Sandler Center for the Performing Arts

Friday, September 13, 2019 | Ferguson Center For the Arts, Newport News | 8PM
Saturday, September 14, 2019 | Chrysler Hall, Norfolk | 8PM
Sunday, September 15, 2019 | Sandler Center for the Arts, Virginia Beach | 2:30PM

To launch her final season as Music Director, JoAnn Falletta conducts Rachmaninoff’s famous Rhapsody On A Theme of Paganini with Chautauqua favorite, pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk (Gav-ril-yuuk). Gavrylyuk has been hailed as a “true inspiration” and “easily, the most compelling pianist of his generation” – whether in performance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, concerts in Europe or the Far East. To close the evening, a rare treat: excerpts from Ravel’s music for Daphnis et Chloe, originally produced by the Ballets Russes.

Meet the artists and discover the orchestra experience from a new perspective during Behind the Notes, a pre-concert talked hosted by Music Director JoAnn Falletta. These casual presentations give you a special look at the music of the day as well as the music-makes themselves. They offer an informative way to learn about the music before your orchestra experience. Our hour before each Classics concert (7pm or 1:30pm). Behind the Notes is FREE to ticket holders at all venues.

JoAnn Falletta, conductor
Alexander Gavrylyuk, piano
Virginia Symphony Orchestra Chorus

Tchaikovsky: Francesca da Rimini
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Ravel: Daphnis and Chloe Suites 1 and 2

Thursday, October 24, 2019 | Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News | 7:30PM
Saturday, October 26, 2019 | Chrysler Hall, Norfolk | 8PM
Sunday, October 27, 2019 | Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach | 2:30PM

Michael Tilson Thomas calls conductor Edwin Outwater “one of the most innovative conductors on the scene today.” Known throughout the world for reinventing the concert experience with major orchestras, Outwater collaborates for these performances with violinist, singer, and composer Caroline Shaw – who at age 30, was the youngest-ever winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2013, and who enjoys a large following both on recordings and YouTube. Equally adept at interpreting the great masterworks, Outwater concludes the evening leading Brahms’ perennial favorite Symphony No. 4.

Meet the artists and discover the orchestra experience from a new perspective during Behind the Notes, a pre-concert talked hosted by guest conductor, Edwin Outwater. These casual presentations give you a special look at the music of the day as well as the music-makes themselves. They offer an informative way to learn about the music before your orchestra experience. Our hour before each Classics concert (7pm or 1:30pm). Behind the Notes is FREE to ticket holders at all venues.

Edwin Outwater, conductor
Caroline Shaw, composer

Beethoven: King Stephen Overture
Caroline Shaw: Other Song
Caroline Shaw: Red, Red Rose
Caroline Shaw: “Lo” (Violin solo)
Brahms: Symphony No. 4

Friday, January 24, 2020 | Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News | 8PM
Saturday, January 25, 2020 | Chrysler Hall, Norfolk | 8PM
Sunday, January 26, 2020 | Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach | 2:30PM

Glasgow-born conductor Douglas Boyd enjoyed a stellar career as a world-renowned oboist, before stepping away after 21 years to begin an international career as conductor. Currently, Boyd is Music Director of the L’Orchestre de Chambre de Paris as well as Artistic Director of the summer opera festival, Garsington Opera, in Buckinghamshire, England. Boyd has conducted all the BBC Orchestras, as well as orchestras throughout Europe, Australia, and the United States. For his debut performances in Hampton Roads, Boyd conducts Hector Berlioz’ Symphonie Fantastique, a romantic symphonic portrayal of the gifted artist’s challenges with unrequited love.

Meet the artists and discover the orchestra experience from a new perspective during Behind the Notes, a pre-concert talked hosted by guest conductor Douglas Boyd. These casual presentations give you a special look at the music of the day as well as the music-makes themselves. They offer an informative way to learn about the music before your orchestra experience. Our hour before each Classics concert (7pm or 1:30pm). Behind the Notes is FREE to ticket holders at all venues.

Douglas Boyd, conductor
Elena Urioste, violin

Stravinsky: Fireworks
Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending
Ravel: Tzigane
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique

Friday, February 21, 2020 | Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News | 8PM
Saturday, February 22, 2020 | Chrysler Hall, Norfolk | 8PM
Sunday, February 23, 2020 | Sandler Center for the Perfoming Arts, Virginia Beach | 2:30PM

“Danzmayr has what it takes,” wrote The Chicago Tribune of David Danzmayr’s performances leading the Illinois Symphony. Last year, Danzmayr was appointed chief conductor of the Zagreb Philharmonic – part of an extensive European career of concerts in venues like Musikverein and Konzerthaus in Vienna, and the Grosses Festspielhaus in Salzburg. One of his shorter symphonies, Mahler’s fourth is that last of his so-called Wunderhorn symphonies, all based on songs from The Youth’s Magic Horn – and is one of his most popular and widely performed.

Meet the artists and discover the orchestra experience from a new perspective during Behind the Notes, a pre-concert talked hosted by guest conductor David Danzmayr. These casual presentations give you a special look at the music of the day as well as the music-makes themselves. They offer an informative way to learn about the music before your orchestra experience. Our hour before each Classics concert (7pm or 1:30pm). Behind the Notes is FREE to ticket holders at all venues.

David Danzmayr, conductor
Clara Rottsolk, soprano

Mozart: Divertimento KV 136
Mozart: Voi avete un cor Fedele
Mahler: Symphony No. 4

Friday, March 27, 2020 | Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News | 8PM
Saturday, March 28, 2020 | Chrysler Hall, Norfolk | 8PM
Sunday, March 29, 2020 | Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach | 2:30PM

From the much-loved waltzes made famous in Strauss’ opera Der Rosenkavalier, to Robert Schumann’s one and only piano concerto, JoAnn Falletta has chosen a wide-ranging program of classics to show off the orchestra and soloist next spring, including French pianist Prisca Benoit – known for a refined pianistic touch with a wide range of colors. Benoit continues the orchestra’s collaboration with Sentara Healthcare’s “Music and Medicine” Program. The Schumann concerto will be recorded for later release.

Meet the artists and discover the orchestra experience from a new perspective during Behind the Notes, a pre-concert talked hosted by Music Director JoAnn Falletta. These casual presentations give you a special look at the music of the day as well as the music-makes themselves. They offer an informative way to learn about the music before your orchestra experience. Our hour before each Classics concert (7pm or 1:30pm). Behind the Notes is FREE to ticket holders at all venues.

JoAnn Falletta, conductor
Prisca Benoit, piano

Bantock: The Witch of Atlas
Schumann: Piano Concerto
Strauss: Dance of the Seven Veils from Salome
Strauss: Rosenkavalier Suite

Friday, May 8, 2020 | Chrysler Hall, Norfolk | 8PM
Saturday, May 09, 2020 | Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News | 8PM
Sunday, May 10, 2020 | Sandler Center for the Arts, Virginia Beach | 2:30PM

Hailed by The New York Times as “an interpretive dynamo,” conductor Eric Jacobsen returns to the VSO in the new season to lead one of the 20th Century’s tour de force masterpieces – Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5. Jacobsen has built a reputation for engaging audiences with his innovative and collaborative programming, and in addition to the Shostakovich, Jacobsen will conduct the beautiful Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2, with violinist Alexi Kenney, a recipient of a 2016 Avery Fisher Career Grant. Kenney has been named “a talent to watch” by The New York Times, which also noted his “architect’s eye for structure and space and a tone that ranges from the achingly fragile to full-bodied robustness.”

Meet the artists and discover the orchestra experience from a new perspective during Behind the Notes, a pre-concert talked hosted by guest conductor Eric Jacobsen. These casual presentations give you a special look at the music of the day as well as the music-makes themselves. They offer an informative way to learn about the music before your orchestra experience. Our hour before each Classics concert (7pm or 1:30pm). Behind the Notes is FREE to ticket holders at all venues.

Eric Jacobsen, conductor
Alexi Kenney, violin

Anna Clyne: Masquerade
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5

Fri., May 15 | Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News | 8PM
Sat., May 16 | Chrysler Hall, Norfolk | 8PM
Sun., May 17 | Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, VA Beach | 2:30PM

JoAnn Falletta finishes her final season as Music Director with 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