The Jacksonville Symphony Celebrates Spring in a Program of Debussy, Tao, and Stravinsky By Matt Bickett In the warm sun of spring, ice falls from the wintery trees, crashing down as the once-frozen ground cracks opens. Nature announces the arrival of this season’s listless heat with violent sounds—at least in colder climates, as Courtney Lewis, Music Director of the Jacksonville … Read More
Conrad Tao & Rite of Spring Program Notes Program Notes by Laurie Shulman © 2024. Reproduction of all or part of these notes without explicit written permission from the Jacksonville Symphony is strictly prohibited. Claude Debussy’s Nocturnes World Premiere October 27, 1901; Paris, France 25 Minutes Nocturnes was one of Debussy’s earliest orchestral compositions to secure a niche … Read More
Jacksonville Symphony Reveres Classical Music’s Greats in Performances of Barber, Sibelius and Beethoven In reverent performances, the Jacksonville Symphony admired the careers of some of classical music’s greats Friday and Saturday nights. The characterful and dynamic program saw the Symphony and conductor Courtney Lewis welcome special guest pianist Barry Douglas for a sturdy rendition of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto … Read More
The Jacksonville Symphony Danced the Night Away with Beethoven and Rachmaninoff Look inside any beehive and you’ll find bees dancing for one another. Wiggling and waggling, bees dance to share the location of nearby pollen in relation to the sun and the hive. In much the same way, Theseus, an ancient Greek hero, danced the Crane Dance to show young Athenians how … Read More
The Jacksonville Symphony presented an enjoyable and heady program in two concerts over Friday and Saturday nights. The Marcus Roberts Trio joined the orchestra, bringing an electric presence to the stage, while renowned conductor Robert Spano gathered the ensembles together with grace and intensity. The combined musical results conveyed an especially urgent message of collaboration. Through this weekend’s performance of … Read More
In honor of Black History Month, the Jacksonville Symphony highlights the remarkable contributions of African American composers and artists, alongside our diverse programming and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) efforts throughout the 2024/25 Season. Follow us on Instagram for weekly updates on how we are celebrating Black History Month and showcasing these important initiatives. Groundbreaking musical visionaries: African American composers … Read More
“Remember me, remember us. Life is good. Celebrate it for those who perished, for those who survived—for all people.” This poignant message resonates through the Violins of Hope, a collection of instruments that survived the Holocaust. Once played by Jewish musicians before and during World War II, these violins, violas and cellos embody stories of resilience and humanity. Lovingly restored … Read More
On February 15, the Jacksonville Symphony invites the community to experience the transformative power of music with Violins of Hope: Building Bridges Through the Power of Music in Jacoby Symphony Hall. Led by Music Director Courtney Lewis, this performance features violins that once belonged to Holocaust victims. These instruments carry profound stories of resilience, creating an unforgettable evening of music … Read More
Knowing that the Violins of Hope collection features instruments with deeply personal and historical significance, can you share how you and your father approached the delicate task of restoring these instruments, ensuring both their musical and emotional legacy are preserved? “We do quite an extensive restoration. Of course, each instrument is different and in different condition. If there are cracks, … Read More
Jacksonville Symphony’s Cinematic-Scale Encounter with Vaughan Williams, Dvořák and Lam In an attempt to inspire movie-goers back to the cinema post-COVID-19, the theater chain AMC Theatres showed an uncharacteristic but now widely popular commercial before its movies. Nicole Kidman, the star of the ad, describes the film-viewing experience with a candor and focused drama that resonated across generations—earnestly with older … Read More
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