6 minute read
Program 3: ABBA The Concert New Year’s Eve Celebration
FORT WORTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
ROBERT SPANO, MUSIC DIRECTOR KEVIN JOHN EDUSEI, PRINCIPAL GUEST CONDUCTOR KEITH CERNY, Ph.D., PRESIDENT AND CEO Saturday, December 31, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. Bass Performance Hall Fort Worth, TX
THE CONCERT: A TRIBUTE TO ABBA
Summer Night City Gimme, Gimme, Gimme Knowing Me, Knowing You Money, Money, Money Chiquitita I Have a Dream Don't Shut Me Down Waterloo S.O.S. Super Trouper Mamma Mia!
Intermission
Voulez-Vous Fernando Take a Chance on Me The Winner Takes It All The Visitors / Lay All Your Love On Me / When All is Said and Done Does Your Mother Know? Dancing Queen
Video or audio recording of this performance is strictly prohibited. Patrons arriving late will be seated during the first convenient pause. Program and artists are subject to change.
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ABOUT ROBERT FRANZ
Acclaimed conductor, Robert Franz, recognized as “an outstanding musician with profound intelligence,” has held to three principles throughout his career: a commitment to the highest artistic standards, to creating alliances and building bridges in each community he serves, and a dedication to being a strong force in music education. As Music Director of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Associate Conductor of the Houston Symphony, and Artistic Director of the Boise Baroque Orchestra, he has achieved success through his focus on each of these principles.
His appeal as a first-rate conductor and enthusiastic award-winning educator is acclaimed by critics, composers and audiences of all ages. Composer Bright Sheng praised Franz for his “extremely musical and passionate approach towards music making.” Franz is in increasing demand as a guest conductor, having collaborated with the Cleveland Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, North Carolina Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, and Italy’s Orchestra da Camera Fiorentinas. 2021 marks his debut with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. His versatility has led to performances with a wide array of artists, including James Galway, Joshua Bell, Rachel Barton Pine, Chris Botti, Idina Menzel and Judy Collins as well as his work with composers such as John Harbison, Jennifer Higdon and Jordan Pal. An eloquent speaker, Franz recently presented a TEDx Talk entitled Active Listening and Our Perception of Time. Music Director the Windsor Symphony Orchestra since 2013, Franz was recognized by The Windsor Endowment for the Arts with its Arts Leadership Award. Faced with the challenge of maintaining an active and successful arts organization in the face of a pandemic, the past two seasons have included two curated digital concert series that he led and hosted. Recent collaborations include the Windsor International Film Festival, Art Gallery of Windsor, Windsor Public Library, Canadian Historical Aviation Association, and the University of Windsor.
Franz’ serves as Artistic Director of the Boise Baroque Orchestra where he successfully launched an outdoor summer concert series at the Chateau des Fleurs in Eagle, Idaho. Curated digital concert series, partnerships with Opera Idaho and the Boise Philharmonic Master Chorale as well as with various educational institutions have been a hallmark of his time at BBO.
Franz just concluded his fourteen-year tenure as Associate Conductor of the Houston Symphony where he was recently honored with the Raphael Fliegel Award for Visionary Leadership, celebrating his immense success in advancing the organization’s education and community engagement activities. The 2020-2021 season featured Franz leading the North American premiere of Author Dan Brown’s musical children’s book, Wild Symphony.
As Co-founder and Conductor of the Idaho Orchestra Institute, now in its sixth year, Franz takes young musicians on an exploration of major orchestral repertoire that explores the complete musician.
In addition to his current posts, Franz served as Music Director of the Boise Philharmonic from 2008-2016, and the Mansfield Symphony (OH) from 20032010. When not on the podium he can be found on the slopes, skiing slowly and carefully, stretching in a yoga class, and non-competitively trying his hardest to win at a game of cards with his family.
ABOUT The Concert: A tribute to ABBA
21st Century Artists, Inc. has been presenting its ABBA tribute show throughout North America for well over a decade, known as ABBA The Music, ABBA The Concert, and ABBA The Hits. The audience and press all agree – “This is the closest to ABBA you’ll ever get.” ABBA The Concert brings one of the greatest pop phenomena back to life…
Here are a few highlights from its many successful US tours… • Sold-out shows at the famous Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles (15,000 people) • Highland Park in Chicago (20,000 people) • Seaside Summer Concert Series in Brooklyn, NY (11,000+ people) • Sold-out nights at both the Sunrise Theatre in Fort Pierce, FL and at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, FL • Sold-out performance at the Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA
ABBA The Concert continues to be the top ABBA tribute group in the world, dazzling all who see with their fantastic performance while playing the most iconic hits from ABBA, including “Mamma Mia,” “S.O.S,” “Money, Money, Money,” “The Winner Takes All,” “Waterloo,” “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme,” and “Dancing Queen.” Many critics agree, ABBA The Concert is the most amazing and authentic ABBA tribute show in the world. Come dance, come sing, having the time of your life at THE ULTIMATE TRIBUTE CELEBRATION!
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How to Support the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
Annual Fund Your gift to the annual fund allows the FWSO to bring the joy of music to 150,000 adults and children through the nearly 200 performances each season. Make a one-time gift or join Metronome, FWSO’s monthly giving club! Each month, your ongoing gift will be automatically charged to your credit or debit card.
Patrons of the Symphony Elevate your FWSO experience to VIP with a membership to Patrons of the Symphony. Your generous donation of $2,000 or more annually, or $167 a month through our Metronome program, grants you extraordinary benefits designed to enhance your FWSO experience.
Tribute Gifts Honor or memorialize friends or loved ones with a tribute gift to the Symphony. A special acknowledgment is sent to the person or family informing them of your generosity and thoughtfulness.
Brooks Morris Society Leave a lasting legacy and invest in the future of the Symphony by including the FWSO in your will or estate plans. Contact Meagan Hemenway, VP of Development at 817-665-6008 or mhemenway@fwsymphony.org to talk about investing in the future of the FWSO.
Endowment Fund Established in 1984, the Endowment Fund was created to preserve the FWSO’s rich artistic tradition and ensure financial security for live symphonic music in our city. Named gift opportunities recognize significant contributions to the Endowment Fund.
Centurion Society The Centurion Society salutes extraordinary individuals who have given $100,000 or more to the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in cumulative lifetime gifts. Organizations are welcomed into the Centurion Society with lifetimem gifts of $500,000 or more.
Your Annual Gift Makes a Difference
Donate Today!
The FWSO relies on your generosity to bring music to North Texas and beyond. Your gift supports everything from the superb players on stage to Adventures in Music education programs. Please consider joining our thriving community of donors today!
Donor Benefits
Patrons of the Symphony (giving $2,000 or more) Exclusive Benefits Include:
• Exclusive intermission receptions in the Maestro’s Club with complimentary food and beverages • Member-only invitations to FWSO special events with musicians, guest artists and conductors • Premium seating at Concerts in the Garden “Donor Night”
Friends of the Symphony (giving under $2,000) Exclusive Benefits Include:
• Invitations to open rehearsals • Recognition in the FWSO program book at a level of $500 or more • Discounts to local establishments
Complete benefit information is listed at fwsymphony.org/donate. Benefits are subject to change. The FWSOA is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations are deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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