2010-2011 Season Release

LANCASTER, PA -- Beginning October 8, 2010 and spanning 28 performances,
Maestro Stephen Gunzenhauser and the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra will treat South Central Pennsylvania music lovers to beloved music of the masters and awe-inspiring guest artists from around the world. Joining Brahms, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Dvořák and many other composers in the 2010-2011 season will be acclaimed musicians from Italy, Israel, Russia and across the United States.

“To present such a dynamic season at 2008-2009 prices is quite a feat; we have held the line on prices for the 3rd year in a row.” said Lancaster Symphony Orchestra president and chief executive officer, M. Scott Robinson. “We know that this lingering economic strain has touched everyone. If there’s ever been a need for the amazing elixir of live classical music, it is now.”

Maestro Gunzenhauser echoed those sentiments. “We’re inviting everyone to leave life’s stresses and trivialities at the door and revel in the joy and inspiration of the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra’s 2010-2011 season. Only in Lancaster, will they discover such breadth and quality of music at such an affordable price.”

Six Classic Concert series will anchor the Symphony’s 2010-2011 season. The season will also include a Sounds of the Season family holiday program December 17 and 19, 2010 at Franklin & Marshall’s Barshinger Center and the always-popular New Year’s Eve Celebration featuring the staged production of Lerner and Loewe’s My Fair Lady at the American Music Theatre.

On October 8, 9 and 10, 2010, the 2010-2011 Classic Concert Series at the Fulton Opera House will come to life with “Shaham Celebrates Sibelius.” Headlining the weekend will be Israeli violinist Hagai Shaham displaying his virtuosity in a performance of Sibelius’ romantic but challenging Violin Concerto. This is the second visit by Hagai Shaham whose leading student is Lancaster Symphony’s talented associate concert master Netanel Draiblate. These concerts will also feature Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8, the happiest symphony Dvořák ever composed. This upbeat evening will be the East Coast Premier of Paisajes Bajo el Signo de Cosmos by Mexican composer Arturo Marquez. Marquez was discovered in Lancaster for his Conga del Fuego Nuevo and Danzon No. 2 a few years ago; the works of Marquez have proven to be consistent crowd-pleasers. This new work promises to excite and entertain the audience with Latin color and energy!

Concertgoers will enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime, tour de force November 12, 13 and 14, 2010 when the Orchestra is joined by the Lancaster Symphony Chorus in four performances of “Verdi’s Requiem.” This emotion-packed, monumental work will be presented under the direction of one of the world’s leading Verdi scholars, Sinfonica di Roma’s charismatic Maestro Francesco La Vecchia. Always one of the most anticipated programs of the season, the Orchestra, Chorus and their guest conductor will be joined by four acclaimed guest soloists: soprano Julie-Ann Whitely Green, mezzo-soprano Maren Montalbano, tenor Jeffrey Halili and bass-baritone, Zeffin Hollis.

Now in his third season as the Lancaster Symphony Chorusmaster, Dr. William Wright, Director of Choral Music at Franklin & Marshall, will direct in pre-concert preparation, the Lancaster Symphony Chorus, members of the Franklin & Marshall College Chamber Singers, The Millersville University Keystone Singers under the direction of Dr. Mark A. Boyle and The Elizabethtown College Concert Choir directed by Dr. Matthew Fritz

Vocal and instrumental music will combine forces again for the Sounds of the Season concert weekend December 17 and 19, 2010 in Barshinger Center on the campus of Franklin &Marshall College. The Lancaster Symphony Ensemble Orchestra and the Lancaster Symphony Chorus will infuse audience members of all ages with the holiday spirit through a newly inspired program of glorious music of the season, traditional carols and holiday sing-alongs. Discounted tickets for children 16 and under will make these holiday concerts even more family-friendly.

New Year’s Eve will begin in Central Pennsylvania’s favorite way with My Fair Lady and an entire evening of music, champagne, and noisemakers on December 31, 2010, at American Music Theatre. An annual tradition, the Symphony’s New Year’s Eve Celebration has taken revelers to some of the world’s greatest party towns ... from Verona and Madrid to Broadway and New Orleans. This time, the fun and festivities will continue in a new and exciting fashion!

The Symphony plans a ‘loverly” New Year’s Eve concert staging of Lerner & Loewe's My Fair Lady. There will be two spectacular performances showcased at American Music Theatre on New Year’s Eve Friday, Dec 31 at 7 pm, with an additional performance slated for Sunday, Jan 2, 2011 at 2 pm. The Lancaster Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, along with cast members under the direction of the Fulton’s Marc Robin, will be on stage in costume to perform this exquisite musical.

The first program of the New Year, “Brahms, Beethoven & The Pianist” on January 14, 15 and 16, 2011, will showcase the work of two masters and a brilliant, Russian-born pianist. Yuliya Gorenman will shine as she joins the Orchestra in a performance of Beethoven’s intimate and uplifting Piano Concerto No. 4. The same concert weekend will also feature Brahms’ intense Symphony No. 1 and Rossini’s audience favorite, “Italian in Algiers” Overture.

On March 4, 5 and 6, 2011, two historic musical rivals will match up on the Fulton stage in “Mozart & Salieri: Roots & Rivalry.” Mozart will state his case through his most beautiful Concerto for Basset Clarinet performed with authentic instrumentation by acclaimed clarinetist Doris Hall-Gulati. Salieri will echo real life through his Sinfonia “School of Jealousy” where he musically pits flute against oboe. The March concerts will also spotlight renowned flutist David DiGiacobbe, the Symphony’s own principal flutist, in Benjamin Yusupov’s remarkably visual work, Tanovor.

A sweeping musical experience awaits concertgoers April 15, 16 and 17, 2011 when the Symphony treats them to “Fantastique Berlioz.” One of the greatest works ever composed, Berlioz “Symphonie Fantastique” is so big that the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra will be at super size. Not only will the Orchestra call all of its musicians to the stage for this exciting concert weekend, but many will trade their modern day instruments for instruments from Berloiz palette in the 1830s.

The closing performances of the 2010-2011 Classic Concert Series will be on May 20, 21 and 22, 2011 as the Symphony honors life’s many legacies in a weekend of “Tchaikovsky & Taneyev: Mentor & Protégé.” The brilliant, young Russian pianist Ivan Rudin will make his American debut performing Tchaikovsky’s beloved Piano Concerto No. 1. In counterpoint, the Symphony will premiere a rarely performed work by Tchaikovsky’s student, friend and critic Sergio Taneyev. This will mark the first time Taneyev’s towering Symphony No. 4 has been performed in Pennsylvania. A much-anticipated part of the 2010-2011 season will be the 50th annual presentation of the Symphony’s Composer’s Award and a Lancaster premiere of the winning composer’s work.

The Symphony’s Classic Concert Series will be performed at the historic Fulton Opera House at 12 North Prince Street in Downtown Lancaster. Ample parking is available adjacent to the Fulton and at the Prince Street garage.

Friday’s opening night performances begin at 8 pm. All Saturday concerts commence at 3 pm and 8 pm. Sunday night concerts will be performed at 7:30 pm. Free “Meet the Music” pre-concert talks are held an hour before each performance at the Fulton. A “Meet the Musicians” reception follows every Friday night concert in the Fulton lobby. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be served, and a cash bar will be open.

The Sounds of the Season program will be presented at the Barshinger Center for
Musical Arts on the campus of Franklin & Marshall College. Barshinger Center is located on College Avenue in Lancaster. The Sounds of the Season concerts will begin at 7:30 pm Friday, December 17 and at 3pm Sunday, December 19, 2010.

The Symphony’s New Year’s Eve Celebration will open on Saturday, December 31, at 7 pm and again on Sunday, January 2, 2011 at 2 p.m. at American Music Theatre. The theatre is located on Lincoln Highway East/Route 30 in Lancaster, across from Rockvale Square.

Subscriptions to the 2010-2011 Classic Concert Series are on sale now by calling the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra at (717) 291-4420. Subscription prices for the Classic Concert series range from $92 to $288, a savings of as much as 20 percent over single ticket prices. There is an additional $12 per subscription surcharge for Classic Concert Series subscriptions. These moneys are paid directly to the Fulton Opera House for the Fulton Historic Preservation Fund to repay funds loaned by the City of Lancaster to help with the 1995 renovation of the National Historic Landmark.

Classic Concert Series subscribers receive other benefits including discounts of up to 20 percent on dining at many area restaurants before and after concerts, free ticket exchanges, and 20 percent off the purchase of additional Symphony single tickets. Tickets to the Sounds of the Season concerts and the New Year’s Eve Celebration are also on sale. Sounds of the Season tickets are $39, $22 for children 16 and under. New Year’s Eve Celebration tickets are $64 for subscribers, a $5 savings over general admission tickets.

Underwriting the Lancaster Symphony’s 2010-2011 season will be Willow Valley Retirement Communities, Willow Valley Associates Inc. and Lancaster General Health. Clermont Wealth Strategies at Fulton Bank, Electron Energy Corp., Elizabethtown College, Franklin & Marshall College, Millersville University, TriStarr Staffing, Carr’s Restaurant, FENZ Restaurant, PNC Bank, The Hershey Company, Wachovia and Wiley’s Pharmacy will also be helping support the season. Other sponsors include, Palm Bay Imports, Isaac’s Deli, The Standard Group, Brookshire Printing, Inc., DePaul Planning & Design and the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra League. Season media sponsor will be WITF FM 89.5.

The 2010-2011 “Only in Lancaster” season will mark Maestro Stephen Gunzenhauser’s 30th year as the music director of the Symphony. The Grammy-nominated musician also led the Delaware Symphony for 23 years. In 2004, he served as artistic advisor and principal conductor for the Bogota Philharmonic Orchestra. He maintains a regular guest-conducting schedule with symphony orchestras all over the world. In addition, he has been a distinguished judge at the Ragusa Ibla International Music Competition in Italy and the Piano Competition in Kazakhstan. The prolific conductor has made 66 recordings and sold over 2 million CDs.

2010-2011 marks the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra’s 63rd season. Over the decades the Symphony has evolved from a community orchestra into a fully professional regional orchestra serving over 30,000 music enthusiasts annually with 24 yearly subscription concerts, a family holiday concert, a New Year’s Eve gala celebration and a free, outdoor community patriotic concert in downtown Lancaster. The Lancaster Symphony Orchestra is a 70-member professional ensemble that was founded in 1947 by Frederick S. Klein and John H. Peifer, Jr. from Franklin & Marshall College. The Symphony is a non-profit organization governed by a board of 30 community volunteers and managed by a professional staff under the direction of president and chief executive officer Scott Robinson. Ticket sales, individual contributions, corporate gifts, foundation and government grants help underwrite the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra’s invaluable contribution to the quality of life in South Central Pennsylvania.