After firmly establishing his reputation, Maestro Daniel Stewart announced an exciting second season with the Santa Cruz County Symphony. The Maestro’s unique programming and inspirational conducting style has endeared him to both musicians and concertgoers, who have been attending in numbers never before seen in the organization’s 56-year history. He’s shaking things up and making classical music is accessible to all types of people. Stewart said that the new season is, “Designed to inspire, to console, to evoke cherished memories, and to introduce new ideas and harmonies, new dialogues and discoveries, new personalities and possibilities.”
The Symphony’s 57th season rather fittingly opens with works that celebrate creation. The celebrated, globetrotting pianist, Nicolas Hodges, will perform Thomas Adès’ innovative new work, In Seven Days. Nicolas Hodges performed the world premiere of In Seven Days and was the pianist on the first recording of the piece. Also on the opening program is the overture to Leonard Bernstein’s effervescent operetta, Candide and Mozart’s great Jupiter Symphony, a complex and pivotal work.
The season’s second concert features Ying Fang – a rising star and future diva from the Metropolitan Opera hailed by the New York Times as “pure and moving.” Ms. Fang will sing Bach’s charming Wedding Cantata and Villa-Lobos’ passionate and stirring Bachiana Brasileira No. 5 for Voice and Eight Cellos. Topping off this rich program will be Berlioz’s epic Symphonie Fantastique, a powerful work that the composer filled with all of his dreams, fears and passion about a woman he longed for.
In January, the Symphony will feature the prowess of its string section with a series of deeply emotive works. The concert opens with Samuel Barber’s heart-wrenchingly beautifulAdagio for Strings, followed by Stravinsky’s celebration of Greek Mythology, Apollon Musagète and Tchaikovsky’s lush Serenade for Strings.
Next, the Symphony will continue its tradition of inviting the winner of the Klein International String Competition to perform a concerto. Violinist Youjin Lee will join the orchestra to perform Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. At this concert, the Symphony will also present the works of two Bay-Area composers. Lou Harrison’s Pacifika Rondo looks west across the Pacific to Asian culture and south to Latin culture as he fuses those influences with California. The other featured composer is none other than the Santa Cruz County Symphony’s own maestro, Daniel Stewart. Stewart’s composition, Sinfonia, is sure to delight.
The Season concludes with Carl Orff’s intensely powerful choral masterpiece, Carmina Burana. Leading into this commanding work, the Symphony will perform Lully’s elegant Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs and Victoria’s a Capella delight, O Magnum Mysterium.
2014-2015 Santa Cruz County Symphony Program
Concert I – October 4 & 5, 2014: Bernstein – Overture to Candide • Adès – In Seven Days – Nicolas Hodges, pianist • Mozart – Symphony No. 41 in C “Jupiter”- Concert II – November 8 & 9, 2014: Bach – Weichet nur, betrübte Schatten (The Wedding Cantata) • Villa-Lobos – Bachiana Brasileira No. 5 for Voice and 8 Cellos – Ying Fang, soprano • Berlioz – Symphonie Fantastique
- Concert II – January 24 & 25, 2015: Barber Adagio for Strings • Stravinsky – Apollon Musagète • Tchaikovsky – Serendade for Strings
- Family Concert – March 1, 2015
- Concert IV – March 21 & 22, 2015: Stewart – Sinfonia • Harrison – Pacifika Rondo – Youjin Lee, violinist • Beethoven – Violin Concerto in D major
- Concert V – May 9 & 10, 2015: Lully – Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs – Vocal soloists TBA • Victoria – O Magnum Mysterium • Orff – Carmina Burana
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Season Sponsors: The 2014-2015 Season is generously sponsored by Dorothy Wise, Rowland & Pat Rebele and the Symphony League of Santa Cruz County.
2014-15 Season Tickets: Season Ticket packages from $125 to $300 are now available through the Symphony Office. Season subscribers receive up to 15% savings off regular single ticket prices, plus first choice of seating, ticket exchange options and free lost ticket replacement. Call 831-462-0553, extension 10 to subscribe today.
Single Tickets: Single tickets ($25-$70) go on sale through Santa Cruz Tickets beginning September 2. They are available through the Civic Box Office at 420-5363 or online at SantaCruzTickets.com/
Santa Cruz County Symphony ~ Daniel Stewart, Music Director