Highlights include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, world premieres by Wabanaki music-keeper Firefly and Grammy Award-winner Kenneth Fuchs, and return of The Nutcracker
Bangor, Maine — The Bangor Symphony Orchestra announced an ambitious slate of programs for its 2022-2023 season on Monday as the organization continues to chart a course through the Covid-19 pandemic. Music Director and Conductor Lucas Richman will lead five concerts featuring a series of exciting soloist debuts and unique collaborations, including a world-premiere by Kenneth Fuchs with the support of the Ellis-Beauregard Foundation and a new project with local performing artist Firefly.
“This new season will push our art form forward while highlighting some of the essential works that made us all fall in love with classical music to begin with,” said Music Director Lucas Richman. “I can’t wait to welcome back the UMaine Singers and Oratorio Society to finally perform Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, and to introduce Bangor audiences to so many exciting young soloists and new collaborators.”
Major works the BSO will undertake in addition to Beethoven’s 9th include Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 and Strauss’s Also Sprach Zarathustra, made famous in the opening bars of the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Featured concertos and soloists include Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in B minor with the rising star Ifetayo Ali-Landing, Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor with acclaimed Canadian violinist Blake Pouliot, and Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Martinez.
The BSO will highlight multiple works by female composers this season, including Nancy Galbraith’s 2003 work, Fantasy for Orchestra, and two 19th century works: Clara Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor with Vijay Venkatesh and Allegro Feroce by Augusta Holmès, a French/Irish contemporary of Tchaikovsky’s.
The orchestra’s new project with Firefly will debut on Sunday, April 30, 2023 as part of a season finale including Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Conversations about a collaboration began back in October 2021 when Firefly first performed at the Bangor Arts Exchange. After conversations with Executive Director Brian Hinrichs and Lucas Richman, a plan was hatched for Firefly–Bangor resident Jason Brown–to translate his innovative interpretations of traditional Wabanki music to the orchestral stage.
Season subscriptions are now on sale, with details available at
bangorsymphony.org/subscribe. Single tickets for
The Nutcracker are also on sale, as audiences are eager for the return of the BSO’s classic production with the Robinson Ballet. Digital streaming options will again be available to patrons during the 2022-2023 season.
A full season listing with dates is available below; high resolution photos of the orchestra and soloists can be downloaded here: https://bit.ly/bso2223photos
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DVOŘÁK’S CELLO CONCERTO
Sunday, October 9, 2022 at 3pm
Collins Center for the Arts
Lucas Richman, conductor
Ifetayo Ali-Landing, cello
GALBRAITH Fantasy for Orchestra
BARTOK Dance Suite
DVOŘÁK Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 141
Ifetayo Ali-Landing, cello
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Masterworks II
TCHAIKOVSKY’S 6TH
Sunday, November 20, 2022 at 3pm
Collins Center for the Arts
Lucas Richman, conductor
Vijay Venkatesh, piano
HOLMES Allegro Feroce
CLARA SCHUMANN Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 7
Vijay Venkatesh, piano
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, “Pathétique”
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Masterworks III
MENDELSSOHN’S VIOLIN CONCERTO
Sunday, January 29, 2023
Collins Center for the Arts
Lucas Richman, conductor
Blake Pouliot, violin
HAYDN Symphony No. 100 in G major, “Military”
MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64
Blake Pouliot, violin
STRAVINSKY Pulcinella Suite
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Masterworks IV
EPIC SOUNDS: STRAUSS AND RACHMANINOFF
Sunday, March 12, 2023
Collins Center for the Arts
Lucas Richman, conductor
Gabriela Martinez, piano
FUCHS World Premiere
RACHMANINOFF Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Gabriela Martinez, violin
STRAUSS Also Sprach Zarathustra
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Masterworks V
ODE TO JOY
Sunday, April 30, 2023
Collins Center for the Arts
Lucas Richman, conductor
Firefly, composer & performing artist
University of Maine Singers and Oratorio Society
Amy Maples, soprano
Rehanna Thelwell, mezzo-soprano
Dominic Armstrong, tenor
Benjamin LeClair, bass
THOMPSON Alleluia
FIREFLY World Premiere
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125
University of Maine Singers and Oratorio Society
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Holiday Special
THE NUTCRACKER
Saturday, December 17, 2022 at 2pm
Saturday, December 17, 2022 at 7pm
Sunday, December 18, 2022 at 3pm
Collins Center for the Arts
Lucas Richman, conductor
Robinson Ballet
Bangor Area Youth Choirs
