CLASSICAL
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The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra opens its season in style by welcoming guest artist Branford Marsalis. The nation’s most acclaimed saxophonist, Marsalis grew up in New Orleans alongside siblings also drawn to music — Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason. With them, Marsalis invigorated the jazz world and has had a long career as a musician, composer, bandleader and educator.
“Branford Marsalis is the ideal 21st-century musician,” says Eric Jacobsen, the Philharmonic’s music director. “He magnificently occupies the world of various styles of music, while seamlessly showing technicolor virtuosity in his musical storytelling.”
With the Phil, Marsalis will perform Jacques Ibert’s “Concertino da camera” for alto saxophone and 11 instruments. Also on the program, conducted by Jacobsen: Richard Strauss’s “Don Juan,” Gustav Mahler compositions and Maurice Ravel’s wildly popular “Boléro.”
Sept. 28; Bob Carr Theater, 401 W. Livingston St. in Orlando; Orlandophil.org
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After previous site-specific successes, Opera Orlando invites the audience to experience this captivating story at Church Street’s beautiful Cheyenne Saloon and the Ceviche Ballroom.
Set during California’s gold rush, Puccini’s opera centers on Minnie, a cardplaying, Bible-reading saloon owner who must choose between love and the law. Opera Orlando’s production will include specialty cocktails, appetizers and desserts. In addition, performers from Victorian steampunk troupe Phantasmagoria will augment the action.
The opera will be sung in English. Robin Jensen is musical director, and local theater veteran Alan Bruun stage directs.
Feb. 7 and 9, 2020; Cheyenne Saloon, 128 W. Church St. in Orlando; Operaorlando.org
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While still a teenager, celebrated pianist Andre Watts was invited by the great conductor Leonard Bernstein to perform with the New York Philharmonic. Now a National Medal of Arts winner, Watts will join the Bach Festival Society for an evening honoring the 250th anniversary of the birth of Beethoven. He will solo on the great composer’s “Emperor” Piano Concerto No. 5.
Watts’ appearance is part of the annual Bach Festival’s “Concertos by Candlelight” program, which will also feature guest artist Soyoung Yoon as soloist for Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D Major. Artistic director John Sinclair will conduct.
Feb. 21-22, 2020; Knowles Memorial Chapel at Rollins College, 1000 Holt Ave. in Winter Park; bachfestivalflorida.org
CONCERTS
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The R&B/pop sensation, who hails from South Florida, headlines her fourth major tour to support her latest album “Thank U, Next.” Among her biggest hits: “God Is a Woman” and “No Tears Left to Cry.” She’s also known for her collaborations: “Problem,” featuring Iggy Azalea, and “Bang Bang,” with Jessie J and Nicki Minaj, to name but two.
Fans have been waiting for this one: Grande cancelled her original Orlando tour stop because of illness. Special guests for this make-up concert are Normani and Pennsylvania pop duo Social House.
Nov. 25; Amway Center, 400 W. Church St. in Orlando; amwaycenter.com
■ Created in 2003 by super-producer Simon Cowell, Il Divo is still going strong as Urs Bühler, Carlos Marín, David Miller and Sébastien Izambard continue to set hearts aflutter. Touring Europe this fall, with stops in Russia, Germany and Switzerland, the quartet then turns its attention to America in time for yuletide cheer. The group will perform songs from “The Christmas Collection” in its familiar classical-pop harmonizing hybrid style.
Dec. 7; Bob Carr Theater, 401 W. Livingston St. in Orlando; drphillipscenter.org
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Born in Illinois, Krauss listened to folk, opera, pop and rock as a child — but when she began playing the fiddle at age 5, her path to bluegrass superstardom was set. She was signed to her first recording contract when she was just 14. Her 14 albums have sold more than 12 million copies and won her 27 Grammy awards. Her latest, “Windy City” debuted at No. 1 on both the country and bluegrass charts.
Oct. 19; Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave. in Orlando; drphillipscenter.org
DANCE
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Blue Star remounts her two very personal dance shows about her emotional struggles, including the stress brought by the Pulse nightclub shootings. The two shows, stylish and smartly choreographed, carry a more universal message, as well — overcoming obstacles, discovering inner strength and finding hope. The shows, which have been performed at the Orlando Fringe Festival, will have extra poignancy this time around as they will be staged just days before Star’s theater closes as part of an urban-development project.
Sept. 10; The Venue, 511 Virginia Drive in Orlando; thevenueorlando.com
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The internationally renowned dance troupe, which has sold out the Dr. Phillips Center’s Walt Disney Theater more than once, returns for another installment of provocative contemporary works. Also expect to see the troupe’s signature work, “Revelations,” a colorfully glorious ode to faith and the enduring human spirit.
As the Huffington Post says, “If you’ve never seen them perform, you have no idea what the human body can do, in terms of sheer grace, control, elegance, strength and athleticism.”
Feb. 18, 2020; Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave. in Orlando; drphillipscenter.org
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Orlando Ballet artistic director Robert Hill celebrates 10 years in the post by returning to the stage in this program, a collection of works by American choreographers. The headliner is “The Calling,” a fluidly visual work by Jessica Lang. In the dramatic opening, a single dancer dons a flowing skirt that fills the stage. Also, Hill will debut one of his own works.
March 27-29, 2020; Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave. in Orlando; orlandoballet.org
THEATER
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Orlando Shakes helps debut this new play that looks at an intriguing pair of historical figures. On a night in the 1930s, famed African-American singer Marian Anderson was denied lodging because of her ethnicity; Jewish scientist Albert Einstein came to her aid. Inspired by that true occurrence, Deborah Brevoot’s play imagines the two quick-witted personalities in conversation about issues of race, religion and gender.
March 20-April 26, 2020; Orlando Shakes, 812 E. Rollins St. in Orlando: orlandoshakes.org ■
Theater West End, which made a splash on the Central Florida theater scene during its debut season, presents this exciting, tuneful Caribbean folk tale to kick off its second year. A young girl on a devastated island learns some of the uglier facts of life — but also how hope, faith and above all, love, can triumph over adversity. In light of a recent successful in-the-round Broadway presentation, Theater West End’s intimate venue seems like the perfect place to stage this uplifting story.
Oct. 11-27; Theater West End, 115 W. 1st St. in Sanford theaterwestend.com
■ Orlando’s own star of stage and screen returns to his hometown for a one-nightonly show. With four Daytime Emmys for “Let’s Make a Deal” and his own talk show, as well as a primetime Emmy for his work on “Whose Line Is It Anyway,” Brady has made his mark. He also has starred onstage in the musicals “Kinky Boots,” “Chicago” and most recently “Hamilton,” where he played Aaron Burr.
For his homecoming show, the former actor at SAK Comedy Lab and the old Civic Theatre promises “an improv musical rock concert.”
Oct. 12; Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave. in Orlando; drphillipscenter.org