Jacksonville Symphony Blog

Performance Review: Beethoven, Brahms & Dinnerstein The Jacksonville Symphony’s Florida Blue Classical Series continued this weekend with “Beethoven, Brahms & Dinnerstein,” a bold and generous program featuring two mainstays of the repertoire alongside a recent work by a young, contemporary composer. Lumina by Nina Shekhar Opening the program was a short, orchestral piece entitled Lumina by Nina Shekhar. Born in … Read More

Performance Review: Beethoven, Schumann & Liebermann The Jacksonville Symphony’s Florida Blue Classical Series kicked off its 2023/24 Season in grand style this weekend with “Beethoven, Schumann & Liebermann,” a generous and groundbreaking program featuring the world premiere of contemporary American composer Lowell Liebermann’s Organ Concerto.  Leonore Overture No. 2, Op. 72a by Ludwig van Beethoven After leading off with “The … Read More

Performance Review: Conrad Tao Plays Prokofiev The Jacksonville Symphony’s 2022/23 Florida Blue Classical Series season concluded in rousing fashion this weekend with “Conrad Tao Plays Prokofiev,” a program featuring the work of two 20th century Russian symphonic titans. Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26 by Sergei Prokofiev The first half of the concert was given over to … Read More

Performance Review: Mozart, Brahms & Schumann The Jacksonville Symphony’s Florida Blue Classical Series presented “Mozart, Brahms & Schumann” this weekend, a generous and approachable program of three Austro-Germanic masterpieces under the baton of Music Director Courtney Lewis.  Overture, Scherzo & Finale, Op. 52 by Robert Schumann Kicking off the evening was Robert Schumann’s Overture, Scherzo & Finale.  Essentially a symphony in … Read More

Performance Review: Beethoven’s Fifth The Jacksonville Symphony’s Florida Blue Classical Series presented “Beethoven’s Fifth” this weekend, a program featuring three beloved orchestral favorites led by guest conductor Giordano Bellincampi. Silvery Rills by Sean Shepherd Leading off the program was Silvery Rills by contemporary American composer Sean Shepherd. A short and punchy piece intended to evoke the flowing waters of a … Read More

Performance Review: 1,001 Nights: Scheherazade The Jacksonville Symphony’s Florida Blue Classical Series presented “1,001 Nights: Scheherazade” this weekend, a colorful program of three mesmerizing works under the baton of guest conductor Elinor Rufeizen. Les Préludes, Symphonic Poem No. 3 by Franz Liszt Kicking off the evening was Les Préludes, Symphonic Poem No. 3 by Franz Liszt. Rufeizen led the Symphony … Read More

Performance Review: Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody The Jacksonville Symphony presented “Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody” this weekend, a luxurious program featuring three of the most important composers of the 19th and 20th centuries. A Game of Cards (Jeu de cartes) by Igor Stravinsky The concert opened with Igor Stravinsky’s A Game of Cards. Of the three works offered on the evening’s program, this was likely … Read More

Performance Review: Copland’s Rodeo The Jacksonville Symphony presented “Copland’s Rodeo” this weekend, a generous and energetic program featuring four works by American and Mexican composers under the baton of guest conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto. Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes by Aaron Copland Opening the evening was the Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes by Aaron Copland.  Extracted from the 1942 ballet Rodeo, these … Read More

Performance Review: Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto The Jacksonville Symphony’s Florida Blue Classical Series presented “Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto” this weekend, a generous program of three beloved symphonic masterpieces that saw a return to the podium of former Jacksonville Symphony Associate Conductor Nathan Aspinall. Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun by Claude Debussy The concert began with Debussy’s shimmering Prelude to the … Read More

Performance Review: Brahms’ German Requiem The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and Chorus teamed up with baritone John Michael Moore, soprano Joélle Harvey and the University of North Florida Chorale and Chamber Singers to present “Brahms’ German Requiem” this weekend. This generous program of German Romantic music featured Gustav Mahler’s “Songs of a Wayfarer” alongside the eponymous work by Johannes Brahms. Songs … Read More