Virginia Symphony Orchestra
Symphony Notes
February 2025 | Edition 06
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First Notes of the Year
Impact Report
What About The Music?
Upcoming Performances
Spotify Picks
Make Your Impact
Symphonic Snapshots
First Notes of the Year
Impact Report
We are thrilled to present the Virginia Symphony's 2024 Impact Report, a testament to the power of your generosity and dedication. This year, your support has made a profound difference in our ability to bring music to life, inspire communities, and create lasting cultural experiences.
Because of you, we have been able to achieve new heights, whether through expanded educational programs, captivating performances, or outreach efforts that touch lives across the region. Every note played, every concert held, and every young musician mentored is made possible by your commitment.
This report is a celebration of you, our incredible donors, whose passion and belief in the transformative power of music help make these accomplishments possible. Thank you for being an integral part of the Virginia Symphony family—your impact reaches far beyond the stage, creating a legacy of music for generations to come.
Click here to view the Fiscal Year 2024 Impact Report.
What About The Music?
Swan Lake was composed by Tchaikovsky between 1875 and 1876, commissioned during a time when the composer was facing financial struggles. The ballet is inspired by the folk tale of Prince Siegfried and Odette, a young woman cursed to live as a swan until someone swears eternal love to her. You can read more about the story here. The selections from this ballet are part of Tchaikovsky’s Op. 20a. It is unclear whether Tchaikovsky himself chose these particular movements or if someone else made the selection. Nevertheless, each piece in this opus showcases some of the ballet’s most iconic melodies and dramatic moments. Click here to read more about the upcoming performance of Piano Superstar Yuja Wang.
Tina Turner's music career spans over six decades, marked by her extraordinary talent and resilience. She first gained fame in the late 1950s as part of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, where her powerful voice and energetic stage presence made her a star. Hits like "A Fool in Love" and "Nutbush City Limits" solidified their place in music history. After parting ways with Ike Turner in the mid-1970s, Tina embarked on a solo career that became one of the most successful comebacks in music history. Her 1984 album Private Dancer produced global hits like "What's Love Got to Do with It" and "Better Be Good to Me," propelling her into superstardom. With a distinctive voice that blends rock, pop, and soul, Tina Turner became known as the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll," earning multiple Grammy Awards and a legacy that continues to inspire generations of artists and fans worldwide.
Adrienne Warren, a Chesapeake, Virginia native and alum of the Governor’s School for the Arts, brings her exceptional talent and boundless energy to the stage. She made her Broad debut in Bring It On: The Musical in 2012, followed by a Tony-nominated performance in Shuffle Along in 2016 and an award-winning portrayal of Tina Turner in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical in 2020. Warren's unforgettable performance in this iconic role cemented her reputation as a powerhouse vocalist, capturing the essence of Tina Turner's remarkable career. Prepare for a night of unmatched energy, passion, and the unforgettable spirit of Tina Turner, delivered by Adrienne Warren’s powerhouse vocals.
Upcoming Performances
Piano Superstar Yuja Wang + Tchaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet
Pianist Yuja Wang is one of the most celebrated pianists performing today. Witness her charismatic artistry and virtuosity in this special one-night-only performance with Eric Jacobsen and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra! The witty playfulness of Ligeti’s concerto and the soaring neo-romanticism of Rautavaara’s concerto are the perfect way to experience the infectious pianism that keeps her in demand all over the world. They’re paired with one of the most stunning and well known pieces of music ever written, composed by the King of Melody himself, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky!
February 8th, 2025
7:30 pm
Young People’s Concert: The Orchestra Moves
By any definition, music moves. As organized sound, music moves through time and space from high to low, creating patterns and motifs. Composers and performers use expressive qualities to move us emotionally. Music also compels us to move physically and is embodied in many kinds of dance. Using Orff Schulwerk strategies and complementary creative movement activities, we will discover all the interwoven ways in which the orchestra moves. Registrations will close on February 13, one week prior to the concert. Questions? Email Helen Martell. hmartell@virginiasymphony.org
February 20th, 2025
12:00 pm
Così fan tutte
Love has many faces when buddies don disguises for the ultimate ‘loyalty test’ of their fiancées. Cleverly concealed and with wily determination, who will come out on top in this comic battle of the sexes?
Tina: A Tina Turner Celebration with Adrienne Warren
The Virginia Symphony Orchestra is proud to share the stage with Adrienne Warren, bringing a concert version of her Tony award-winning performance to her home state of Virginia. With an evening of hits like “Private Dancer,” “Let’s Stay Together,” and—of course—“The Best,” this is a not-to-be-missed tribute to the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll.”
March 1st, 2025
7:30 pm
Spotify Picks
Happy February to you all! Here is what I am currently listening to.
Please contact Hailey Schumacher at hschumacher@virginiasymphony.org for assistance accessing your VSO Spotify Playlist through Memberful.
Make Your Impact
Your support of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra leads to the success of our programs, allowing us to bring world-class performances to our community and support the artists and educators who make them possible. By clicking here, you can also learn more about our donor levels and benefits. Don't miss the opportunity to show your support!
Symphonic Snapshots
Below are more photos from this past month's events—capturing the magic, music, and moments that made them so special. Even if you couldn’t join us in person, we hope these snapshots make you feel a part of the fun and the vibrant VSO community.
