A Preview Of The York Symphony Orchestra’s 78th Season

Music Director Robert Hart Baker will be busy “Raising The Roof” for the upcoming season at the Strand. “We have a stunning array of virtuoso soloists at every subscription concert, and the star-power on our new three-concert Pops Series will blow the roof off,” says Baker. “There is really something for everyone on our season offerings for 2010-11, and we hope to attract many new audience members.”

The opening night Masterworks program at the Strand on October 9, 2010 features two of the most dynamic string players touring today. We call violinist Natasha Korsakova and cellist Allison Eldredge the “Duo Divas of Strings”, and they will combine forces for the magnificent “Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra” by Brahms. This “Double Concerto” is as pleasing to the eye as is it is to the ear—beauty that resonates. The orchestra will perform Rimsky-Korsakov’s showpiece “Sheherazade,” his musical storytelling of the 1001 Arabian Nights. The soaring violin solos will be played by our concertmaster, John Eaken.

The legendary Romeros have been known as the first family of the classical guitar for generations, and we are truly honored to have Sir Angel Romero make a rare appearance with the YSO in the dual roles of guitar soloist and guest conductor at our second Masterworks Concert at the Strand on November 6, 2010. To start off, he will perform the famous “Concierto de Aranjuez” by Rodrigo and the “Concerto in E major” by Bach. On the second half he will conduct two of his favorite orchestral works, the “Fingal’s Cave Overture” by Mendelssohn and Beethoven’s sprightly “Symphony No.1.” Be sure to check out this superstar’s huge discography of critically-acclaimed albums on major labels such as Telarc, RCA Red Seal, and Seraphim.

It’s musical “Fun and Games” at our third Masterworks Concert at the Strand on February 12, 2011. You’ll hear Juilliard’s prize-winning pianist Jingyi Zhang (a protégé of Lang Lang in her native China) perform Gershwin’s “Rhapsody In Blue,” and YSO Concerto Competition winner Erin Moscony perform the first movement of the Reinecke “Flute Concerto.” The orchestral works on the program all have a humorous side to them, from Rossini’s “Overture to The Barber of Seville,” Ibert’s “Divertissement,” Bizet’s “Children’s Games”  to the “Symphony No. 101 (The Clock)” by Haydn. What a way to lift your spirits!

On March 19, 2011 (our Maestro’s birthday), you can “Czech It Out” at the Strand for our fourth Masterworks concert. The composer of the evening is the beloved Antonin Dvorak. We will hear his lovely “Mass in D major,” with the York Symphony Chorus directed by Dr. Baker and an all-star vocal quartet of soloists (soprano Laura Heydt-Adams, alto Gwendolyn Bowers, tenor Chrstopher Waite, and bass Michael Anderson), and his melodic “Symphony No.6, Op. 60.”

Our fifth Masterworks concert on April 16, 2011 will give us “A Taste Of Tchaikovsky”. The orchestra starts off with the rousing “Marche Slave,” and then welcomes Rachel Lee (a protégé of Itzhak Perlman) to perform the exciting “Violin Concerto in D major.” The orchestra will conclude with his heroic “Fourth Symphony.”

Our Pops offerings are truly spectacular, and are available for the first time as a three-concert standalone subscription package, or as an added set of concerts to our classical subscribers at a special price. We start off with an incredible Labor Day weekend homage to Patrick Swayze, in a program we call “Motown Meets Dirty Dancing,” to be held at the Strand on Friday evening, September 3, 2010 at a special time of 7:30 PM. Remember the hit song “Do You Love Me?” that plays such a prominent role in the film “Dirty Dancing?” We have the actual group, The Contours, coming to appear with the YSO in their tribute to the Motown hits of the 1960’s and 70’s. They have been a bit hit in Las Vegas, and their show will have you dancing in the aisles.

Our 27th annual winter SuperPops features the one and only Peter Cetera, former lead singer, bassist,  and songwriter for the group “Chicago,” now out on his own as a solo artist in great demand. We expect this high-energy concert at the Strand on Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 8:00 PM to appeal to fans of his many #1 hits, including "If You Leave Me Now," "Baby, What A Big Surprise," "You're The Inspiration," "Stay The Night," "Feeling Stronger Every Day" and "Hard To Say I'm Sorry." Of his 17 albums with Chicago, three went platinum, nearly all of them went gold and their first four appeared on the best-seller list all at one time. At one point "If You Leave Me Now" was the #1 song in both the U.S. and Britain.

The Cool Sounds concert at the Strand on May 7, 2011 also serves as our third concert in the Pops series. “The Many Faces of Janus” will introduce us to Janice Martin, who was featured on “America’s Got Talent,” and does she ever fit the description! She is a true “triple threat”, a Juilliard-trained pianist, singer and violinist. In addition, she is a dancer and acrobat, and for several of her numbers with the YSO, she will perform Sarasate’s “Zigeunerweisen” on the violin while sitting on a lyra-trapeze suspended above the Strand stage. She is remarkable, and frankly you will never see or hear a single musician that can do all she can do. What to see for yourself? Check out her videos at www.janicemartin.com as a preview of things to come.

All Masterworks and Pops tickets can be purchased through the Strand Box Office and begin at $25.

The YSO is offering a host of non-subscription concerts as well in 2010-11. The Swing Into Literacy Gala, honoring Chloe Eichelberger and benefitting the YSO and York County Literacy Council, will be held on Friday, September 24, 2010, from 6:00 TO 11:00 PM at the Country Club of York. The YSO Swing Band will be joined by vocalist Jim Scofield. Tickets are $125 per person; call Natalie Fuhrman at 292-5661.

Our Young Persons Concert features the return of the Classical Kids troupe to perform “Tchaikovsky Discovers America” on Tuesday, November 2 & Wednesday, November 3, 2010, at 10:00 AM at the Strand. Gregory Woodbridge conducts. Tickets are just $6; call the YSO office at 812-0717.

The York Symphony Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Baker, will have a busy December, with its annual Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 12, 2010, at 3:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church. Tickets are $15 adults; $10 students. Call 779-6260 or send an e-mail to ysctickets@aol.com

Members of the York Symphony Chorus will share the stage with the Harrisburg Choral Society and Orchestra at the Strand on Friday, December 17, 2010 at 7:30 PM for a community Messiah Sing-Along. Tickets are $18 (all seats), sold through the Strand Box Office, 846-1111. Bring your own vocal score, or one will be provided at the door.

You will not want to miss hearing one of the great voices in our midst, soprano Sabrina Coleman Clark, in a special recital “Songs of Africa,” presented as a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on Saturday, January, 15, 2011, at 7:30 PM at the Collegiate Performing Arts Center, York College. She will be accompanied by pianist Daniel Lau in a program of traditional American spirituals and African songs inspired by the music and history of African Americans. Tickets are $20 (all seats), sold through the Strand Box Office, 846-1111.

Our July 4th Concerts at the York Fairgrounds feature Fireworks and an evening of patriotic music, and are free to the public, both this season on Sunday, July 4, 2010 at 8:00 PM, and next season on Monday, July 4, 2011 at 8:00 PM, with the York Symphony Chorus and Members of the York Youth Symphony and York Junior Symphony Orchestras.

See you at the Symphony!

View our new season 2010-2011 concerts here (tickets available soon):

http://www.yorksymphony.org/masterworks.asp

http://www.yorksymphony.org/pops.asp