When the pandemic hit in March 2020, the Indian River Symphonic Association was forced to halt performances in the middle of their season. Like many others, they then also had to cancel their entire 2021 season, leaving musicians, organizers and patrons alike at a musical loss.
“It was very disappointing,” says longtime patron Virginia Edwards of Vero Beach. “There’s nothing like live classical music. And their programs are outstanding.”
Now, though, IRSA is set to come roaring back with a season that should be the envy of any symphonic organization. The season, which runs January through April 2022, boasts musical gravitas and great promise.
It features the return of Joshua Bell performing with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and, a real rarity outside of Miami, will include a concert by the New World Symphony featuring emerging young virtuoso musicians.
The season will present the winner of the prestigious Wieniawski Violin Competition playing with the Polish Wieniawski Philharmonic Orchestra, and the return of the Russian National Orchestra. And the stalwart Brevard Symphony Orchestra returns to perform three outstanding concerts.
“It’s a fabulous season of seven concerts,” says IRSA board member Christopher Kitts.
Kitts, who has an extensive background in classical music and has performed and conducted professionally for decades, says he was “absolutely blown away” when he moved to Vero Beach and saw the major orchestras IRSA was bringing in to perform. He introduced himself to IRSA administrator Staci Rosbury, and she quickly gave his name to the board.
He currently serves as board vice president and concert producer, which means he guides the selection of orchestras and programming, and deals with agents and contracts.
Kitts also waxes rhapsodic over the concerts on tap for the 2022 season. Here’s the extraordinary lineup:
Friday, Jan. 21, 2022: The Polish Wieniawski Philharmonic Orchestra with principal conductor Wojciech Rodek will feature the winner of the Wieniawski Violin Competition, which Kitts likens to the Cliburn Piano Competition. While the winner has yet to be chosen, Kitts says it will be “one of the great young violinists in the world.”
The program includes Brahms’ Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Op. 56, Wieniawski’s Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22 and Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 in C major, D. 944, “The Great.”
Kitts says the Brahms and Schubert pieces were once considered “war horses,” and were played over and over. But they fell out of favor and have not been played for more than 20 years in Vero Beach. So now, Kitts says, they will be new to IRSA audiences.
Friday, Feb. 4, 2022: The Brevard Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Christopher Confessore, will perform “The Wondrous World of John Williams.” This is a pops concert that celebrates the famed composer’s 90th birthday.
Featuring concertmaster Lisa Ferrigno, the BSO will perform pieces from “Schindler’s List” as well as from “Harry Potter,” “Superman,” “Indiana Jones,” “Jurassic Park” and “Star Wars.”
The BSO is a favorite of IRSA audiences, in part because of Confessore, whom Kitts calls “very precise, very clear, first rate.” Moreover, because it’s not a touring orchestra, the BSO can offer more modern works that broaden programming. Touring orchestras generally program standard repertoire because they can’t predict audience tastes, Kitts says.
Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022: The Russian National Orchestra with conductor Kirill Karabits and pianist Alexander Malofeev will perform the Beethoven Egmont Overture, Op. 84, Prokofiev’s Piano concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26 and Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major, Op. 100.
This concert should be “really exciting,” Kitts says. “It’s so much fun. It’s Prokofiev at his most whimsical … (and) powerful.”
Thursday, March 3, 2022: Virtuoso violinist Joshua Bell will perform with and direct the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields in their fifth appearance with IRSA, and his concerts always sell out far in advance.
The concert includes Bach’s Violin Concerto in A minor, Barber’s Violin Concerto, Op. 14 and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 55, “Eroica.”
Kitts says Bell’s name recognition is high because of his many PBS concerts and the music scores he has played for such movies as “The Red Violin.” His reputation has also been amplified by his high-profile concerts in Central Park.
“And he’s a very handsome, good looking young man who is a superb player,” Kitts says. “He has charisma. That puts him in another league above most violinists.”
Sunday, March 6, 2022: The New World Symphony, led by conductor Stéphane Denève and featuring members of the St. Louis Symphony, will perform Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante in B-flat major, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, II. Allegretto, Simon’s “Fate Now Conquers,” Debussy’s Nuage et Fêtes from “Nocturnes” and Debussy’s “Ibéria.”
Kitts is especially excited about this concert because it is such a rarity to have the renowned orchestra perform outside of Miami. “They don’t tour,” he says.
“Denève conducted in Vero a couple seasons ago with the Brussel’s Philharmonic. He’s one of the best conductors I’ve seen in the last 10 years. His precision, anticipation … he’s so clear (and) on top of it all.”
The New World Symphony, co-founded by conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, is the proving ground for young musicians who have graduated from the finest music schools, and early on made the decision against becoming a touring orchestra.
“I called them and said, ‘It’s not really a tour, we’re only two hours away from Miami,’” Kitts says. “I convinced them to come up and do this concert. My board was blown away, they were so happy.”
Sunday, March 13, 2022: The BSO with conductor Christopher Confessore and violinist Paul Huang will perform Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3, Op. 72, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 1 in F minor, Op. 10.
“The Leonore Overture No. 3 is very well known,” Kitts says. “It’s a terrific piece to play. The audience will love it, and many will know it.”
The concert’s range is wide, with the romance of the Tchaikovsky concerto to the Shostakovich modern work, which audiences with either love or hate, Kitts says. “I think it’s exciting. It’s visceral.”
Friday, April 8, 2022: The BSO with conductor Christopher Confessore and pianist Joyce Yang will perform Berlioz’s Roman Carnival Overture, Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11, Respighi’s “The Fountains of Rome” and “The Pines of Rome.”
This concert is “big,” Kitts says. “Berlioz uses triangles, trombones, percussions in a different way. The Chopin totally shows off the piano. The orchestra is basically told to get out of the way. And you can’t get any bigger than the Respighi, one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. Dramatic, with a finale that’ll blow the roof off the auditorium. You can’t end in a better way.”
IRSA is also committed to offering musical opportunities to area students, through its annual Children’s Concert, performed by the Brevard Symphony Orchestra for all fifth-grade students in the county; through the IRSA Scholarship program, which has granted more than $150,000 to 29 local students; and through stipends to support school and nonprofit music programs.
All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Community Church of Vero Beach, 1901 23rd St., Vero Beach. Season tickets are $395 to $435. Individual tickets range from $60 to $100 depending on the performance; single event tickets will go on sale in November. For more information, call 772-778-1070 or visit IRSymphonic.org.
Photos by Kaila Jones and provided
