Courtney Lewis to lead Symphony at start of 2014-2015 Season.
A new era for the Jacksonville Symphony begins when conductor Courtney Lewis signals the downbeat on opening night of the 2014-15 season. Lewis makes his debut as music director designate on September 26 and 27.
The young British conductor is making his mark on the national scene, with concurrent positions as assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic and music director of Boston’s Discovery Ensemble. Lewis returns to conduct the Jacksonville Symphony in May, meanwhile, he’s busy creating exciting programs for his first full season as music director, which begins in the fall of 2015.
A season of majestic masterpieces highlights the 2014-15 Florida Blue Masterworks Series. The music begins with Lewis on the podium leading Berlioz’s orchestral showpiece, Symphonie Fantastique. Masterworks highlights also include an all-Mozart program featuring A Little Night Music and the Symphony No. 40. More Mozart continues with his final testament, the moving Requiem.
Beethoven’s masterworks abound with the regal “Emperor” Concerto, the poetic Pastoral Symphony and epic Missa Solemnis. George Gershwin’s jazz-age masterpiece, the Concerto in F and Bartok’s stunning Concerto for Orchestra are also featured. Rising star classical artists will take the spotlight, including pianists Gabriela Martinez and Andrew von Oeyen, violinists James Ehnes and Fumiaki Miura, and cellist Johannes Moser.
High-profile special events are sure to draw thousands of new and returning concertgoers, including an evening with Tony-winning sensation Audra McDonald, an opera-in-concert production of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, and Tchaikovsky’s ballet Sleeping Beauty, fully staged. The holiday season brings The King’s Singers and America’s romantic piano talent Jim Brickman. Star-studded presentations include the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with violinist and conductor Pinchas Zukerman, as well as Garrison Keillor.
The 2014-15 Fidelity National Financial Pops Series, assembled by Principal Pops Conductor Michael Krajewski, is a season of music that everyone loves. The lineup is headlined by legendary songwriter and entertainer Paul Williams, creator of hits for the Carpenters, Barbra Streisand, and even Kermit the Frog. The series also features the music of Simon & Garfunkel, A Salute to America featuring the United States Naval Academy Glee Club, music of the “Mad Men” era, romantic hits on Valentine’s weekend, a tribute to the late Marvin Hamlisch, and “Classic Soul” featuring chart-topping hits from Motown.
Reserve your place to witness Courtney Lewis usher in a new beginning for the Jacksonville Symphony in Jacoby Hall.
Ticket packages are now available by calling the Jacksonville Symphony Box Office at (904) 354-5547. For complete information, log on to jaxsymphony.org, like Jacksonville Symphony on Facebook, or follow on Twitter @jaxsymphony.
