Concert Schedule 2016 / 2017

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Concert Schedule 2016 / 2017

Date	Programme

	The Florida Orchestra
30th September 2016	Tampa, USA
1st October 2016	St. Petersburg, USA
2nd October 2016	Clearwater, USA
	Poulenc: Gloria Beethoven: Symphony no. 9
	Chrous: The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay
	Review *Andrew Meacham, Tampa Bay Times, 1st October 2016* “Hearing [Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9] live, as the Florida Orchestra gives us a chance to do with the opening of its season this weekend, renews appreciation as only a performance can. A full Morsani Hall at the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts on Friday heard a magnificent blend of orchestration and voices, two dimensions Beethoven tinkered unceasingly to unite. The result is one of the grandest compositions ever written, pulled off splendidly by the orchestra and the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay. It was also a good use of the Morsani’s superior acoustics… The concert began with Francis Poulenc’s Gloria, an interesting pairing with Beethoven in a year the orchestra is emphasizing French and Russian composers. Introduced in 1961, the French composer’s piece reflects both his Catholicism and a cheerful defiance of convention. The orchestra reflected the change in tone as the composition shifts between a religious focus and Poulenc’s neo-classical influences, notably that of Igor Stravinsky. The highlight of the piece is an extended three-way conversation between Arias, the orchestra and the chorale.”

	Komische Oper Berlin
14th October 2016	Berlin, Germany
	Schumann: Overture to Byron’s Manfred Britten: Nocturne Britten: Four Seas Interludes from “Peter Grimes” Schumann: Symphony No. 3 “Rhenish”
	Soloist: Ian Bostridge, tenor
	Review *Peter Uehling, Berliner Zeitung, October 2016* “The soloists of Komische Oper were also in excellent form, embedded in a string sound manifoldly shaded by Michael Francis. In the “Sea Interludes” from Britten’s “Peter Grimes”, he showed a great sense of creating effects, in Schumann’s Rhenish Symphony he proved to be an enormously stringent (compelling) interpreter.”

	The Florida Orchestra
4th November 2016	Tampa, USA
5th November 2016	St. Petersburg, USA
6th November 2016	Clearwater, USA
	Stravinsky: Symphony in C Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1 Mozart: Symphony No. 41, “Jupiter”
	Soloist: Benjamin Beilman, violin
	Review *Andrew Meacham, Tampa Bay Times, 5th November 2016* “The main attraction, Symphony No. 41, by Mozart, was thrilling in a different way…the music changes just at the moment you think you know where it is going. It opens in a C-major key, a grand declaration, then seems to retract that promise in the next few bars — an extraordinary move in 1788, music director and conductor Michael Francis noted at a preconcert lecture. With each movement, the symphony adds elements, increasing complexity. The orchestra rallied to the task from all corners, with particularly lovely sequences by the strings. This symphony demonstrates as well as anything by Bach the mathematical component in musical genius. If you doubt that, just try to wrap your mind around what the “Jupiter” symphony does, with as many as five musical themes in the finale… The concert began with Igor Stravinsky’s Symphony in C…the symphony opens with an aura of new beginnings, with creatures piping up from various corners of a musical swamp. The metric imbalances and dissonant harmonies that mark Stravinsky’s work soon emerge. A contrapuntal chaos takes over, even in the slower second movement… While the innovative legacies of all three composers featured creates one theme, the personal crises of Mozart and Stravinsky point out another. In his lecture, Francis noted that neither of the composers’ works express grief so much as deliver a means of transcending it. ‘What I find so touching about the combination of Stravinsky and Mozart is the fact that art — in this case, the composition of music — helped them through their trial, helped them through their terrible pain,” he said. “And not necessarily as a cathartic process to write pain onto the page, but as a guiding light out of the tunnel.'”

	The Florida Orchestra
11th November 2016	Tampa, USA
12th November 2016	St. Petersburg, USA
13th November 2016	Clearwater, USA
	Britten: Four Sea Interludes from “Peter Grimes” Heggie: The Work at Hand Elgar: Sea Pictures Debussy: La Mer
	Soloists: Jamie Barton, mezzo-soprano; Anne Martindale Williams, violoncello
	Review *Andrew Meacham, Tampa Bay Times, 12th November 2016* “Between such no-brainers in the Masterworks series, the orchestra sometimes works in a “concept concert,” performances built around a theme. This weekend’s Songs of the Sea: Britten, Elgar and Debussy is a prime example. Friday’s opening at the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts rolled out four works inspired by oceans, both literal and personal. Musicians and music director Michael Francis, who conceived and conducted the concert, seemed especially on point in delivering a message that was uniquely theirs, and uniquely ours. It began with Four Sea Interludes, by Benjamin Britten, from his opera, Peter Grimes. The story follows a fisherman in a coastal village, falsely accused in the death of his apprentice. The performance captured both elements, starting with the establishing shot, a lonely bird flying over the village at dawn. The horns enter like a gathering wave, setting up an authoritative percussion and the tone is set. The fourth movement, Storm, is particularly impressive. Listeners who attended the pre-concert talk should recognize that one without a program… The concert concludes with the grand opus, Claude Debussy’s La Mer. There isn’t much to say that Debussy didn’t say much better himself, except that this was an inspired rendering of a work that should have special meaning for Floridians. Inspired by Monet’s seascapes and the turbulence of Debussy’s personal life, the score begins with musical imagery of light on the water. Oboe and flute quicken the pace, building through the lower strings like tides drawing waves from far away. All the strings are fully invested by the third movement, Dialogue of the Wind and the Sea. So, by turns, are the bassoons, all of the horns and percussion in a smashing finale.”

	Montreal Symphony Orchestra
23rd November 2016	Montréal, Canada
24th November 2016	Montréal, Canada
	Stravinsky: Le chant du rossignol “Song of the Nightingale” Glass: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra No.1 Debussy: Préludes, Bk 1 no. 10: La cathédrale engloutie “The Sunken Cathedral” Barber: Toccata Festiva Gershwin: An American in Paris
	Soloists: Matt Haimovitz, cello; Paul Jacobs, organ

	Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern
1st December 2016	Saarbrüken, Germany
	Panufnik: Lullaby Elgar: Introduction and Allegro for Strings Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2
	Soloist: Valeriy Sokolov, violin

	Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern
2nd December 2016	Saarbrüken, Germany
	Elgar: Introduction and Allegro for Strings Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2 Panufnik: Lullaby Haydn: Symphony No. 104 in D major (“London”)
	Soloist: Valeriy Sokolov, violin
	Review Saarbruecker Zeitung, 5th December 2016 “Michael Francis acted graciously on the podium. A guest conductor who is not only elegant with his baton but also inspires a sound sensuality with his gestures. In “Lullaby,” by the Polish composer Andrzej Panufnik, he creates an impeccable pianissimo work for strings. The simple folksong was brought to life with refined and shimmering violin-weaving, the music all-encompassed by the soft pulse beat of two harps, all suitable for meditation.” and Haydn’s Symphony No. 104 in D major: “Free of stilted mannerisms, Francis animated a lively and refined performance with dynamic differences and ingenious accents. A fresh synthesis of Folk with Intellectual, a modern orchestral sound and a great knowledge of the score. A magnificent stimulating evening.”

	Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz
8th December 2016	Mannheim, Germany
9th December 2016	Mannheim, Germany
	Schoenberg: Accompaniment to a Cinematographic Scene Shostakovich: The Cello Concerto No. 1 Brahms: Symphony No. 1
	Soloist: Julian Steckel, cello
	Review Mannheimer Morgen, 10th December 2016 “Conductor Michael Francis led the orchestra with thoughtfully flowing gestures. After the 52 timpani strokes, the orchestra threw itself with determination into the dramatic developments. Oboes and clarinets produced soft lyricisms during the second movement. Horns and flutes gave the pathos of the fourth movement a festive glance, and the finale was presented as a devout confession to Brahms.”

	The Florida Orchestra
6th January 2017	Daytona Beach, USA
7th January 2017	St. Petersburg, USA
8th January 2017	Clearwater, USA
	Shepherd: Magiya Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole Debussy/Matthews: The Sunken Cathedral Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3, “Organ Symphony”
	Soloist: Augustin Hadelich, violin

	Toronto Symphony Orchestra
13th January 2017	Toronto, Canada
14th January 2017	Toronto, Canada
	Mozart: Symphony No. 33 Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 16 Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 22
	Soloist: Emanuel Ax, piano
	More info 13th January – 7:30pm Koerner Hall 14th January – 8pm Koerner Hall

	Trondheim Symphony Orchestra & Würtenbergisches Chamber Orchestra
26th January 2017	Trondheim, Norway
	Strauss: Metamorphosen Strauss: Ein Heldenleben
	More info 26th January – 7:30pm Olavshallen

	The Florida Orchestra
4th February 2017	St. Petersburg, USA
	Gala Concert
	Soloist: Itzhak Perlman, violin
	More info 4th February – 7pm Mahaffey Theater

	The Florida Orchestra
6th February 2017	Daytona Beach, USA
	Community Concert
	More info 6th February – 7pm Peabody Auditorium

	The Florida Orchestra
11th February 2017	St. Petersburg, USA
	Sing Out! Tampa Bay
	More info 11th February – 7pm First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg

	The Florida Orchestra
17th February 2017	Tampa, USA
18th February 2017	St. Petersburg, USA
19th February 2017	Clearwater, USA
	Debussy: Danse Sacrée et Danse Profane Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 Duruflé: Requiem
	Chorus: The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay Soloists: Anna Kate Mackle, harp; Anita Krause, mezzo-soprano; James K. Bass, baritone
	More info 17th February – 8pm Straz Center 18th February – 8pm Mahaffey Theater 19th February – 7:30pm Ruth Eckerd Hall

	Atlanta Symphony
23rd February 2017	Atlanta, USA
24th February 2017	Atlanta, USA
25th February 2017	Atlanta, USA
	Copland: Appalachian Spring Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 2 Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 5
	Soloist: Benjamin Grosvenor, piano
	More info 23rd & 25th February – 8pm Atlanta Symphony Hall 24th February – 8pm Falany Performing Arts Center at Reinhardt University

	The Florida Orchestra
3rd March 2017	Tampa, USA
4th March 2017	St. Petersburg, USA
5th March 2017	Clearwater, USA
	Wagner: Tristan and Isolde-Prelude and Liebestod Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez Falla: The Three Cornered Hat Ravel: La Valse
	Soloist: Cañizares, classical guitar
	More info 3rd March – 8pm Straz Center 4th March – 8pm Mahaffey Theater 5th March – 7:30pm Ruth Eckerd Hall

	The Florida Orchestra
6th March 2017	Gainesville, USA
7th March 2017	Gainesville, USA
11th March 2017	Sebring, USA
	State Residency Tour

	The Florida Orchestra
17th March 2017	Lutz, USA
18th March 2017	St. Petersburg, USA
19th March 2017	Clearwater, USA
	Mahler: Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection”
	Chorus: The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay
	More info 17th March – 8pm Idlewild Baptist Church 18th March – 8pm Mahaffey Theater 19th March – 7:30pm Ruth Eckerd Hall

	The Florida Orchestra
23rd March 2017	St. Petersburg, USA
	Coffee Concert
	More info 23rd March – 11am Mahaffey Theater

	The Florida Orchestra
23rd March 2017	Tampa, USA
	Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade
	More info 23rd March – 5:30pm Straz

	The Florida Orchestra
24th March 2017	Tampa, USA
25th March 2017	St. Petersburg, USA
26th March 2017	Clearwater, USA
	“A Night at the Opera”
	More info 24th March – 8pm Straz Center 25th March – 8pm Mahaffey Theater 26th March – 7:30pm Ruth Eckerd Hall

	MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra
8th April 2017	Leipzig, Germany
	Panufnik: Sinfonia Sacra Steven/Henry Stucky/Purcell: Music for the Funeral for Queen Mary Haydn: The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour On the Cross
	More info 8th April – 7:30pm Gewandhaus

	Dresden Philharmonic
16th April 2017	Dresden, Germany
17th April 2017	Dresden, Germany
	Stravinsky: Symphonies of Wind Instruments Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 5 in G major Tippett: Little Music for String Orchestra Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances
	Soloist: Steven Osborne, piano
	More info 16th & 17th April – 7:30pm Albertinum

	Tampere Philharmonic
21st April 2017	Tampere, Finland
	Barber: Medea’s Dance of Vengeance Rachmaninov: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Walton: Symphony No. 1
	More info 21st April – 7pm Tampere Hall

	The Florida Orchestra
28th April 2017	Tampa, USA
29th April 2017	St. Petersburg, USA
30th April 2017	Clearwater, USA
	Stravinsky: Scherzo Fantastique Bates: The B-Sides Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
	More info 28th April – 8pm Straz Center 29th April – 8pm Mahaffey Theater 30th April – 2pm Ruth Eckerd Hall

	Orchestra of St. Luke’s
16th May 2017	New York, USA
	Prokofiev: Violin Concert No. 2 Chris Rogerson: “Four Autumn Landscapes” Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme
	Soloists: Stephan Waarts, violin; Raphaël Sévère, clarinet; Sang-Eun Lee, cello
	More info 16th April – Lincoln Center

	The Florida Orchestra
18th May 2017	St. Petersburg, USA
	Inside Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5
	More info 18th May – 7:30pm Palladium Theater

	The Florida Orchestra
19th May 2017	Tampa, USA
20th May 2017	St. Petersburg, USA
21st May 2017	Clearwater, USA
	Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor” Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5
	More info 19th May – 8pm Straz Center 20th May – 8pm Mahaffey Theater 21st May – 7:30pm Ruth Eckerd Hall

	Cincinnati May Festival
26th May 2017	Cincinnati, USA
	Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius
	Soloists: Michelle DeYoung, mezzo-soprano; Anthony Dean Griffey, tenor; Matthew Brook, bass-baritone
	More info 8pm Taft Theater

	Mainly Mozart Festival
10th June 2017	San Diego, USA
	Stravinsky: Pulcinella Suite Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 8 in C Major Mozart: Symphony No. 30 in D Major Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 in C Major
	Soloist: Conrad Tao, piano
	More info 7:30pm Balboa Theatre

	Mainly Mozart Festival
17th June 2017	San Diego, USA
	Mozart: Contradances Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major Mozart: Symphony in D Major Prokofiev: Classical Symphony
	Soloist: Jorge Federico Osorio, piano
	More info 7:30pm Balboa Theatre

	Mainly Mozart Festival
22nd June 2017	San Diego, USA
	Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major Ravel: Tzigane Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
	Soloist: Augustin Hadelich, violin
	More info 7:30pm Balboa Theatre

	Mainly Mozart Festival
24th June 2017	San Diego, USA
	Schnittke: Moz-Art à la Haydn Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 9 in E flat Major Debussy: Prélude à “L’après-midi d’un faune” Haydn: Symphony No. 45 in F-sharp minor, ‘Farewell’
	Soloist: Javier Perianes, piano
	More info 7:30pm Balboa Theatre

	BBC Philharmonic
4th July 2017	Manchester, UK
	Beethoven: Symphony No 8 in F major Raymond Yiu: The World Was Once All Miracle (World Premiere) Anthony Burgess: Symphony (European Premiere)
	Soloists: Roderick Williams, Baritone; Robin Tritschler, tenor
	More info 7:30pm Bridgewater Hall

	National Youth Orchestra of Scotland
3rd August 2017	Aberdeen, UK
4th August 2017	Perth, UK
5th July 2017	Glasgow, UK
	Gershwin: An American in Paris Andrew Norman: Percussion Concerto Switch (Scottish premiere) Copland: Symphony No. 3
	Soloist: Colin Currie, percussionist
	More info 3rd August, 7:30pm His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen 4th August, 7:30pm Perth Concert Hall 5th August, 7:30pm Glasgow Royal Concert Hall