Based on a traditional African folk tale, A Treeful of Monkeys takes us on a story about a hat seller who takes a nap under a tree, only to wake up and discover that monkeys had taken all of his hats! Join the OPO mixed ensemble as they work with the narrator to get all of his hats back.
Performance Times:
Saturday at 10 and 11:30 a.m.
Sunday at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK WITH THE JOHN PIZZARELLI TRIO
Eric Jacobsen, conductor
John Pizzarelli Trio
World-renowned guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli has been hailed by the Boston Globe for “reinvigorating the Great American Songbook and re-popularizing jazz.” His band is one of the top interpreters of the American Songbook.
Classics 6 –
CARMINA BURANA
Eric Jacobsen, conductor
University of Central Florida Choir
Children’s Chorus
Alison Moritz, stage director
John Heginbotham, choreographer
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Symphony No. 35, “Haffner”
George Walker – Lilacs for voice and orchestra
Carl Orff – Carmina Burana
A feast for the ears and eyes, Carmina Burana is guaranteed to wow you with musicians, vocal soloists, choruses, dancers, staging, and costumes. Starting and ending with the riveting hymn to the capricious Goddess Fortuna and her relentlessly turning wheel, bold tunes and primal rhythms celebrate nature, the tavern, and the pleasures of love. It’s earthy, rowdy, and risqué, but sometimes breathtakingly beautiful. Plus, Mozart’s celebratory symphony and African-American composer George Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Lilacs (set to Walt Whitman’s haunting text on the death of Abraham Lincoln).
JEREMY KITTEL RETURNS
Eric Jacobsen, conductor
Jeremy Kittel, fiddle
Colleen Blagov, flute
Jeremy Kittel – Fiddle Concerto “Stones River”
Jermey Kittel – Pando
Louis Moreau Gottschalk – Symphony No. 2
CIRQUE GOES BROADWAY
Mauricio Cespedes Rivero, conductor
Cirque de la Symphonie returns set to the soundtrack of Broadway’s most memorable show tunes. Prepare to be dazzled as your Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra is joined on stage by aerialists and acrobats, accomplishing astonishing feats of grace, beauty, and power! Featuring songs from Wicked, Chicago, Cats, West Side Story, and more!
THE CELTIC TENORS
Jeri Lynne Johnson, conductor
Matthew Gilsenan, James Nelson, Daryl Simpson, vocalists
The only tenor group with a truly global audience, The Celtic Tenors will give you a night to remember. Experience a sparkling and good-humored performance by three world-class artists. An evening to savor and a night with tenors who are the most successful classical crossover act to emerge from Ireland. It’s all about the music, the harmonies, and the fun!
Two shows at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Classics 5 –
GIL SHAHAM PLAYS BEETHOVEN
Eric Jacobsen, conductor
Gil Shaham, violin
Angélica Negrón – What Keeps Me Awake
Ludwig van Beethoven – Violin Concerto
Pablo de Sarasate – Navarra
Dmitri Shostakovich – Symphony No. 10
Superstar Gil Shaham performs Beethoven’s magisterial concerto—a creation of dramatic and emotional impact, and Latina composer Angélica Negrón reflects on the struggles with the creative process. In the Tenth Symphony Shostakovich unleashes his fury against Stalin in a demonic, violent battle with pitches equivalent to the initials of his name, D-S-C-H, pounded out like a code that crushes the tyrant in the wild, triumphant finale.
Focus 5 –
STAR OF TOMORROW
The Plaza Live
Eric Jacobsen, conductor
Sterling Elliott, cello
Florence Price Concert Overture No. 2
John Corigliano Phantasmagoria
David Popper Hungarian Rhapsody
Robert Schumann Symphony No. 1
Ferdinand is a peace-loving bull who wants nothing more than to sit and smell the flowers. An inspiring story of peace and standing up to bullies. Brought to life by the OPO string family and the music of George Bizet’s Carmen, your family will fall in love with Ferdinand!
Performance Times:
Saturday at 10 and 11:30 a.m.
Sunday at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Eric Jacobsen, music director
Stewart Goodyear, piano & (first ever) artist-in-residence
Enjoy Beethoven piano concertos, plus, intimate chamber music performed by OPO musicians and Stewart Goodyear in between.
Orchestra Concerts: Main Hall of The Plaza Live
Chamber Music Concerts: Palmer Room at The Plaza Live
Orchestra Concert: 7 p.m.
Beethoven – Leonore Overture No. 3
Reena Esmail – The History of Red (OPO commission – World Premiere)
Kathryn Mueller, soprano
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73, “Emperor”
Chamber Music Concert: 9 p.m.
Rimma Bergeron-Langlois, violin
Mauricio Céspedes-Rivero, viola
Ronald Gardiner, cello
Don-Michael Hill, bass
Nikolay Blagov, clarinet
Vincent Kiray, horn
Diane Bishop, bassoon
Stewart Goodyear, piano
Beethoven – Septet
Beethoven – “Für Elise”; Andante favori; Rondo a capriccio
Eric Jacobsen, music director
Stewart Goodyear, piano & (first ever) artist-in-residence
Enjoy Beethoven piano concertos, plus, intimate chamber music performed by OPO musicians and Stewart Goodyear in between.
Orchestra Concerts: Main Hall of The Plaza Live
Chamber Music Concerts: Palmer Room at The Plaza Live
Orchestra Concert: 7 p.m.
Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15
Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58
Chamber Music Concert: 9 p.m.
Stewart Goodyear, piano
Rimma Bergeron-Langlois, violin
Eric Jacobsen, cello
Beethoven – Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 14, No. 2, “Moonlight”
Beethoven – Piano Trio in D Major, Op. 70, No. 1, “Ghost”
Eric Jacobsen, music director
Stewart Goodyear, piano & (first ever) artist-in-residence
Enjoy Beethoven piano concertos, plus, intimate chamber music performed by OPO musicians and Stewart Goodyear in between.
Orchestra Concerts: Main Hall of The Plaza Live
Chamber Music Concerts: Palmer Room at The Plaza Live
Orchestra Concert: 7 p.m.
Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, Op. 19
Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37
Chamber Music Concert: 9 p.m.
Stewart Goodyear, piano
Rimma Bergeron-Langlois, violin
Beethoven – Sonata No. 12 in A-flat Major, Op. 26
Beethoven – Violin & Piano Sonata in C Minor, Op. 30, No. 2
Focus 4 –
AN EVENING OF MOZART AND BEETHOVEN
The Plaza Live
Chloé van Soeterstède, conductor
Vincent Kiray, horn
Jessie Montgomery Starburst
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Horn Concerto No. 3
Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 4
KINGS OF SOUL
Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, James Brown, & more!
Kenneth Freed, conductor
Chester Gregory, Darren Lorenzo, Michael Lynche, vocalists
Kings of Soul showcases the music of legendary artists Marvin Gaye, Jackie Wilson, James Brown, Otis Redding, The Temptations, Al Green, Barry White, Smokey Robinson, and Curtis Mayfield in an evening of soulful rhythms and melodies. Honoring the true “Kings” of classic soul, featured hits include Soul Man, Stand By Me, Move On Up, Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher, and more.
Classics 4 –
GERSHWIN’S CONCERTO IN F
Eric Jacobsen, conductor
Aaron Diehl, piano
Alicia Hall Moran, Holland Andrews, Holcombe Waller & Gabriel Kahane, vocals
Choir of Members of the Orlando Homeless Community
Wang Jie – Symphonic Overture, “America, the Beautiful”
George – Gershwin Concerto in F
Gabriel Kahane – emergency shelter intake form
Acclaimed pianist Aaron Diehl excels at both jazz and classical music, making Gershwin’s jazzy-bluesy Concerto in F the perfect vehicle for his show-stopping talents. Members of Central Florida’s homeless community join in for Gabriel Kahane’s “magnum opus, which unflinchingly confronts an American social problem that continues to worsen: homelessness” (Chicago Tribune) as expressed through pop, folk, classical music, humor, biting satire, and sometimes outrage. The lyrics of “America, the Beautiful” stirred Wang Jie’s patriotism in her hopeful riff on the song.