne returns to take on Beethoven’s final piano concerto. In Ein Heldenleben (“A Hero’s Life”), Strauss creates a musical self-portrait featuring his wife, friends and even his dreaded music critics.
YOU’D ALSO LIKE:
Jan Lisiecki Plays Prokofiev [see page 19]
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, AT 7:30PM
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, AT 12 NOON
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, AT 8PM
Randall Goosby Plays Mozart
MASTERWORKS SERIES
Christian Reif conductor
Randall Goosby violin
PERRY A Short Piece for Orchestra
MOZART Violin Concerto No. 3
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 9
Directed by the Soviets in 1945 to compose a victory symphony, Shostakovich responded with his Ninth: a work filled with sardonic humor that belies the nightmare of global conflict and suffering. Randall Goosby provides the light of reason in Mozart’s Third Violin Concerto.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, AT 8PM
Blackstar Symphony: The Music of David Bowie
SPECIAL PERFORMANCES
Donny McCaslin artistic director
Tim Davies conductor
John Cameron Mitchell vocals
Gail Ann Dorsey vocals
David Poe vocals
Nate Wood drums & bass
Jason Lindner keyboards
BLACKSTAR SYMPHONY showcases David Bowie’s entire Blackstar album, and celebrates his beloved musical catalog with touchstone Bowie compositions including “Heroes,” “Life on Mars,” “Suffragette City,” “Space Oddity” and others that serve as a reminder of the pervasiveness of Bowie’s presence in pop culture.
March
FRIDAY, MARCH 1, AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, MARCH 2, AT 7:30PM
CONRAD TAO’S PLAYLIST
PLAYLIST SERIES
Sunny Xia conductor
Conrad Tao conductor & piano
STRAVINSKY “Dumbarton Oaks” Concerto
PURCELL Fantasia for Strings in F Major
LINDA CATLIN SMITH Orient Point
FELDMAN The Viola in My Life 3
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 24
Conrad Tao weaves Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24 into an adventurous program. Hailed by The New York Times as an artist of “probing intellect and open-hearted vision,” Tao brings an elegant sensibility to this darkly brooding and distinctive work. Complementing Mozart’s concerto are two rarely performed works by 20th century American composers.
Sunny Xia’s position is generously underwritten as the Douglas F. King Assistant Conductor.
THURSDAY, MARCH 7, AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, MARCH 9, AT 8PM
Bach St. John Passion
MASTERWORKS SERIES
Bernard Labadie conductor Seattle Symphony Chorale
J.S. BACH St. John Passion
The Seattle Symphony celebrates the 300th anniversary of Bach’s profound St. John Passion. Bernard Labadie leads the orchestra through the trial and execution of Jesus in what is ultimately a message of hope and redemption.
YOU’D ALSO LIKE:
Handel Messiah [see page 10]
THURSDAY, MARCH 14, AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, MARCH 16, AT 8PM
Sibelius & Nielsen
MASTERWORKS SERIES
Dima Slobodeniouk conductor
Ning Feng violin
SEBASTIAN FAGERLUND Stonework
SIBELIUS Violin Concerto
NIELSEN Symphony No. 4, “The Inextinguishable”
The swelling ocean pounds rocky cliffs in this concert of Scandinavian greats. Ning Feng makes his Seattle Symphony debut playing Sibelius’ ethereal Violin Concerto. Carl Nielsen believed that the will of life is “inextinguishable.” This idea inspired his urgently expressive Fourth Symphony.
YOU’D ALSO LIKE:
Copland Appalachian Spring [see page 15]
FRIDAY, MARCH 15, AT 8PM
Glenn Miller Orchestra
SPECIAL PERFORMANCES
Nick Hilscher director
“A band ought to have a sound all of its own. It ought to have a personality.” — Glenn Miller
The world-famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, with its unique jazz sound, is one of the most popular and sought after big bands in the world today.
THURSDAY, MARCH 21, AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, AT 8PM
SUNDAY, MARCH 24, AT 2PM
Simon Trpčeski Plays
Tchaikovsky
MASTERWORKS SERIES
Osmo Vänskä conductor
Simon Trpčeski piano
DONGHOON SHIN Of Rats and Men
TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1
PROKOFIEV Symphony No. 6
Tchaikovsky’s powerful First Piano Concerto is the epitome of pianistic Romanticism. Experience this beloved classic played by the charismatic Simon Trpčeski. Prokofiev’s Sixth Symphony is a work of unsettling beauty composed amid great political conflict. Osmo Vänskä joins the Symphony for this program of courageously passionate music.
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, AT 7:30PM
FRIDAY, APRIL 5, AT 12 NOON
SATURDAY, APRIL 6, AT 8PM
Copland Appalachian Spring
MASTERWORKS SERIES
Xian Zhang conductor
Ray Chen violin
DOROTHY CHANG Northern Star
KORNGOLD Violin Concerto
COPLAND Appalachian Spring
Acclaimed violinist Ray Chen brings old Hollywood to Seattle with Korngold’s lush Violin Concerto. Copland’s Appalachian Spring evokes the innocence of young love and the spaciousness of this land. Dorothy Chang’s Northern Star also takes inspiration from the natural world.
Ray Chen’s performances are generously sponsored by Paul Leach and Susan Winokur.
THURSDAY, APRIL 11, AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, APRIL 13, AT 8PM
SUNDAY, APRIL 14, AT 2PM
Mahler Symphony No. 3
MASTERWORKS SERIES
Kahchun Wong conductor
Julie Boulianne mezzo-soprano
Northwest Boychoir
Seattle Symphony Chorale
MAHLER Symphony No. 3
Mahler famously said that a “symphony must be like the world. It must embrace everything.” His massive Third Symphony manifests this belief by expressing the elemental forces of life, the flowers in the meadow and the animals in the forest, before reaching beyond the earthly realm to depict the heavens and love itself.
YOU’D ALSO LIKE:
Mahler Symphony No. 5 [see page 9]
THURSDAY, APRIL 18, AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, APRIL 20, AT 8PM
Dvořák Symphony No. 6
MASTERWORKS SERIES
Shiyeon Sung conductor
Alisa Weilerstein cello
WEBER Overture to Oberon
LUTOSŁAWSKI Cello Concerto
DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 6
April Ray Chen
Alisa Weilerstein performs the Seattle Symphony premiere of Lutosławski’s transcendent Cello Concerto. Conductor Shiyeon Sung returns to lead this beautiful program, which also includes Dvořák’s luminous Sixth Symphony.
YOU’D ALSO LIKE:
Stravinsky The Firebird [see page 6]
THURSDAY, APRIL 25, AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, APRIL 27, AT 8PM
SUNDAY, APRIL 28, AT 2PM
Antarctic Symphony
MASTERWORKS SERIES
Gemma New conductor
Jennifer Bromagen soprano
Seattle Symphony Chorale
SALINA FISHER Rainphase
BRITTEN Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Symphony No. 7, “Antarctic”
The story of the doomed 1912 Terra Nova expedition to Antarctica, led by Captain Robert Scott, is told in readings from Scott’s diary, photography by Herbert Ponting and the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams. New Zealand Symphony Principal Conductor Gemma New joins us for this program of high-stakes drama.
May
TUESDAY, MAY 21, AT 7:30PM
Pianist Bruce Liu
IN RECITAL SERIES
Bruce Liu piano
HAYDN Piano Sonata in B minor CHOPIN Piano Sonata No. 2
KAPUSTIN Variations, Op. 41
RAMEAU Selections
PROKOFIEV Piano Sonata No. 7
Bruce Liu, winner of the 2021 International Chopin Piano Competition, showcases works by Baroque and Romantic composers. Liu’s first album received Critics’ and Editor’s choice awards from Gramophone magazine, which proclaimed it as “simply one of the most distinguished Chopin recitals of recent years.”
YOU’D ALSO LIKE:
Jan Lisiecki Plays Prokofiev [see page 19]
FRIDAY, MAY 31, AT 8PM
FRIDAY, MAY 3, AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, MAY 4, AT 7:30PM
NOAH GELLER’S PLAYLIST
PLAYLIST SERIES
Sunny Xia conductor
Noah Geller violin
J.S. BACH Concerto for Two Violins
SAMUEL ADAMS Movements (for Us and Them)
MOZART Violin Concerto No. 5
Our own Concertmaster’s playlist is a celebration of music for strings, starting with his beloved Bach and culminating in Mozart’s Fifth Violin Concerto. In between, Noah has chosen a mesmerizing piece by Samuel Adams. Movements (for Us and Them) is a modern day response to the Baroque concerto grosso.
Sunny Xia’s position is generously underwritten as the Douglas F. King Assistant Conductor.
Noah Geller’s position is generously underwritten as the David & Amy Fulton Concertmaster.
YOU’D ALSO LIKE:
Randall Goosby Plays Mozart [see page 13]
SUNDAY, MAY 5, AT 2PM
Pianist Víkingur Ólafsson
IN RECITAL SERIES
Víkingur Ólafsson piano
J.S. BACH Goldberg Variations
Hailed as the “new superstar of classical piano” by The Daily Telegraph, Víkingur Ólafsson is an artist of true insight and sensitivity whose multiple awards include Gramophone magazine’s 2019 Artist of the Year. He brings his captivating skill to Bach’s intriguing Goldberg Variations
THURSDAY, MAY 16, AT 7:30PM
FRIDAY, MAY 17, AT 12 NOON
SATURDAY, MAY 18, AT 8PM
Vivaldi four seasons
MASTERWORKS SERIES
Jennifer Koh violin
VIVALDI The Four Seasons [more repertoire to be announced]
Antonio Vivaldi’s evergreen classic, The Four Seasons, has been the template for generations of composers who want to express the wonder, mystery and joy of the changing seasons.
SATURDAY, JUNE 1, AT 8PM
SUNDAY, JUNE 2, AT 2PM
She’s Got Soul featuring Capathia Jenkins
Lucas Waldin conductor
Capathia Jenkins vocals
Capathia Jenkins brings her powerhouse voice and stunning presence to her new show, She’s Got Soul, with music by Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Adele and many others.
Broadway star Capathia Jenkins also has a passion for acting, and her television credits include 30 Rock, The Practice, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and The Sopranos
Joshua Bell performed incognito in a Washington, D.C. metro station, which became a Pulitzer Prizewinning Washington Post story in 2007.
June
THURSDAY, JUNE 6, AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, JUNE 8, AT 8PM
SUNDAY, JUNE 9, AT 2PM
Jan Lisiecki Plays Prokofiev
MASTERWORKS SERIES
Karen Kamensek conductor
Jan Lisiecki piano
FAZIL SAY Grand Bazaar
PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 3
WALTON Symphony No. 1
Conductor Karen Kamensek leads a program that spans the globe. Jan Lisiecki commands the stage with the rhythmic energy of Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto. Fazil Say’s soundscape Grand Bazaar transports us to the bustling marketplaces of his home country of Turkey.
YOU’D ALSO LIKE:
Elgar & Brahms [see page 9]
THURSDAY, JUNE 13, AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, JUNE 15, AT 8PM
Beethoven Symphony No. 5
MASTERWORKS SERIES
Ludovic Morlot conductor
Seattle Symphony Chorale
JOHN ADAMS Tromba lontana
JOHN ADAMS Harmonium
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5
It’s impossible to imagine classical music without Beethoven’s iconic Fifth Symphony. More than 200 years after its composition, it remains one of the most powerful pieces of music ever written.
Ludovic Morlot’s position is generously underwritten as the Judith Fong Conductor Emeritus.
THURSDAY, JUNE 20, AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, JUNE 22, AT 8PM
Joshua Bell Plays Elements Concerto
MASTERWORKS SERIES
Marin Alsop conductor
Joshua Bell violin
JAKE HEGGIE, JENNIFER HIGDON, EDGAR
MEYER, JESSIE MONTGOMERY, KEVIN PUTS
Elements Concerto
BRAHMS Symphony No. 2
The incomparable Joshua Bell performs the Elements Concerto, a modular work by five of today’s leading composers. Marin Alsop ushers in summer with Brahms’ sunny Second Symphony. Performances of Elements Concerto are generously underwritten by the Richard E. Lang and Jane Lang Davis Living Music Program.
Subscriber & Donor
THE BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE ARE WAITING FOR YOU!
Subscribe to the 2023/2024 season today to enjoy special season-long benefits alongside bold performances with your Grammy®-winning Seattle Symphony.
Exclusive presale opportunities for select concerts
PRIORITY STATUS
Access the best available seats for you and your guests during Subscriber Advantage Week, starting on July 22, 2023
FREE one-time seating upgrade coupon
Save up to 30% over single ticket prices and choose from the best seats available. The more you buy, the more you save!
ADDITIONAL SAVINGS
Save up to 15% on the advance purchase of most single tickets outside of your subscription series
Save up to 10% on most recordings and merchandise at Symphonica, The Symphony Store
FREE and easy ticket exchanges by mail or in person (subject to availability; upgrade costs may apply)
FLEXIBILITY & SERVICE
PAYMENT OPTIONS
FREE lost ticket replacement
One missed concert voucher
Flexible payment plans available for subscription packages
Free coffee and tea during concert intermission
Go behind the scenes at Open Rehearsals
Complimentary access to the Seattle Symphony+ streaming service
DONOR BENEFITS
Access to the Symphony Club Lounge during intermission
Get up close with the orchestra at an Onstage Rehearsal
Meet the musicians at Club events and experiences
Complimentary wine in the Norcliffe Founders Room
Personalized concierge service through VIP Ticketing
Recognition on the donor wall at Benaroya Hall
For a complete list of donor benefits at each giving level, visit seattlesymphony.org/benefits
Benefits
YOU BRING OUR MUSIC TO LIFE!
The 2023/2024 season is made possible by people like you. With this exciting new season on the horizon, the Seattle Symphony is moving forward, thrilling audiences and engaging our community. The philanthropic support of those we serve — your generosity — remains vital to our mission of sharing the power of music. Ticket sales alone cover less than half of the costs to put on a full season of concerts. Please include a gift with your subscription order today!
When you make a gift, you’ll also enjoy unique donor benefits through the 2023/2024 season. Special donor perks and experiences begin with your gift of $120, or just $10 per month.
Visit us online at seattlesymphony.org/friends to explore all the benefits we offer to enhance your Symphony experience.
SAVOR YOUR INTERMISSIONS ALL SEASON LONG WITH A GIFT TODAY!
Free Coffee for Friends
Friends of the Symphony ($120–1,199) enjoy complimentary coffee and tea during intermission and avoid concessions lines at the Friends coffee station available at most concerts.
Symphony Club Lounge
Members of the Symphony Club ($1,200–4,999) are invited to the Davis/Grinstein Promenade inside the Samuel & Althea Stroum Grand Lobby to enjoy a dedicated no-host bar along with complimentary coffee and tea during intermission.
Founders Room Intermission
Founders Circle supporters ($5,000+) and their guests are invited to savor complimentary wine, tea and coffee in the company of other dedicated music lovers in the elegant Norcliffe Founders Room.
**Additional Pricing: All Masterworks Series prices are $35–125 except for Joshua Bell Plays Elements Concerto ($55–175). All Seattle Pops Series prices are $41–113 except for Tribute to John Williams ($52–125).
CHOOSE ANY 6 CONCERTS Seattle Pops Series Concerts** SEE PAGE pp. 8–17
D $50
$59
$64
$82
$86
Tier Box $113
Add-on concerts
ADD ON ANY OF THESE SPECIAL PERFORMANCES TO YOUR SUBSCRIPTION! SUBSCRIBE NOW AND ENJOY EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO SPECIAL PERFORMANCES BEFORE THEY GO ON SALE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC!
*Available as part of a Silver Anniversary Gala or Premier Concert & Party package ($1,000+) only. Please visit seattlesymphony.org/gala for additional information.
SEATING MAP
Masterworks Series, Playlist Series, In Recital Series, Specials
Ticket prices include a $5 facility fee per ticket for the preservation of Benaroya Hall. Facility fee waived for children’s concerts. All programs, artists and prices are subject to change without notice.
All prices are in U.S. dollars. All orders and seating subject to availability. All payments are processed upon receipt of order; this is not a guarantee of seating, but of your placement in the queue for the seats you’ve requested. You will be contacted by phone with any seating questions. No refunds will be made after your series has begun. Group subscriptions are available by calling 206.215.4747. Children 5 years of age and older are welcome at all performances with a purchased ticket.
The Seattle Symphony is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax ID# 91-0667412. The Symphony is registered with Washington State’s Charities Program as required by law. Additional information is available by calling 800.332.4483 or visiting www.sos.wa.gov/charities.
SEATING MAP
Seattle Pops Series
Seattlesymphony.org
FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, AT 7:30PM
SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, AT 8PM
SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, AT 2PM
Joe Hisaishi returns
Joe Hisaishi conductor & piano
Following four sold-out concerts in his 2022 Benaroya Hall debut, Joe Hisaishi returns to Seattle for a special residency in January 2024. Featuring new concert music as well as favorites from his iconic Studio Ghibli film scores, plus additional events in a week-long immersion at Benaroya Hall. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to see and hear one of today’s best-loved composers in the world. Joe Hisaishi’s performances are generously underwritten by Yuka Shimizu, and Jeanne Berwick and James Degel.