West Michigan Symphony Announces 2013-14 Concert Season

MUSKEGON, MI, April 17, 2013 (Press-News.org) The West Michigan Symphony has planned a concert season for 2013-14 that combines the best of old and new.

The season will open Friday, Sept. 27, for an eight-concert series with the ever-popular Cirque de la Symphonie, which played to packed houses when the troupe first performed with the West Michigan Symphony last year. Russian pianist Yuri Rozum will return in May for his fourth engagement with the Symphony, while the Vienna Boys Choir will make a return appearance in November - all back by popular demand.

In addition to many favorite masterworks, the orchestra will play several pieces new to its audience -
and some that have not been heard in the region for more than a quarter-century. The Symphony will welcome some of its favorite performers back to the stage of the Frauenthal and also introduce West Michigan to new artists.

Music Director Scott Speck will return for his 11th season on the podium. The series, which features five Masterworks concerts and three Pops performances, will wrap up June 7, 2014.

"Scott and I are so pleased to unveil such an exciting new season for the West Michigan Symphony," said Carla Hill, Symphony president and CEO. "We have struck an amazing balance of programming that will allow us to showcase our own exceptionally talented musicians while introducing the community to some up-and-coming and established guest artists. There's a little bit of flair, a lot of fun and some incredibly wonderful music to produce a season that will resonate with the entire family."

Season tickets are now on sale. With the exception of the February program, which will be held on Friday, all concerts in the regular season will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on consecutive Friday and Saturday evenings in the Frauenthal Center for Performing Arts in downtown Muskegon. The much-beloved Vienna Boys Choir will bring their angelic voices to the Frauenthal for a special one-night performance on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m.

"Our upcoming season will be one filled with musical splendor that will take concert-goers around the globe and through history," Speck said. "To paraphrase Mahler, who said that a symphony should be like an entire world, we feel our Symphony season should be like an entire world. So you will hear many styles of music from many time periods in history performed by many nationalities - and all without leaving West Michigan!

"We are particularly delighted to welcome back Yuri Rozum, who truly embodies the spirit of Russian music, particularly when he plays Rachmaninoff. We are so fortunate that he is playing two concertos by this beloved composer - each would be worth a trip in and of itself to hear, so it's doubly wonderful that Yuri is doing both on the same program."

The 2013-14 WMS season will feature:
Opening night: Cirque de la Symphonie — Sept. 27 & 28 Back by popular demand and bringing additional performers and more acts, Cirque is a unique and elegant fusion of movement and music. The program will feature music from some of the world's greatest composers while showcasing aerial flyers, acrobats, contortionists, jugglers and strongmen.
Gypsy Fire — Nov. 1 & 2 Guest artist and superstar-in-the-making Gabriela Martinez embodies every flamboyant flourish of the Liszt Piano Concerto No. 1. In keeping with the exhilaration of the evening, intoxicating Hungarian melodies permeate the works of Kodaly and Bartok.

Swingin' Holiday Celebration — Dec. 13 & 14 Broadway stars Teri Dale Hansen and Nate Chandler join WMS for a holiday show featuring swinging tunes from such greats as Ellington, Fitzgerald, Porter and more.

Surprise and Classical Symphonies — Feb. 7 In a one-night-only concert, the Symphony will explore Haydn's most famous and rollicking work, the "Surprise" Symphony and Prokofiev's fast-paced "Classical" Symphony. The evening will also feature Vireo Ensemble, who will offer an intimate glimpse into the art of chamber music.

Beethoven and Blue Jeans — March 7 & 8 The stunningly gifted violinist Chee-Yun joins the Symphony for the first time, performing Tchaikovsky's thrilling violin concerto. The orchestra will present Beethoven's masterful and light-hearted Second Symphony and David Schiff's "Stomp" based on "I Feel Good" by James Brown.

Simple Songs — April 18 & 19 Soprano Martha Guth joins WMS for the achingly beautiful "Simple Songs" by Aaron Kernis. The Symphony will also perform Mendelssohn's vigorous and atmospheric "Scottish" Symphony.

Russian Rhapsody — May 16 & 17 The great Yuri Rozum returns with two masterpieces by Rachmaninoff: The ecstatic "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" and the beloved Piano Concerto No. 2. The Symphony will also perform the seldom-heard Overture to "Hamlet" by Tchaikovsky.

Music City Hitmakers — June 6 & 7 Three of Nashville's hottest songwriters and musicians - Brett James, Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson - will close the 2013-14 season with 18 Billboard number one songs they composed for some of today's most iconic pop-country stars, including their Grammy Award-winning song "Jesus Take the Wheel."

"We look forward to welcoming a number of stellar guest artists to WMS this year," Speck said. "We are very excited to introduce West Michigan audiences to pianist Gabriela Martinez, who recently burst upon the classical music scene. She will perform a fiery rendition of the Liszt Piano concerto.

"Violinist Chee-Yun and I have known each other for about 20 years, and I'm thrilled to be finally bringing her to West Michigan. She's a powerhouse violinist with a gorgeous, rich tone and a strikingly romantic sensibility, not to mention an amazing Stradivarius.

"We are sure audiences will enjoy soprano Martha Guth, who has an enchanting voice and presence. What a pleasure it will be to present her Aaron Kernis' "Simple Songs," one of the most beautiful song cycles by a living composer. This music is fully original, but it has beautiful echoes of Mahler, Strauss, Copland and Barber."

Season tickets can be purchased by calling the West Michigan Symphony ticket office at 231.726.3231. Several subscriber plans are available including the full series, Masterworks Series only, Pop Series only or flexible ticketing that allows concertgoers to create their own experience. For more information or to receive a 2013-14 season brochure, contact 231.726.3231 or info@westmichigansymphony.org.

Tickets for the Vienna Boys Choir are $15.75-$45.75 and can be purchased by calling the ticket office at 231.726.3231.

About West Michigan Symphony
As one of the few professional regional orchestras in Michigan, West Michigan Symphony has played a leading role in the region's cultural community for nearly 75 years. Founded as the West Shore Symphony Orchestra, WMS now serves a regional audience with eight pairs of concerts annually, along with dozens of educational and outreach activities for children and adults. WMS oversees operations for the West Michigan Youth Symphony. For more information, visit http://www.westmichigansymphony.org.