The Indian River Symphonic Association’s Festival of Orchestras has a most exciting 2019 musical season in store for Vero Beach. It will feature some of the most distinguished symphony orchestras from around the globe… from China… Russia… Europe… and America too!
The concert series begins on Jan. 18 with a whirlwind musical tour of Europe—from waltzing On The Beautiful Blue Danube, to the exotic rhythms of Spain in Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol. The Brevard Symphony Orchestra, under the masterful baton of Christopher Confessore, will be performing these best-loved works along with the ever-popular Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1.
The very next week, on Jan. 25, the famed Shanghai Opera Symphony Orchestra has selected Vero Beach as a stop on its very first tour of America. They will perform Berlioz’ Symphonie Fantastique, Rossini’s showstopper The Barber of Seville Overture, and the magnificent Butterfly Lovers’ Violin Concerto performed by one of China’s leading young violin virtuosos, Chen Yangyuetong. This concerto is the kind of music rarely heard in America, but it continues to be one of the most famous orchestral works in the Chinese repertoire.
On Feb. 8, the annual “Pops’ concert by the Brevard Symphony goes to the movies, and features the very entertaining pianist Rich Ridenour at the Steinway with memorable film music and themes from The Sting, The Pink Panther, Forrest Gump, Exodus, Superman and much more.
The Russian National Orchestra returns to Vero Beach on Feb. 14 with a St. Valentine’s Day concert of pure romance. Widely recognized as one of the most preeminent orchestras of our time, the Russian National will perform some of the Romantic Era’s Greatest Hits by Rachmaninoff and Chopin, teaming up with the brilliant virtuoso pianist, George Li, who will perform Chopin’s Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor. Winner of the Silver Medal in the 2015 International Tchaikovsky Competition, this 23-year-old superstar has been praised as having “staggering technical prowess” and an effortless grace beyond his years.
From Belgium, the Brussels Philharmonic comes to town on March 12, performing Ravel’s haunting and beautiful waltz, La Valse, Dukas’ ever-popular The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, a glorious violin concerto by Max Bruch featuring world-famous violinist Nikolaj Znaider, and the enchanting Bacchus et Ariane Suite No.2 by French composer Albert Roussel.
On St. Patrick’s Day, Sunday March 17, the Brevard Symphony Orchestra celebrates Ireland with the Gaelic Symphony by one of America’s foremost composers, Amy Beach, Irish Tune from County Derry by Percy Grainger, and Dvorák’s Violin Concerto in A minor performed by acclaimed American violinist Andrew Sords.
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra will top off the season on April 4 with a Vero Beach favorite, JoAnn Falletta conducting Selections from Romeo and Juliet by Prokofiev, Borodin’s exotic Overture to Prince Igor, and the highlight of the evening, Brahms Piano Concerto No.2, featuring legendary pianist Fabio Bidini whose playing has been described as “an ideal alloy of power, poetry and style”…“bewitching”… “like hearing Beethoven himself improvise!”
All concerts in this series take place at The Community Church of Vero Beach, 1901 23rd Street, at 7:30pm.
Call for tickets and subscriptions at (772) 778-1070, or order online at www.irsymphonic.org. The ticket office is located on the 22nd Street side of the church and is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 1pm, 2pm to 5pm.
Experience the true joy of music with the most thrilling symphonic concerts in our area!