ORLANDO ARTS SEASON PREVIEW 2020-21:
Three to see
A trio of classical-music highlights selected by Orlando Sentinel arts writer Matthew J. Palm.
BEETHOVEN’S COMPLETE SONATAS: Since the age of 16, when he won first prize at the China Shanghai International
Piano Competition, Adam Golka has been wowing music lovers worldwide. Now 32, he has his eye on Beethoven’s piano sonatas — which also number 32.
Golka will celebrate Beethoven’s 250th birthday with his “32@32” program, presented by the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park. It will take 11 separate concerts in just under three weeks to play them all; each concert will be repeated three times.
This ambitious undertaking for the artist — and unique undertaking for the audience — will be available to experience in person or through online streaming Sept. 30Oct. 18. In-person performances take place in Tiedtke Concert Hall at Rollins College, 1000 Holt Ave. in Winter Park. Tickets are $69 per performance — or buy a pass to all 11 for $400. To watch online with the society’s “Bach at Home” program costs $19.99 for a single concert or $125 for all 11.
In-person tickets also include access to the “Bach at Home” recordings.
For more information, go to BachFestivalFlorida.org.
DEEP FIELD: THE IMPOSSIBLE MAGNITUDE OF OUR UNIVERSE: A title like that gets your attention, doesn’t it?
Grammy award-winning Eric Whitacre composed “Deep Field” in honor of the Hubble Space Telescope’s greatest discovery — the Deep Field of space, a small and never-before-seen section of the constellation of Ursa Major with important clues to the early universe.
The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by music director Eric Jacobsen, will play the work during a screening of the corresponding film, which combines the telescope’s stunning imagery and animation to create a unique journey from planet Earth to the edge of the universe.
The concert, which also includes guest artist Benjamin Hochman taking the lead on Brahms’ First Piano Concerto, will be at 7:30 p.m. March 20, 2021. Further details are not yet confirmed; check OrlandoPhil.org.
THE SECRET RIVER: Watch a new work come to life as Opera Orlando invites the community into the creative process while it develops “The Secret River.” Set in Central Florida during the Great Depression, “The Secret River” tells of young Calpurnia who uses her imagination, strength and ingenuity to overcome hard times and help her family. Based on the book by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, this newly commissioned chamberopera adaptation is composed by Stella Sung with a libretto by Pulitzer prize-winner Mark Campbell. It is performed in English.
In two workshops, the community can first hear the singers accompanied by piano. Later, the orchestra will be added to the mix — as well as puppetry from Central Florida’s MicheLee Puppets, which depict the Florida animals so important to the story.
The first, piano-only workshop, will be at 2 p.m. Jan. 17, 2021, at Opera Orlando, 406 E. Amelia St. The second, with Orlando Philharmonic musicians, will be May 2, 2021, at the Plaza Live, 425 N. Bumby Ave. in Orlando.
Both are free but require registration at OperaOrlando.org.
Your season planner
With the uncertainty of the coronavirus, planned events are more likely to change than usual. Always doublecheck closer to the date of an event, and use the websites and phone numbers listed with each organization to familiarize yourself with an event’s or institution’s COVID-19 precautions.
BACH FESTIVAL SOCIETY OF WINTER PARK
Concerts are at various venues on the Rollins College campus, 1000 Holt Ave. in Winter Park. The season’s concerts may be watched either in person or through the online “Bach at Home” program. Details of the society’s traditional Christmas concert, which will feature a cappella group Voctave this year, are not yet confirmed. More information: bachfestivalflorida.org or 407-646-2182.
ADAM GOLKA: Sept. 30-Oct. 18. In 11 different programs, presented multiple times, the pianist will perform all of Beethoven’s sonatas in honor of the composer’s 250th birthday. In Tiedtke Concert Hall. (More information under “Three to See.”)
INSIGHTS & SOUNDS: SWEET ON SUITES AND SERENADES: Nov. 5. Artistic director John Sinclair leads an informal discussion and performance of works both familiar and not. In Tiedtke Concert Hall.
DÍAZ TRIO: Nov. 19: This visiting, acclaimed strings trio consists of violinist Andrés Cárdenes, violist Roberto Díaz and cellist Andrés Díaz. In Tiedtke Concert Hall.
ANNUAL BACH FESTIVAL ORGAN RECITAL: Feb. 5, 2021.
The free concert, which opens the annual Bach Festival, will be performed in Knowles Memorial Chapel.
SPIRITUAL SPACES: Feb. 7, 2021. The Bach Festival Orchestra and singers perform music that soothes and relaxes. In Knowles Memorial Chapel.
CONCERTOS BY CANDLELIGHT: SCANDINAVIAN ROMANTICS: Feb. 13, 2021. Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor and Jean Sibelius’s Violin Concerto in D minor are on the program. In Knowles Memorial Chapel.
AMERICAN SPIRITUALS AND FOLK SONGS: Feb. 21, 2021. This Americana program features the Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra. In Knowles Memorial Chapel.
VOCES8: Feb. 27, 2021. The British a cappella ensemble pays a visit. Venue to be announced.
BACH CANTATAS: Feb. 28, 2021. Sinclair leads the Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra in the annual festival’s finale. In Knowles Memorial Chapel.
INSIGHTS & SOUNDS: MUSICAL HUMOR: March 25, 2021. Another informal evening of music and learning with the Bach orchestra. In Tiedtke Concert Hall.
DVOR ÁK, LAURIDSEN, BARBER: May 2, 2021. The orchestra and choir come together to close the season. On the program:
Dvor ák’s “Te Deum,” Barber’s “Knoxville: Summer Of 1915,” Lauridsen’s “Lux Aeterna” and Berlioz’s “La Captive.” In Knowles Memorial Chapel.
BREVARD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Concerts presented in 2020 will be recorded and streamed online
at the orchestra’s YouTube channel. Concerts in 2021 will be presented live at the King Center for the Performing Arts, 3865 N. Wickham Road in Melbourne.
BEETHOVEN ‘PASTORAL’ SYMPHONY: Oct. 3-6. Beyond the Beethoven work, soloist Colleen Blagov is featured on Mozart’s Flute Concerto in G major.
SIBELIUS & BRAHMS: Nov. 7-10. Jennifer Frautschi will solo on Sibelius’s Violin Concerto. Strauss and Brahms round out the program.
BEETHOVEN CELEBRATION: Jan. 23, 2021. Beethoven and Haydn, featuring cellist Francisco Villa.
THE BELLE OF BROADWAY: Feb. 6, 2021. Susan Egan, who starred as Belle in the Broadway musical “Beauty and the Beast,” headlines the program.
HEROIC BEETHOVEN: Feb. 20, 2021. Pianist Scott Watkins is featured on an all-Beethoven program including Piano Concerto No. 4 and Symphony No. 3.
FROM THE NEW WORLD: March 13, 2021. Sirena Huang is featured on a program of Ives, Bruch and Dvorak.
EPIC TCHAIKOVSKY: March 27, 2021. Violinist Julian Rhee solos on a program that includes Tchaikovsky’s “Pathetique” Symphony No. 6, as well as Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major.
SEASON FINALE: April 10, 2021. Verdi, Grieg and Franck feature on a program, with soloist Terrence Wilson on piano.
CELEBRATION FOUNDATION CONCERT SERIES
Concerts take place at the Celebration Community Presbyterian Church, 511 Celebration Ave. Details: celebrationfoundation.org or 407-566-1234.
RANKY TANKY: Jan. 16, 2021. Grammy award-winning roots ensemble.
FLORIDA SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA: Feb. 6, 2021.
ORLANDO PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA: Feb. 27, 2021. Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5.
ACADEMY OF ST. MARTIN IN THE FIELDS: March 9, 2021. English chamber orchestra.
BALSAM RANGE: April 17, 2021. Award-winning bluegrass band.
CENTRAL FLORIDA COMMUNITY ARTS
Multiple orchestras and choirs, for children and adults, make up the organization’s music program. For more information on planned concerts, call 407-937-1800 or go to cfcarts.com.
THIS IS HALLOWEEN: Oct. 17, 30 and 31. The CFCArts Symphony Orchestra performs music for the Halloween season. The Oct. 17 concert is outdoors at Lake Nona. Subsequent performances are planned for Calvary Orlando, 1199 Clay St. in Winter Park.
NOEL — NIGHT OF EVERLASTING LOVE: Dec. 24. A recording of this concert will be streamed on Christmas Eve as part of a “CFCArts Christmas Special.”
HELENA
The vocal collective specializes in female composers and music that celebrates women. Details: helenacollective.org
6 OF VIII: Jan. 10, 2021. The group’s musical look at the wives of King Henry VIII, winner of the best-musical Critics’ Choice Award at the 2019 Orlando Fringe Festival, will be streamed online at timucuaartsfoundation.org. Ticket information at Timucua.com.
HOWEY MANSION MUSIC SERIES
Except where noted, concerts take place on the lawn of the Howey Mansion, 1001 Citrus Ave. in Howey-in-the-Hills. Details: Howeymusicseries.org.
FLAMENCOPERA PASSION: Nov. 1. Soprano Arleen Ramirez, tenor Rafael Cavero and guitarist Pancho Irizarry will present classical Spanish songs and zarzuela arias, as well as flamenco song and dance.
MICHELLE AMATO: Dec. 27. The jazz singer will perform classic jazz and holiday songs. Prize awarded
in a contest for those who bring a lawn chair decorated with a holiday theme.
THOMAS MEGLIORANZA: Feb. 11, 2021. The baritone will perform classic American songs with pianist Reiko Uchida. This performance is in the mansion’s Great Hall.
‘80S MIXTAPE MAYHEM: March 7, 2021. Singer Michelle Mailhot will reinvent pop hits of yesteryear.
QUARTET RIMMAMICI: April 15, 2021. A celebration of violins, cello and viola in songs from the classic and Romantic eras. This performance is in the mansion’s Great Hall.
MESSIAH CHORAL SOCIETY
The society will present its 48th free, annual performance of Handel’s great work online. Details: messiahchoralsociety.org.
HANDEL’S MESSIAH: Nov. 29. The enduring work is conducted by John Sinclair. Among the soloists is baritone Steven Mumbert.
ORLANDO CONCERT BAND
Comprised of both professional and amateur musicians, the Orlando Concert Band was established as a nonprofit in 1989. Check the website, orlandoconcertband.org, to see which concerts are online and which will have inperson audiences, if not indicated below.
A TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO SERVED: Nov. 8. Patriotic music. Online.
TREE LIGHTING AT THE FOUNTAIN: Dec. 4. Holiday music at Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando.
LATIN MELODIES: Jan. 22-23, 2021. Works by Latinx composers.
MEMORIAL DAY REMEMBRANCE: May 31, 2021. Patriotic music to commemorate the day at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road in Gotha.
FIREWORKS AT THE FOUNTAIN: July 4, 2021. Pops concert in the Walt Disney Amphitheatre at Lake Eola Park as part of the Independence Day festivities.
OPERA ORLANDO
The company has two online series, “The High Note” and “#Representation Matters,” which stream at Facebook.com/OperaOrlando and its YouTube channel. Mainstage productions take place at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave. in Orlando. Opera on the Town performances are staged in various locations. More info: operaorlando.org or 407-512-1900.
The High Note
EPISODE 12: Sept. 25. Executive director Gabriel Preisser looks ahead at the season.
EPISODE 13: Oct. 23. Meet the 2020-21 Opera Orlando studio artists.
EPISODE 14: Dec. 4. Get a sneak peek at the company’s production of “Die Fledermaus” and learn how physical distancing is part of the rehearsal process and production itself.
EPISODE 15: Jan. 8, 2021. Take a look at Opera Orlando’s first commissioned new work, “The Secret River.”
#Representation Matters
LATINX ARTISTS | LATINX STORIES: Oct. 11. This episode features Argentinian conductor Jorge Parodi, and will be presented in Spanish with English captions.
BLACK ARTISTS | BLACK STORIES: Nov. 22. Guests include Jeffery Redding, director of choral activities for the University of Central Florida, and Howard Watkins, Metropolitan Opera assistant coach and assistant conductor for Opera Orlando’s “Die Fledermaus.”
Mainstage
DIE FLEDERMAUS: THE REVENGE OF THE BAT: Dec. 17 & 19. In the comedy with music by Johann Strauss II, a man seeks revenge on a friend who pranked him. His plot involves a masquerade ball, which leads to comic hijinks. The cast includes Abigail Rethwisch, Gabriel Preisser, Cree Carrico, Sarah Nordin and Tyler Putnam. The show’s music will be performed by Orlando Philharmonic musicians. Lyrics and dialogue will be performed in English.
HANSEL & GRETEL: Jan. 29-31, 2021. This retelling of the fairy tale, with music by Engelbert Humperdinck, is presented in a child-friendly 75-minute version. The cast includes Kyaunnee Richardson, Gloria Palermo and Robyn Rocklein. Accompanied by musicians of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, the show will be performed in English.
CARMEN: April 1 & 3, 2021. Opera Orlando re-envisions the story of the passionate Carmen by setting it in tumultuous 1960s Haiti. Briana Hunter plays the title role, with Nathan Granner as Don José. Accompanied by musicians of the
Orlando Philharmonic, the show will be sung in French, with Creoleinfused French dialogue and English supertitles.
Opera on the Town
THE SECRET RIVER: PIANO WORKSHOP: Jan. 17, 2021. In this workshop, the cast will sing through the piece, which is written in English. Presented at Opera Orlando, 406 E. Amelia St. (More information under “Three to See.”)
DEATH OF IVAN ILYCH: Feb. 19 & 21, 2021. Opera Orlando premieres this one-act chamber opera composed by John Young and a libretto by Alan Olejniczak, with musicians from Alterity Chamber Orchestra. Based on Tolstoy’s novella, the work asks: If you knew you were dying, would you change the way you live? Sung in English, the production is accompanied by pre-show appetizers, post-show desserts and a chance to meet and mingle with the cast. Presented in the Grand Gallery of Orlando Museum of Art, 2416 N. Mills Ave.
THE SECRET RIVER: ORCHESTRA WORKSHOP: May 2, 2021. This workshop in the creation of the new chamber opera will feature musicians from the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and members of the Opera Orlando Youth Company conducted by Everett McCorvey, founder and music director of the American Spiritual Ensemble. The cast will again sing the work, this time with orchestral accompaniment and preliminary puppetry from MicheLee Puppets. Presented at The Plaza Live, 425 N. Bumby Ave. in Orlando. (More information under “Three to See.”)
AS ONE: May 21 & 23, 2021. This one-act, coming-of-age chamber opera looks at the human desire for self-love, authenticity and peace through the eyes of a transgender woman. Sung in English, the show features two voices sharing the role of the protagonist: A mezzo-soprano sings as “Hannah after,” while a baritone sings as “Hannah before.” A talkback follows each performance at Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre, 600 N. Formosa Drive in Orlando.
ORLANDO PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
All Focus Series concerts are at The Plaza Live, 425 N. Bumby Ave. in Orlando. Because of the delay in opening Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, as well as the coronavirusrelated closure of the Bob Carr Theater, the locations for some performances in other series are yet to be determined. Details: 407-770-0071 or OrlandoPhil.org.
Fairwinds Classics Series
OPENING NIGHT WITH SIMONE PORTER: Sept. 26. Porter is guest soloist on Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor. Program also includes Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 and the Maple Leaf Rag. At Exploria Stadium in downtown Orlando.
AMERICA’S OWN EDGAR MEYER: Oct. 10. Grammy-winner Meyer performs the world premiere of his Bass Concerto No. 2. Also on the bill: Dvor ák’s Symphony No. 7. At Calvary Orlando, 1199 Clay St. in Winter Park.
RIMMA PLAYS PROKOFIEV: Nov. 7. Concertmaster Rimma Bergeron-Langlois celebrates 10 years with the orchestra in a solo turn on Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2. His Symphony No. 1 is also on the bill. At Calvary Orlando.
YUJA WANG PLAYS RACHMANINOFF: Jan. 9, 2021. The pianist tackles three of the Russian master’s concertos — Nos. 1, 2 and 4 — in a single concert.
DEEP FIELD: THE IMPOSSIBLE MAGNITUDE OF OUR UNIVERSE: March 20, 2021. Pianist Benjamin Hochman plays Brahms’ First Piano Concerto, while Eric Whitacre’s “Deep Field” is accompanied by a high-definition film created with images from the Hubble Space Telescope. (More information under “Three to See.”)
MAHLER’S ‘TITAN’: April 24, 2021. Colin Jacobsen solos on Erich Korngold’s Violin Concerto, while the classics season concludes with Mahler’s mammoth Symphony No. 1.
Pops Series
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: A MIDNIGHT CLEAR: Nov. 28. Singers and musicians offer seasonal songs.
GERSHWIN!: Jan. 30, 2021. “An American in Paris” and “Rhapsody in Blue” are among the offerings.
JOHN WILLIAMS: BIG SCREEN BLOCKBUSTERS: March 13, 2021. Highlights include music from “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “Hook,” “Saving Private Ryan” and more.
AN AMERICAN CELEBRATION: May 8, 2021. Bernstein’s “West Side Story” and Copland’s “Hoedown” fete our nation, along with the world premiere of Grammy winner Aoife O’Donovan’s song cycle marking the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote.
Focus Series
LARA ST. JOHN PLAYS BEETHOVEN: Oct. 19. Violinist St. John is joined by music director Eric Jacobsen on cello.
AN EVENING OF FANFARE: Nov. 16. Music from Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” to Beethoven’s “Wellington’s Victory.”
BEETHOVEN & MOZART: Feb. 8, 2021. Mendelssohn joins the fellow greats on the program.
BEETHOVEN’S ‘EMPEROR’ CONCERTO: March 1, 2021. Pianist Colton Peltier is the guest artist.
SCHUMANN SYMPHONY NO. 2: April 12, 2021. Also on the bill: The world premiere of Lembit Beecher’s Cello Concerto, featuring cellist Karen Ouzounian.
ST. LUKE’S CONCERT SERIES
The series welcomes ensembles from around Central Florida. Concerts presented in 2020 are online; the 2021 performances will be at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 2021 W. State Road 426 in Oviedo. Details: sllcs.org or 407-365-3408.
BRASS BAND OF CENTRAL FLORIDA: Sept. 12.
ORLANDO PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA: