The Philharmonic announces 2016-­17 season

News release from the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra:

Fort Wayne Philharmonic Announces 2016-­17 Season
Madge Rothschild Foundation Masterworks Series Features Russian Pianist Superstar Olga Kern, Puccini’s Tosca, Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphony Sweetwater Pops, Chamber Orchestra, Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company Freimann, and STAR Family Series Also Headline Season

(February 3, 2016) — The Fort Wayne Philharmonic has announced its 2016-­17 season, under the artistic leadership of Music Director Andrew Constantine. Each series has been carefully programmed to please audiences, capitalize on the strengths of its musicians, showcase a variety of styles, and fully utilize each venue’s distinctive settings. Performances will run from October 1, 2016 through May 13, 2017 at various venues throughout Fort Wayne. Subscription tickets are on sale now.

In addition to benefits like free exchanges and savings on additional single ticket purchases, subscribers are guaranteed the best seats at the best prices. Subscription packages are discounted by as much as 30% off single ticket prices. Subscriptions for the 2016-­?17 season may currently be purchased through The Phil Box Office Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or Saturday (Masterworks and Pops concert days only) from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. by calling 260-­?481-­?0777, or by visiting in person at 4901 Fuller Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46835. Visit www.fwphil.org for full program information.

 

SERIES AND OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

• The Madge Rothschild Foundation Masterworks Series is comprised of 10 performances, featuring classical masterpieces like Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, the Russian pianist superstar, Olga Kern, performing Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, and Giacomo Puccini’s opera Tosca, in a concert version. An All Beethoven concert, including the composer’s blazing 7th Symphony, Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, here performed with singers and actors reading from the Bard’s immortal comedy, and an Orchestral Favorites program offer classical music’s great hits, all on one evening. Full Madge Rothschild Foundation Masterworks Series subscriptions include all 10 performances starting at $133 per subscription.
• The Sweetwater Pops Series is expanded to offer 6 programs, including Bugs Bunny at the Symphony II, with the score performed live by the Fort Wayne Philharmonic while the animated shorts appear on the big screen. Holiday Pops offers Broadway personalities joined by the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Chorus, Fort Wayne Children’s Choir, and special guests in a program of the traditional and contemporary holiday favorites you know and love. Rock On! is a journey back to the rock and pop hits of the 70’s and 80’s. Pink Martini, the group that personifies a glamorous cocktail generation sensibility, offers a unique blend of Latin, jazz, cabaret, and samba music. Mega talented singer, pianist, and award-­?winning composer Tony DeSare stars in Sinatra and Beyond, a tribute to the legendary artist whose countless songs exemplify the golden age of American popular music. The season closes with a Star Wars 40th Anniversary celebration of favorite themes from the groundbreaking film. Sweetwater Pops Series full subscriptions include all six performances starting at $144 per subscription.
• The Chamber Orchestra Series opens with Mendelssohn’s Elijah in celebration of The Phil Chorus’s 40th Anniversary. Handel’s revered Messiah by Candlelight returns after a sold out performance in 2015; a new Debut Artist Spotlight features musicians from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music; and Swan Lake, Tchaikovsky’s fully staged ballet, is presented in collaboration with Fort Wayne Ballet. Get all four performances for $115 per subscription.
• Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company Freimann Series chamber music programs feature many principal and titled players in small ensemble performances, up close and personal, in the most intimate of settings. Concerts featured this season include: Chamber Beethoven, with two towering masterpieces, Beethoven’s “Kreutzer” Sonata and his “Rasumovsky” Quartet; Mozart & Stravinsky, with Mozart’s Quartet in F Major for Oboe, Violin, Viola und Cello, Stravinsky’s Suite Italienne for Cello and Piano, and Mozart’s Trio for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano, “Kegelstatt”; Schumann’s Piano Quintet; and Dvo?ák’s String Quintet. Full Freimann Series chamber music subscriptions include all four performances at $87 per subscription.
• The STAR Family Series is designed to ignite a love of classical music within children and families. “Halloween Spooktacular,” “Star Wars and Superheroes,” and “The Wild West” offer entertaining and enriching experiences for the young, and young at heart. Full Family Series subscriptions include all three performances starting at $126 for a Family Four-­?Pack.
• The Fort Wayne Philharmonic Chorus 40th Anniversary is cause for a yearlong festival of the
  greatest choral orchestral classics. From Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Handel’s Messiah, and Holiday Pops, to Holst’s The Planets, Puccini’s Tosca, and Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphony, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Chorus moves center stage all season long in performances of some of the most revered masterpieces ever composed. This is an anniversary not to miss.

 

MADGE ROTHSCHILD FOUNDATION MASTERWORKS SERIES: Exceptional Live Classical Music

The Madge Rothschild Foundation Masterworks Series enters its seventh season under the baton of Music Director Andrew Constantine. This series showcases treasured classics, the very best symphonic music, and world-­?renowned artists with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic.

“I am delighted to present the Fort Wayne Philharmonic’s 2016-­?17 season,” says Music Director Andrew Constantine. “The wonderful musicians of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, guest artists, and I are delving into an astonishing array of works -­? treasured classics, a commissioned premiere, opera, and incidental music with spoken word – all for you, our valued patrons.”

Exceptional soloists from all over the world include Russian pianist superstar Olga Kern, recognized for her vivid stage presence, passionate musicianship, and extraordinary technique. Kern will perform Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. Tenor Charles Reid and horn player Eric Ruske are featured in Benjamin Britten’s rarely heard masterpiece, the Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings. Violinist Jonathan Carney, concertmaster of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, offers William Walton’s romantic Violin Concerto, one of the most striking in the repertory with its lyrical melodies, fiery virtuosic passages, and masterful orchestral writing. Renowned British conductor James Judd and pianist Terrence Wilson collaborate in a mostly Mozart program, and the trio of pianist Fabio Bidini, violinist Sabrina-­?Vivian Höpcker, and cellist Andrew Shulman tackles the Triple Concerto as part of an All Beethoven program. Guitarist Jason Vieaux returns by popular demand to premiere Living Language, a Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra by the young American composer Dan Visconti. Also, veteran anchor Melissa Long, recently retired from Fort Wayne ABC affiliate WPTA, will lead seasoned concert-­?goers and those just discovering the joys of classical music through a program of Orchestral Favorites that explores beloved classical selections.

 

AUDIENCES DISCOVER MORE WITH MUSICALLY SPEAKING

As part of the Masterworks experience, The Phil Friends continue to present pre-­?concert lectures facilitated by the Philharmonic’s Assistant Conductor before performances. Musically Speaking offers the listener an insider’s view about what will unfold during the concert. Guest artists also speak about their views and interpretations of the music they are going to perform. Musically Speaking is free to all ticket holders and begins at 6:30 p.m. prior to each Masterworks performance. Lectures are held in the Gallery of the Grand Wayne Center for concerts at the Embassy Theatre. Musically Speaking lectures for concerts at the Auer Performance Hall take place in room RC120 of the Rhinehart Music Center.

 

SWEETWATER POPS SERIES

The expanded Sweetwater Pops Series promises great artists, novel visuals, and electrifying music. This is The Phil’s most enjoyable Pops season in years.

The series opens with Bugs Bunny At The Symphony II, with animated shorts projected on the screen as the Fort Wayne Philharmonic performs classic favorites like “What’s Opera, Doc?” and “The Rabbit of Seville,” plus scores of new additions. Holiday Pops offers a programmatic mix of the traditional holiday favorites you know and love, including the “Hallelujah” Chorus and a Christmas Carol sing-­? a-­? long, plus more contemporary hits like the Dancing Santas. Rock On! is a journey back to the rock and pop hits of the 70’s and 80’s with three dynamic artists. Featured are songs by such rock and pop legends as Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Queen, and many more. Pink Martini personifies a glamorous cocktail generation sensibility that has captivated audiences around the world. The group will offer a unique blend of Latin, jazz, cabaret, and samba music. Sinatra and Beyond features mega talented singer, pianist, and award-­?winning composer Tony DeSare, who pays tribute to the legendary artist whose countless songs exemplify the Golden Age of American music. And, to close the season, the Philharmonic celebrates the Star Wars 40th Anniversary with favorite themes from the groundbreaking film. All artists and programs are featured with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic.

 

CHAMBER ORCHESTRA SERIES

Personal, intimate, and engaging, this series for small orchestra focuses on a colorful array of classical masterpieces. Some of the most popular works and genres have been curated for this series.

Experience the music among the stunning stained-­?glass windows of the historic First Wayne Street United Methodist Church.

Chorus Director Benjamin Rivera opens the Series with Mendelssohn’s moving oratorio Elijah, in celebration of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Chorus’s 40th Anniversary. In December, the orchestra, chorus, and soloists reprise Messiah by Candlelight. Handel’s most recognizable and revered masterpiece is back by popular demand, performed to the warm glow of candlelight in the most luminous of settings. Next, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic celebrates the new Debut Artist Spotlight, featuring emerging soloists from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. And to close the series, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and Fort Wayne Ballet team up to present one of Tchaikovsky’s most popular and revered theatrical works, Swan Lake. In this tale, Prince Siegfried falls in love with a beautiful swan, actually a woman who is under the spell of an evil sorcerer, and only the Prince can break it. Tchaikovsky’s beloved ballet is considered one of the greatest of all time; Swan Lake’s beauty and romance continue to mesmerize audiences 140 years after its premiere.

 

BROTHERHOOD MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY FREIMANN SERIES

The Freimann Series offers audiences the great classics of chamber music up close and personal. This is highly intimate music making at its best. Four spectacular concerts include masterpieces by Beethoven, Mozart, Stravinsky, Schumann, and Dvo?ák.

Chamber Beethoven features two towering masterpieces by the most legendary of composers, his “Kreutzer” Sonata and “Rasumovsky” Quartet. Mozart & Stravinsky offers Mozart’s Quartet in F Major for Oboe, Violin, Viola und Cello; Stravinsky’s Suite Italienne for Cello and Piano; and Mozart’s Trio for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano, “Kegelstatt.” This program explores two musical counterparts, separated by centuries. One of Schumann’s finest works, the Piano Quintet is brilliant and extroverted, melodic and truly captivating. This was the work that established Schumann’s name among the great composers. A youthful work, Dvo?ák’s String Quintet lay unknown and unpublished for over a decade until the composer returned to it in order to keep up with the demands of his now well-­?established fame. Unmistakably Dvo?ák, the addition of the double bass adds sonority and a sense of space, creating an open-­?air quality to the work. Additional program details for all concerts will be announced at a later date.

 

STAR FAMILY SERIES

The Family Series offers a variety of fun and educational programming for audiences of all ages. These 60-­?minute performances are a great introduction to classical music for the entire family. And just prior to performances, audiences can enjoy free activities in the lobby of the Rhinehart Music Center, including concert-­?themed crafts and The Phil Friends’ Instrument Playground.

Halloween Spooktacular offers spine tingling classical music and selections like “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” “Night on Bald Mountain,” and “Danse Macabre.” Audiences are encouraged to dress in their favorite Halloween costumes and witness the zany attire of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic musicians. In Star Wars And Superheroes, the great music Sci-­?Fi fans of all ages know and love is performed, all in one place and at the same time. Traditional selections like the theme to 2001: A Space Odyssey and awe inspiring works from Holst’s The Planets will expose young people to colorful classics. Also included are symphonic favorites from films like Star Wars, Superman, E. T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Lord of the Rings. And, The Wild West pays tribute to the western frontier and the spirit that made America great. Copland’s Rodeo, Grofé’s Grand Canyon Suite, and Rossini’s William Tell Overture set the stage for more contemporary works that follow: music from the Magnificent Seven, The Cowboys, True Grit, and Lonesome Dove.

 

2016­?17 SUBSCRIPTIONS

Subscriptions to all Fort Wayne Philharmonic series are now on sale. Subscribers receive the best seats at the best prices -­? up to 30% savings off single tickets by purchasing a package. Subscriber benefits include the ability to keep the same seats year after year, 10% savings on additional single ticket purchases, VIP access to special events, and the flexibility of free ticket exchanges. Subscribers enjoy the ease of planning for the music they love well in advance.

Subscriptions for the 2016-­?17 season may be purchased through The Phil Box Office Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or Saturday (Masterworks and Pops concert days only) from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. by calling 260-­?481-­?0777, or by visiting the Box Office in person at 4901 Fuller Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46835. Visit www.fwphil.org for full program and series information.

 

VENUES & EVENING PERFORMANCE TIMES

Philharmonic Masterworks Series concerts take place at the Embassy Theatre, 125 W. Jefferson Blvd. or the Auer Performance Hall, located in the Rhinehart Music Center on the IPFW campus. All Philharmonic Pops Series concerts take place at the Embassy Theatre, 125 W. Jefferson Blvd. All Philharmonic Family Series concerts take place at the Auer Performance Hall, located in the Rhinehart Music Center on the IPFW campus.

 

NEW

Freimann Series Wednesday evening chamber music concerts now take place at the Parkview Physicians Group ArtsLab, 300 East Main Street. This black box theatre space is located in the heart of the vibrant Downtown Arts Campus. ArtsLab’s sleek, minimal design offers maximum flexibility for seating, staging, sound, lighting, decor and catering. Sunday performances continue at the Rhinehart Recital Hall, located in the Rhinehart Music Center on the IPFW campus.

Chamber Orchestra Series concerts take place at the First Wayne Street United Methodist Church, 300 E. Wayne St., Fort Wayne, unless otherwise noted.

 

THANK YOU TO 2016/17 SPONSORS:
The Fort Wayne Philharmonic is grateful for the generous support of these leading sponsors for the
2016-­?17 Season:

• Madge Rothschild Foundation, Masterworks Series Sponsor
• Sweetwater Sound, Pops Series Sponsor
• STAR Financial, Family Series Sponsor
• Brotherhood Mutual Foundation, Freimann Series Sponsor
• Steel Dynamics Foundation, Regional Patriotic Pops Sponsor
• Parkview Health, Regional Holiday Pops Sponsor
• Old National Wealth Management, Holiday Pops Sponsor
• Other leading supporters include: Edward D. & Ione Auer Foundation, Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne, English, Bonter, Mitchell Foundation, O’Rourke-­?Schof Family Foundation, Foellinger Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana Arts Commission, and Lincoln Financial Foundation.

 

About the Fort Wayne Philharmonic
Now entering its 73rd season, The Fort Wayne Philharmonic’s mission is to inspire and foster a lifelong love of classical music through performance and education. Music director Andrew Constantine leads the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. All programming is made possible by the support of community individuals, businesses, corporations and foundations. The Phil is a member of the League of American Orchestras and a funded member of Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne, the Indiana Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts. For additional information, log on to the website: www.fwphil.org.

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