FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lancaster Symphony Orchestra Scores a Landmark “Only in Lancaster” Season for Its 60th Anniversary.

LANCASTER, PA -- A 60th anniversary is extra special, and Lancaster Symphony Orchestra music director Stephen Gunzenhauser has created an anniversary season for the ages. Opening October 5, 2007, the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra’s 2007-2008 season will introduce a new Sunday matinee series and feature more performances than ever in its history.

Maestro Gunzenhauser will open his 27th year as the creative leader of the Symphony starting a new 10-year contract as its music director and conductor. Such longevity is rare among professional, regional symphony orchestras.

Across 37 performances, the “Only in Lancaster” season will bring acclaimed musicians to Central Pennsylvania from around the world. Their talents will blend with the Orchestra’s own in extraordinary programs of great classics, premieres of several exciting works and a delightful sprinkling of popular favorites. The Symphony’s 60th anniversary season will include a six-concert Classic Series, a new five-program Sunday Matinee Series and “Audience Requests” concerts.

The new five-concert Sunday matinee series will open the Symphony to new audiences. Not only will it allow more concertgoers to enjoy daytime performances at the Fulton Opera House, but it will enable parents and grandparents to introduce the joys and wonder of symphonic music to children and grandchildren. The series will include three Classic Series concerts, the “Audience Requests” concert and the new holiday “Sounds of the Season” concert.

The 60th anniversary Lancaster Symphony Orchestra season will also mark the return of three musical greats: the masters of the Spanish guitar, blues harmonica and bandoneon. Classical guitarist Angel Romero will be making his third appearance with the Orchestra. Harmonica wonder Corky Siegel made his Central Pennsylvania debut in 2004. Bandoneonist Marcelo Nisinman first came to Lancaster in 2003.

“Romero & Flamenco Guitar Premiere,” the first Classic Concert of the 2007-2008 “Only in Lancaster” anniversary season, will be held October 5, 6 and 7, 2007. The world premiere of Concerto of Flamenco Guitar, David Chesky’s salsa and hip-hop-infused serenade, was written especially for guest classical guitarist, Sir Angel Romero. The Symphony’s opening weekend will also feature Ludwig van Beethoven’s powerful and dramatic Fidelio Overture from his great and only opera and Antonin Dvorak’s beloved, spiritually uplifting Symphony No. 7.

An “Emerging Violin Virtuosa” concert weekend November 9, 10 and 11, 2007, will introduce Central Pennsylvania to rising, international superstar Sandy Cameron. Her talents will be put to the test as she performs Karl Goldmark’s technically challenging yet beautiful, Violin Concerto. The November concert weekend will also include Ludwig van Beethoven’s powerful, emotionally intense Coriolan Overture, Georges Bizet’s jubilant, glorious Symphony in C and Anatol Liadov’s bright, energetic Mazurka.

To put concertgoers in the holiday mood, December 14, 15 and 16, 2007, will mark the premiere Lancaster Symphony “Sounds of the Season” concert weekend. A chamber ensemble of Lancaster Symphony Chorus, directed by Debra Lenssen, will partner with the Orchestra for four performances all decked out with glorious classical music, popular holiday sounds and carol singing.

New Year’s Eve revelry December 31, 2007, will begin at American Music Theatre with the Symphony’s “Best of Broadway” Celebration. Complete with a champagne toast and grand finale, the early evening concert will feature the Orchestra, Theatre Critic award-winning soprano Lisa Vroman and — back by popular demand — Broadway baritone Doug LaBrecque. The celebration will include familiar and favorite works from “Phantom of the Opera,” Les Miserables,” “Jekyll & Hyde” and all-time standards from “My Fair Lady,” “The Sound of Music,” “The King & I” and others.

The first Classic Concert of the New Year will sizzle when the “Tango Meets the Blues” January 11, 12 and 13, 2008. These concerts will feature not one but two internationally acclaimed musicians. Marcelo Nisinman, South America’s leading bandoneon player, will return to perform one of tango king Astor Piazzolla’s greatest works, Concerto for Bandoneon. Corky Siegel will premiere his own composition, Harmonica Concerto. In addition, the Symphony will treat its January audiences to Ottorino Respighi’s orchestral piece de resistance, The Pines of Rome. Also on the amazing program will be the American premiere of an innovative, entertaining work, Graeme Koehne’s Elevator Music.

Romance will be in the air for the Symphony’s Valentine’s concert weekend February 15, 16 and 17, 2008. “Soundscapes of Grieg & Sibelius” will showcase world acclaimed, Russian born pianist Yuliya Gorenman playing Edvard Grieg’s treasured Piano Concerto in A minor. Another Grieg composition, Sigurd Jorsalfar, will paint a scenic Scandinavian soundscape. Jean Sibelius’ much loved, dramatic Symphony No. 2 will also be a part of the February Classic Series program.

Always a favorite, the Lancaster Symphony Chorus and guest vocalists will share the Fulton stage with the Orchestra March 28, 29 and 30, 2008, in “A Sea Symphony” concert weekend with Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Symphony No. 1. This optimistic expression of visionary rapture was inspired by Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass.” The Chorus will be directed by interim chorus master candidate Mark Williams.  Also a part of the March 28, 29 and 30 performances will be Vaughan Williams’ Overture to The Wasps and presentation of the Symphony’s annual Composer’s Award. The award has earned distinction as a prized, national recognition of America’s finest contemporary symphonic composers.

On April 11, 12 and 13, 2008, the Lancaster Symphony will offer its audience-chosen, crowd-pleasing, “Audience Requests” concert weekend. With evening performances Friday and Saturday nights and matinees Saturday and Sunday, “Audience Requests” will include beloved works and light classics that have been chosen by ballots cast by earlier concert audiences.

The Symphony’s 60th anniversary season will close May 16, 17 and 18, 2008, with “The Essential Rachmaninoff & Ravel.” Sergei Rachmaninoff’s magnificent gift for melody and his magical ability to capture orchestral color will shine in his majestic Symphonic Dances. Maurice Ravel’s La Valse will treat audiences to the beauty of the waltz in moving contrast to the cynicism and bitterness of wartime Vienna.  In classic “Only in Lancaster” style, the last concert of the 2007-2008 season will display the virtuosity of internationally distinguished pianist Ian Hobson in the Pennsylvania premiere of Ignace Jan Paderewski’s Piano Concerto in A minor.

The 60th anniversary Classic Concert Series will include the presentation of the Symphony’s annual Composer’s Award and a Lancaster premiere of his or her work.

The Symphony’s Classic Concert Series, its new Sunday Matinee Series and its popular “Audience Requests” concerts 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. The four new Sunday matinees are at 3 pm. Sunday night concerts will be performed at 7:30 pm.  Free previews of each concert are held an hour before each performance at the Fulton. A “Meet the Musicians” reception will follow every Friday night concert in the Fulton lobby. Complimentary refreshments will be served, and a cash bar will be open.

The new “Sounds of the Season” holiday concerts at F&M’s Barshinger Center for the Musical Arts will begin Friday, December 14, 2007, at 7:30 pm; Saturday, December 15 at 3 and 8 pm; and Sunday, December 16 at 3 pm. The Barshinger Center is located on College Avenue on the F&M campus in Lancaster.

The Symphony’s New Year’s Eve “Best of Broadway” Celebration will open at 7 pm at American Music Theatre. The theatre is located on Lincoln Highway East/Route 30 in Lancaster, across from Rockvale Square.

Subscriptions to the 2007-2008 Classic Concert Season and new Sunday Matinee Series, as well as discounted subscriber tickets for the new “Sounds of the Season,” New Year’s Eve Celebration and “Audience Requests” concerts, are on sale now by calling the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra at (717) 291-4420. Subscription prices range from $84 to $267, a savings of as much as 30 percent over single ticket prices.

There is an additional $10 or $12 per subscription surcharge for Classic Concert 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 Season subscribers receive other benefits, including 10 percent discounts on dining at many area restaurants before and after concerts, free ticket exchanges and 25 percent off the purchase of additional Symphony single tickets.

Underwriting the Lancaster Symphony’s 2007-2008 season will be Sound Discovery sponsor, Highmark Blue Shield. Sponsoring its Classic Concert Series will be Bank of Lancaster County, Electron Energy Corporation, Elizabethtown College, Fulton Financial Advisors, Franklin & Marshall College, Millersville University and TriStarr Staffing. Encore hospitality sponsor will be the new Fenz Restaurant and Late Night. Music Discovery Experience sponsor will be Lancaster General. First Look hospitality sponsor will be Carr’s Restaurant, and Meet the Musicians sponsor will be Carrabba’s Italian Grill. Season automotive sponsor is Mercedes Benz of Lancaster, and season media sponsor is WITF FM 89.5. “Sound Discovery” music education partner is the Women’s Symphony Association.

Music director and maestro Stephen Gunzenhauser took the Symphony’s baton in 1980. 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 in Bogota and with symphony orchestras all over the world. The prolific conductor has made 66 recordings and sold over 2 million CDs.

Over its 60 seasons, the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra has evolved from a community orchestra into an organization of professional musicians serving 52,000 music enthusiasts with 28 yearly subscription concerts, a new holiday concert, a New Year’s Eve gala celebration, a spring “Audience Requests” concert weekend and a free, outdoor community patriotic concert.

The Lancaster Symphony Orchestra is a 75-member, professional orchestra that was founded in 1947 by Frederick S. Klein and John H. Peifer, Jr. from Franklin & Marshall College. Its first director, Louis Vyner, served the Orchestra for 32 years. The orchestra 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 M. Scott Robinson. Ticket sales revenues and donations from hundreds of corporate and private benefactors underwrite the Symphony’s invaluable contribution to the quality of life in south central Pennsylvania.