SWFL Symphony to perform trailblazing 59th concert season
The Southwest Florida Symphony announced its 2019-2020 season lineup of performances.
The symphony’s 59th season, “uncharted TERRITORY,” features innovative music by groundbreaking new composers and performances by rising superstar guest-artists, along with performances of great classical repertoire that inspired them.
The symphony bookends its season with a new concert series called “Brave New Music.” The first concert features a screening of the Alfred Hitchcock classic horror film “Psycho” with live orchestra on Oct. 25 at the Charlotte Performing Arts Center in Punta Gorda and on Oct. 26 at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW. The series caps off the season with “SymPHABULOUS! A Symphonic Drag Show,” featuring special guest artist and finalist of NBC’s “The Voice” Chris Weaver and his drag persona, Nedra Belle. It will happen one night only, May 16, at Barbara B. Mann Hall at FSW.
The Masterworks Classical Concert Series features familiar and well-loved works like Holst’s “The Planets,” Bruckner’s “Symphony No. 4,” arias from a variety of popular operas and, in celebration of Beethoven’s 250th birthday, there will be no shortage of the composer’s repertoire. Music Director Maestro Nir Kabaretti has masterfully woven contemporary compositions throughout the series to complement familiar works. Included are film score icon John Williams’ “Star Wars Suite,” African-American composer Florence Price’s “Symphony No. 1 in E minor,” and 1990s rock ‘n’ roll superstar-turned classical composer Ben Folds will perform his own “Concerto for Piano and Orchestra” to conclude the series. The concerts happen on Nov. 9, Jan. 11, Feb. 8, March 21 and May 2.
The Pops Series also expands musical horizons with three programs: “The Music of Queen” on Jan. 31 at the Charlotte Performing Arts Center and Feb. 1 at the Barbara B. Mann Hall; “Mashupalooza: A Stereo Hideout Production” hailing the highly anticipated return of rising star classical-pop fusion artist Steve Hackman on Feb. 29 at the Barbara B. Mann; and a festive evening of music and revelry with “Prohibition,” the music of the Roaring ’20s, on April 18. The symphony will also perform its annual Holiday Pops program, “Christmas in Paradise,” on Dec. 13 at the Village Church at Shell Point, Dec. 14 at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall and Dec. 15 at First Presbyterian Church in Bonita Springs. It will feature the return of Tony Desare, postmodern crooner from last season’s “Sinatra and Beyond” program.
The Symphony continues its Small Stage Symphonies Series as well, bringing smaller ensembles to venues throughout the community. Small Stage Symphonies will happen in January, March and April in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Sanibel and the Shell Point Village.
Season subscriptions and single tickets to some individual concerts are currently on sale.
For more information, call 239-418-1500 or visit www.swflso.org.