You are our top priority!
As we prepare for a season of limited capacities and physical distancing in venues, we are making updates and enhancements to subscriptions. New for 2021: All access – all season subscribers will have access to our ENTIRE planned season with abundant flexibility. With a plan for reduced capacities, subscribers will be seated first and more!
Our commitment to you in 2021: Safety and comfort: We are committed to presenting concerts that meet local policies for health and safety. We are working with our partner venues to develop plans and procedures to make your (and our musicians’) experience as safe and as comfortable as possible.
First to know: As we all adapt to the changing landscape in our community, you will be the first to hear about changes or additions to our season calendar.
Always listening: We want to hear from you, and will be in touch with you regularly as we get closer to the start of the season programming.
Most of all – thank you for standing by us and our musicians and for your crucial support as a VSO subscriber. We look forward to sharing music together soon!
Warm regards,
Karen M. Philion
President & CEO
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Ferguson Classics
Eric Jacobsen & Elliot Brothers | March 5, 2021, 7:30PM
Brandenburg Concertos | March 26, 2021, 7:30PM
100th Anniversary Tribute | April 9, 2021, 7:30PM
Tchaikovsky Spectacular | April 23, 2021, 7:30PM
Mozart and Adams | April 30, 2021, 7:30PM
Mozart and Beethoven | June 25, 2021, 7:30PM
Norfolk Classics
Opening Night: The Centennial Season | February 26, 2021, 7:30PM
Eric Jacobsen & The Elliot Brothers | March 6, 2021, 7:30PM
Tchaikovsky Spectacular | April 24, 2021, 7:30PM
The Music of John Williams | May 1, 2021, 7:30PM
Mozart and Beethoven | June 24, 2021, 7:30PM
Virginia Beach Classics
Eric Jacobsen & Elliot Brothers | March 7, 2021, 2:30PM
Brandenburg Concertos | March 28, 2021, 2:30PM
100th Anniversary Tribute | April 11, 2021, 7:30PM
Mozart and Adams | May 2, 2021, 7:30PM
Mozart and Beethoven | June 23, 2021, 7:30PM
Ferguson POPS!
Serpentine Fire: The Music of Earth, Wind & Fire | March 19, 2021, 7:30PM
Cheek to Cheek: A Broadway Romance | April 2, 2021, 7:30PM
Havana Nights with the Mambo Kings | May 28, 2021, 7:30PM
The Streisand Songbook | June 2, 2021, 7:30PM
Classical Mystery Tour | June 16, 2021, 7:30PM
Norfolk POPS!
Serpentine Fire: The Music of Earth, Wind & Fire | March 20, 2021, 7:30PM
Cheek to Cheek: A Broadway Romance | April 3, 2021, 7:30PM
The Music of John Williams | May 1, 2021, 7:30PM
Havana Nights with the Mambo Kings | May 29, 2021, 7:30PM
The Streisand Songbook | June 3, 2021, 7:30PM
Classical Mystery Tour | June 15, 2021, 7:30PM
Virginia Symphony Orchestra
2021 Upcoming Concerts
Songs for a Dreamer • January 2021
Streaming Now!
As part of the City of Norfolk’s tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., presented in collaboration with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and HARMONY Project partner churches, the annual “Songs for a Dreamer” concert will be presented virtually this year. This shortened but powerful presentation, honoring Dr. King’s life and accomplishments, will be pre-recorded and available to the Hampton Roads community at large via the Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s YouTube Channel for 45 days beginning January 18, 2021. Watch now at the link below!
The HARMONY Project is one of the VSO’s longest-running education and community engagement program. It brings together the many diverse individuals and talents of our Hampton Roads community and is sustained through the generosity of our friends and partners throughout our region. You can join us in supporting the HARMONY Project by making a gift to the VSO today – click here and help advance the HARMONY Project!
Opening Celebration: The Centennial Season • 2/26/21 & On-Demand
Friday, February 26, 2021 | Chrysler Hall | 7:30PM
Watch On-Demand, Available Beginning March 3
The Virginia Symphony Orchestra opens its 100th Anniversary season with the orchestral premiere of Adagio by Eminent Scholar and professor emeritus of music at Old Dominion University Adolphus Hailstork. Celebrating his 80th birthday in 2021, he is considered by many to be the dean of living African-American composers. The beautiful, slow-paced Adagio opens our season on a somber note as we commemorate those who have lost their lives during the pandemic.
As we look back on the century of music making we recognize the VSO musicians as the cornerstone of our orchestra. Richard Strauss’s joyous Concerto for Horn No. 1 brings our own Principal Horn, Jacob Wilder, front and center as the first soloist of our centennial season.
Our final work is one of Mendelssohn’s true masterpieces, his Symphony No. 4 “Italian”. It is filled with echoes of his joy at visiting Italy for the first time- a journey which inspired him to explore new ideas and different paths just as the VSO begins a voyage of discovery looking forward to its next 100 years.
JoAnn Falletta, conductor
Jacob Wilder, horn
Hailstork: Adagio for Strings
Strauss: Horn Concerto No. 1
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 “Italian”
*This performance will be streamed LIVE on February 26, 2021 at 7:30pm for subscribers. An on-demand version of the concert will be available for streaming for 30 days after the performance. To register for access to this on-demand version, please visit https://tickets.virginiasymphony.org/events
Eric Jacobsen & Elliott Brothers • 3/5/21 – 3/7/21
Friday, March 5, 2021 | Ferguson Center for the Arts | 7:30PM
Saturday, March 6, 2021 | Chysler Hall, Norfolk | 7:30PM
Sunday, March 7, 2021 | Sandler Center for the Performing Arts |
2:30PM
Newport News natives Brendon and Sterling Elliott, each embarking on their own impressive solo careers, will make a rare joint appearance with full symphony orchestra in Brahms’ Concerto for Violin and Cello.
Eric Jacobsen, conductor
Brendon Elliott, violin
Sterling Elliott, cello
Anna Clyne: Restless Oceans
Saint Saens: La muse et le poète (The Muse and the Poet)
Jessie Montgomery: Starburst
Schubert: Symphony No. 3 in D Major
*This performance will be streamed LIVE on Saturday, March 6, 2021 at 7:30pm for subscribers. An on-demand version of the concert will be available for streaming for 30 days after the performance. Tickets will be on sale soon!
Serpentine Fire: The Music of Earth, Wind & Fire – 3/19-3/20
Friday, March 19, 2021 | 7:30PM | Ferguson Center
Saturday, March 20, 2021 | 7:30PM | Chrysler Hall
Brandenburg Concertos • 3/26/21 – 3/28/21
Friday, March 26, 2021 | Ferguson Center for the Arts | 7:30PM
Sunday, March 28, 2021 | Sandler Center for the Performing Arts | 2:30PM
Rarely presented in a single evening, the complete Brandenburg Concertos – six baroque masterpieces – spotlight the superlative musicians of the VSO. These musical jewels showcase individual instruments in melodies immediately recognized and beloved by musicians And audiences everywhere.
Cho-Liang Lin, conductor/violin
Members of the VSO
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 1-4
*This performance will be streamed LIVE on Sunday, March 28, 2021 at 2:30pm for subscribers. An on-demand version of the concert will be available for streaming for 30 days after the performance. Tickets will be on sale soon!
Cheek to Cheek: A Broadway Romance • 4/2/21 – 4/3/21
Friday, April 2, 2021 | Ferguson Center for the Arts | 7:30PM
Saturday, April 3, 2021 | Chrysler Hall | 7:30PM
Broadway’s Michael McCorry Rose and Tiffany Haas present Cheek to Cheek: A Broadway Romance, a fun and flirty musical exploration of love in the American Songbook. Soaring ballads and swinging up-tempos come to life through rarely before heard stories about what was happening in the romantic lives of composers like George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Lorenz Hart. Michael and Tiffany present new arrangements of classics and exciting new songs by some of New York’s talented musical theater writers.
Tiffany Haas, vocalist
Michael McCorry Rose, vocalist
100th Anniversary Tribute • 4/9/21 – 4/11/21
Friday, April 9, 2021 | Ferguson Center for the Arts | 7:30PM
Sunday, April 11, 2021 | Sandler Center for the Performing Arts | 7:30PM
Former VSO Assistant Conductor Matt Kraemer, known for his versatility and musical sensitivity, returns to lead a program that includes three pieces from our inaugural concert in 1921! The superb young cellist Nick Canellakis makes his first appearance with our orchestra performing the virtuosic cello piece by Schumann that was composed in just a short two week period.
Matthew Kraemer, conductor
Nicholas Canellakis, cello
Haydn: Symphony No. 100 in G Major “Military”
Schumann: Cello Concerto in A minor
Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1
Tchaikovsky Spectacular • 4/23/21 – 4/24/21
Friday, April 23, 2021 | Ferguson Center for the Arts | 7:30PM
Saturday, April 24, 2021 | Chrysler Hall | 7:30PM
The composer’s Symphony No. 4, a meticulously structured meditation on fate in four movements, follows with some of the most explosive brass and wind moments – a fitting addition to our celebratory season! Former VSO Assistant Conductor “Z” Kuwahara returns from his post at Russia’s famed Marinsky Theatre to lead the orchestra.
Shizuo Kuwahara, conductor
Wei Luo, piano
Shostakovich: Concerto No. 1
Tchaikovsky: Serenade
Mozart and Adams • 4/30/21 – 5/2/21
Friday, April 30, 2021 | Ferguson Center for the Arts | 7:30PM
Sunday, May 2, 2021 | Sandler Center for the Performing Arts | 2:30PM
Benjamin Rous, conductor
John Adams: Shaker Loops
Mozart: Symphony No. 36
The Music of John Williams • 5/1/21
Saturday, May 1, 2021 | Chrysler Hall | 7:30PM
As film fans know, Williams’ music has the ability to transport audiences to new worlds through heart-pounding, awe-inspiring musical adventures. He has composed some of the most popular and recognizable film scores in the history of cinema, including Indiana Jones, Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park, and most notably Star Wars, which was selected by the American Film Institute as the greatest American film score of all time.
Benjamin Rous, conductor
Havana Nights with the Mambo Kings • 5/28/21 – 5/29/21
Friday, May 28, 2021 | Ferguson Center for the Arts | 7:30PM
Saturday, May 29, 2021 | Chrysler Hall | 7:30PM
Join us for this evening of hot Latin jazz and mambo with New York’s foremost Latin jazz ensemble, in concert with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra! The Mambo Kings will bring their “explosive blend of Afro-Cuban rhythms and improvisation” to classical favorites, pop hits, and jazz standards. Together, we’ll take you on a Latin jazz club tour that will have you up and dancing all night!
Adam Turner, conductor
The Streisand Songbook • 6/2/21-6/3/21
Wed., June 2, 2021 | Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News | 7:30PM
Thurs., June 3, 2021 | Chrysler Hall, Norfolk | 7:30PM
Join the Virginia Symphony as we celebrate the music of one of America’s most powerful and enduring musical artists. Singing timeless classics from five decades of Barbra Streisand’s multi-faceted career, Platinum Award Winning singer-songwriter, Ann Hampton Callaway, will show off her gorgeous voice with iconic hits like “The Way We Were,” “Don’t Rain of My Parade” and “Cry Me A River.” Callaway, who was named Broadwayworld.com Performer of the Year, is a master of Streisand’s style and of the American songbook. Don’t miss her stellar first performance with the VSO!
Classical Mystery Tour • 6/15/21 – 6/16/21
Tuesday, June 15, 2021 | Chrysler Hall | 7:30PM
Wednesday, June 16, 2021 | Ferguson Center for the Arts | 7:30PM
Imagine the energy and sheer thrill of hearing The Beatles performing in concert with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. Classical Mystery Tour, the premier Beatles tribute band, joins the VSO in a show The Los Angeles Times called “More than just an incredible simulation – a live performance with a high goose-bump quotient.” The four musicians in Classical Mystery Tour look and sound just like John, Paul, George and Ringo as they perform fifty years of timeless Beatles hits from “Meet the Beatles” all the way to “Abbey Road.”
Erin Freeman, conductor
Mozart and Beethoven • 6/23/21 – 6/25/21
Wednesday, June 23, 2021 | Sandler Center for the Performing Arts | 7:30PM
Thursday, June 24, 2021 | Chrysler Hall | 7:30 PM
Friday, June 25, 2021 | Ferguson Center for the Arts | 7:30PM
The VSO’s principal clarinet Michael Byerly takes center stage to play Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto – one of the most popular pieces of classical repertoire – to delight our audiences in this 100th anniversary season. Experience the multi-talented Daniel Matsukawa, former member of the VSO and current principal bassoon of the Philadelphia Orchestra, whose 2016 appearance with the VSO received rave reviews. Matsukawa returns to conduct a program which continues the VSO’s celebration of Beethoven’s greatest symphonies.
Daniel Matsukawa, conductor
Michael Byerly, clarinet
Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A Major
Beethoven: Symphony No. 7
Beethoven “Emporer” and Symphony No. 9 “Choral” • June 2021
Dates TBD
JoAnn Falletta brings a history-making performance celebrating Beethoven’s 250th Year, in performances presented by the Virginia Arts Festival. For these concerts, Falletta will be joined by renowned pianist Olga Kern, who will perform Beethoven’s well-known “Emperor” Concerto. Kern is the recently appointed Connie and Marc Jacobson Director of Chamber Music for the Virginia Arts Festival. Following intermission, Falletta will be joined by four soloists and full VSO Chorus for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, the “Choral” Symphony.
JoAnn Falletta, conductor
Olga Kern, piano
Beethoven: Emperor Concerto
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9
Thanks to our Season Sponsors
