To the tune of five different shows, the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra (ASO) has announced its upcoming 2019 to 2020 season lineup.
This year’s series was curated by music director James Ross and will feature well-loved works (such as Beethoven’s Triple Concerto and Mozart’s Serenata Notturna), music by living and diverse composers and the world-premiere of the commissioned original composition Tribute, by Baltimore Symphony’s percussionist Brian Prechtl.
The season opener on Oct. 5 and 6 is titled Imaginary Symphony, which will reflect a theme of war and peace, commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day, honored earlier this year on June 6. It will combine the work of four composers, including Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with soloists Rita Sloan (piano), Nicholas Tavini (violin) and Alan Richardson (cello).
November’s show, held on Nov. 16 and 17, will welcome cellist Wolfgang Schmidt for Elgar’s Cello Concerto, as well as the Alexandrian Choral Society and the Fairfax Choral Society, who will perform Old Buddhist Prayer by Lil Boulanger with orchestral accompaniment.
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Celebrate the holidays with ASO’s dual-take on The Nutcracker, called Nutcracker Potpourri, which will include excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, followed by Duke Ellington’s jazz interpretation of the piece.
The Spring Serenade on Feb. 15 and 16, 2020 include Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Concerto in D major with classical guitarist Berta Rojas, followed by Mozart’s Serenata Notturna. Ross will premiere his own arrangement of Florence Price’s String Quartet in G major, which he expanded for an entire string orchestra.
Musical Tales of Belonging is set for the season finale on May 16 and 17, 2020, and will debut the commissioned original composition Tribute, by Baltimore Symphony’s percussionist Brian Prechtl. The piece was commissioned by Classical Movement’s Eric Daniel Helms New Music Program specially for ASO and ASO Sympatico.
The season is funded by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, Classical Movements and Renner & Company CPA, PC.
Saturday performances throughout the season will be held at 8 p.m. at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, and Sunday matinee performances held at 3 p.m. will be hosted at the George Washington Masonic Memorial. // Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center: 4915 E. Campus Drive, Alexandria; George Washington Masonic Memorial: 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria; $90 season subscription; $20-$85 adults, $5 youth
