Asheville Symphony Orchestra Kicks Off 2011-2012 Season

Posted on by Jen Nathan Orris

The Asheville Symphony Orchestra has been going strong since 1960, quite a feat for a symphony that started out as an all-volunteer endeavor. Audiences flocked to school and church auditoriums until the symphony expanded its reach to the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. Conductor Daniel Meyer was hired as the Music Director in December 2004 and the symphony has grown in popularity since then. 

The orchestra will perform seven concerts this season, featuring traditional favorites like Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 and less well-known pieces like Astor Piazzolla’s Oblivion.

The season begins on Saturday at 8 p.m., with a program including Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, Lollapalooza by John Adams, and Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G. The world-renowned pianist Simone Dinnerstein will be the featured soloist.

2011-2012 Season:

Sept. 17:
Adams: Lollapalooza
Ravel: Piano Concerto in G, featuring Simone Dinnerstein (piano)
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5

Oct. 15:
Dukas: Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2, featuring Jason Posnock (violin)
Debussy: Prélude à “L’aprés-midi d’un faune”
Britten: Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Purcell

Nov. 19:
Mahler: Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection,” featuring Kendall Gladen (mezzo-soprano), Shannon Kessler Dooley (soprano) and the Asheville Symphony Chorus

Feb. 11:
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral”
Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1, featuring Daniil Trifonov (piano)
Wagner: Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde

March 17:
Rossini: La Scala di Seta Overture
Glazunov: Concerto for Alto Saxophone, featuring Douglas O’Connor (saxophone)
Piazzolla: Oblivion
Brahms: Symphony No. 1

April 14:
Stravinsky: The Soldier’s Tale, Attack Theatre
Mozart: Symphony No. 41 “Jupiter”

May 12:
Schumann: Symphony No. 1 “Spring”
Mendelssohn: Concerto for Violin and Piano, featuring Benjamin Hochman (piano) and Jennifer Koh, (violin)
Respighi: Pines of Rome

Photo by: Michael Morel

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