Performance Review: Beethoven’s Ninth The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra’s Florida Blue Classical Series concluded in great fashion this weekend with “Beethoven’s Ninth: Ode To Joy,” a program featuring the seminal nineteenth century masterwork alongside a world premier by contemporary composer Tarik O’Regan. “Trances,” by Tarik O’Regan The evening kicked off with “Trances” by British-American composer Tarik O’Regan. O’Regan was present for … Read More
Performance Review: Mozart’s Groundbreaker The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra presented “Mozart’s Groundbreaker: Piano Concerto No. 25,” a generous program featuring two Austro-Germanic symphonic classics bookending a contemporary work. “Symphony No. 95,” by Franz Joseph Haydn The concert kicked off with Franz Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 95 in C minor. Music Director Courtney Lewis launched into the work with confidence and poise, … Read More
Performance Review: Appalachian Spring The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra presented “Appalachian Spring” this weekend, a program consisting of three works by American composers directed by Associate Conductor Gonzalo Farias. Just before beginning the concert Mr. Farias led the orchestra in the Ukrainian national anthem as a sign of support for the Ukrainian people in light of the events currently unfolding there. … Read More
Review: Beethoven to Brahms The Florida Blue Classical Series presented “Beethoven to Brahms” this weekend, a program consisting of two well-loved Germanic masterpieces led by Guest Conductor Markus Stenz. Beethoven’s “Leonore Overture No. 3” The program opened with Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Leonore Overture No. 3,” which was rendered with lyricism and zest. From the very opening bars it was clear … Read More
Review: Mozart’s Defiance This weekend the Jacksonville Symphony’s Florida Blue Classical Series presented Mozart’s Defiance: Piano Concerto No. 24, a program consisting of W. A. Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor alongside the Symphony No. 1 in E minor of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24 The concert opened with the Mozart concerto, featuring soloist … Read More
The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra presented “Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony” this weekend, a program consisting of two nineteenth-century masterpieces led by guest conductor Jonathon Heyward. Richard Wagner’s Overture from “The Flying Dutchman” started the evening off with Mr. Heyward taking the reigns with confidence and conviction and the orchestra responding in kind. The strings were immediately notable for their warm yet incisive tone, which allowed them to maintain crystal clear clarity throughout even the quietest passages. The Jacksonville Symphony’s fantastic brass … Read More
The Jacksonville Symphony’s Florida Blue Classical Series returned with “Mozart’s Dream” this weekend, a concert featuring W. A. Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major bookended by two works from Czech composers Bedřich Smetana and Antonín Dvořák. The concert began with Smetana’s well-loved Overture to “The Bartered Bride.” From the outset the strings displayed impressively strong intonation throughout the … Read More
This weekend the Jacksonville Symphony’s Florida Blue Classical Series presented “Bach To America,” a creatively programmed and wide-ranging concert featuring works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Igor Stravinsky, and Alberto Ginastera. The evening opened with J. S. Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F major.” Music Director Courtney Lewis dove right in, leading the ensemble with confidence and bristling energy. Cohesion amongst the musicians was tight and Bach’s intricate counterpoint was brought out with great clarity. Textures were … Read More
The Jacksonville Symphony’s 2021/22 Florida Blue Classical Series season opened in great style on Friday evening with a program entitled, “Mozart’s Romantic Side: Piano Concerto No. 20.” The concert featured a Mozart concerto alongside Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 in C, Op. 21. Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466, was first on the program, and saw the debut of the Jacksonville Symphony’s beautiful new Steinway concert grand piano under the masterful … Read More
