Stamford Symphony Announces Its 2019-2020 Season: ‘Beethoven250’

Stamford Symphony President and CEO, Russell Jones announces Beethoven250, the 2019-2020 Season during the continuation of the symphony’s music director search. The symphony is now accepting renewed memberships for the upcoming season.

— an announcement from Stamford Symphony

Three additional guest conductors are scheduled to take the podium at the orchestral concerts: Michael Stern on March 9 and 10; Vladimir Kulenovic on April 13 and 14;  and José Luis Dominguez on Oct. 19 and 20.

“In the spring of 2019, our current subscribers will begin renewing their subscriptions for the 2019-2020 season,” said Russell Jones. “Like many orchestras seeking a new music director, we wanted to present a program that everyone could explore.

“Taking part in a worldwide celebration of Beethoven’s 250^th will provide a bedrock of inspiring music for all our Fairfield County concert-goers to enjoy, plus some significant first time performances of great repertoire,” he said.

Learn More About Beethoven Here

Here are three videos from a lecture series by Gil Harrel on Beethoven last year at Darien Library:

—Second lecture: The “Heroic” Beethoven

—Third lecture: Fate Knocking at the Door: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5

Highlights of the 2019-2020 Season

Beethoven250 season will celebrate the 250^th birthday Ludwig van Beethoven.

• You will hear beloved works by Beethoven including Symphonies No. 2 and No. 7 and the Violin Concerto and Piano Concerto No. 5, Emperor.
• To contrast with Beethoven works, the season will also include popular works: Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4, Dvorak Symphony No. 7 and the epic Piano Concerto No. 2 by Rachmaninoff performed by Stamford Symphony favorite, Steven Hough, piano.
• Seven premieres!  There are seven works that will be Stamford Symphony premieres including two works by living American composers, Tania Leon, and from Yale and Hannah Lash.
• Experience concertos for guitar and marimba and an appearance by the Orchestra’s Principal Harp, Amy Berger, playing Debussy.
• Stamford Symphony listened to your feedback! Noel!, the holiday family concert, will return at St. John’s Episcopal Church featuring the brass of the Stamford Symphony.  You can expect sonorous brass, and great holiday sing-alongs. This event is for all the family to enjoy, but you do not need to have children in order to attend!

New this season!

• One Singular Sensation – Marvin Hamlisch 75 An evening to celebrate the genius of the legendary composer. Featuring music from A Chorus Line to Sophie’s Choice including iconic songs, The Way We Were, What I Did for Love and more! hosted by Terre Blair-Hamlisch and featuring the Kevin Cole Trio with Melissa McGowan (Kiss Me Kate)
• Chamber music in a farmhouse: Warm up with chamber music in a unique location featuring the principal strings of the Stamford Symphony. We celebrate Beethoven’s 250^th birthday with his String Quartet No 3, Op 18 at the Knobloch Family Farmhouse at Stamford Museum and Nature Center in January
• Have a say in the program of an innovative Piano Recital: David Kaplan, pianist, will play three sonatas from Beethoven’s early, middle and late periods. Before the concert, the audience will have an opportunity to vote on their favorite Beethoven Sonata. The most requested sonata chosen will be included as one of three sonatas performed

BEETHOVEN250
2019-2020 Season At-a-Glance:

Epic Rachmaninoff
Oct. 19 & 20, 2019                 
José Luis Dominguez conductor

Tania León Acana*
Beethoven Symphony  No. 2
Rachmaninoff  Piano Concerto No. 2 with Stephen Hough, piano     

A Dance with Spanish Guitar
Nov. 16 & 17, 2019
Mozart Overture to The Magic Flute*
Rodrigo Concierto de Aranjuez with Thomas Flippin, guitar 
Dvorak Symphony No. 7

Three Places in New England
Feb. 22 & 23, 2020   
Ives Three Places in New England*
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 Emperor with Mark Bebbington, piano
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4

Romantic Marimba
March 21 & 22, 2020
Hannah Lash Chaconnes*
Emmanuel Séjourné Concerto for Marimba and String Orchestra* with Jisu Jung, marimba  
Debussy Danse sacrée et danse profane, for harp and strings* with Amy Berger, harp  
Dvorak Serenade for Strings*

Happy Birthday, Herr Beethoven
April 18 & 19, 2020
Beethoven Overture to Coriolan
Beethoven Violin Concerto with Elena Urioste, violin    
BeethovenSymphony No. 7

Limited Engagement Concerts

Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019
One Singular Sensation – Marvin Hamlisch 75 at 20197pm
An evening to celebrate the genius of the legendary composer. Featuring music from A Chorus Line toSophie’s Choice including iconic songs, The Way We Were, What I Did for Love and more!

The Kevin Cole Trio
Marissa McGowan (Kiss Me Kate)
Special Guests from the Stamford Symphony
Shari Hoffman, clarinet and Caroline Stinson, cello
Hosted by Terre Blair-Hamlisch

Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford

Noel with Stamford Symphony Brass
Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019 at 4pm
Sonorous brass of Gabrieli and Bach and seasonal sing-a-long favorites including Sleigh Ride, O Come All Ye Faithful and more. Fun for all the family!

St. John’s Episcopal Church, 628 Main Street, Stamford
Kids come FREE

Stamford Symphony String Quartet
Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020 at 3 p.m.                        
Program to include: Beethoven String Quartet No. 3, Op. 18
Deborah Buck and Sebu Sirinian, violins
Lois Martin, viola
Caroline Stinson, cello

Knobloch Family Farmhouse at Stamford Museum and Nature Center, 39 Scofieldtown Road, Stamford

Beethoven Sonatas: By Request                
Sunday, May 3, 2020 at 4 p.m.
David Kaplan, pianist will play three piano sonatas from Beethoven’s early, middle and late periods. After purchasing tickets, you will vote on the Beethoven sonata you would most like to hear. The most-requested sonata will be included as one of the three sonatas performed., 
David Kaplan, piano

St. John’s Episcopal Church, 628 Main Street, Stamford

Programs and Artists subject to change

Renewing Your Subscription or Getting a New One

• We are currently accepting renewals of current subscriptions.
• If you do not have a subscription, you may call and pre-reserve a Subscription Packages by calling 203.325.1407 x10 or online at www.stamfordsymphony.org.
• Single Tickets will be available in July, 2019.

Attention All Concertgoers:

• If you have not updated your account information on our new website, please do so now.
• Updating your account information will allow for easy purchasing online and special offers sent to you directly.  Please click HERE to update your account.
  
  Should you have any problems updating your account, please do not hesitate to call Patron Services at 203.325.1407 extension 10.

About the Stamford Symphony

The Stamford Symphony is one of Connecticut’s pre-eminent cultural institutions, championing the lifelong appreciation of classical music among all populations of Fairfield County through passionate, professional performances of the highest caliber, diverse and innovative programming, and inspirational education initiatives.

The Orchestra is comprised of professional musicians from the tri-state area, drawing its members from premiere ensembles including the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet, the American Symphony Orchestra, the New York Pops, and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s.

Originally formed in 1919, the Stamford Symphony thrived under the leadership of Clayton Hotchkiss, Music Director of the Stamford Public Schools, until after WWII, when many of its musicians returned to their homelands.

It languished until its rebirth in 1967 as a regional orchestra of amateur musicians. Skitch Henderson was appointed Music Director in 1974, and with the hiring of Barbara Smith-Soroca as General Manager in 1979, the orchestra began its ascent to a fully professional orchestra and an integral part of the cultural fabric of Fairfield County.

The year 1980 brought a new music director, Roger Nierenberg, who spent the next 24 years recruiting top musicians from the New York metro area and crafting a balanced ensemble of remarkable versatility.

Maestro Nierenberg expanded the Orchestra Classics Series and created new music and education programs, developing the Stamford Symphony as a valuable classical music resource for Stamford and its surrounding communities.

His successor, Eckart Preu was the most recent leader of the ensemble, appointed in October 2005, following an international search that attracted more than 250 applicants. Preu concluded his final season with Stamford Symphony in 2017.

The Stamford Symphony’s home is at the Palace Theatre where most performances occur in the beautifully restored venue. Music Education programs serving 6,000 students have grown to include FREE tickets for kids under 18, Concerts for Students: The American Experience, The Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute Link-Up Program, Master Classes with students from the HARTT School of Music and more.