Bangor, ME – Known as one of the longest continually operating orchestras in the United States, the Bangor Symphony Orchestra announced plans Monday for its 125th Anniversary Season. The Masterworks season will kick-off on January 31st, 2021, as the organization takes time to lay the groundwork for a safe return to the stage in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Plans remain for the return of The Nutcracker in time for the holiday season.
“What we have planned for our 125th season will serve as a much needed reminder of music’s power to unite and inspire our community,” said BSO Music Director and Conductor Lucas Richman. “I think we all have been deeply missing the connection and fulfillment that comes from attending and performing live concerts, and we can’t wait to share what we do with audiences again.”
Executive Director Brian Hinrichs said, “We acknowledge the many unknowns we still face right now, but I am thrilled to have the prospect of live concerts back on our calendar. The BSO has shown incredible ingenuity over the last 3 months, and we anticipate that will continue to serve us well as we mark this historic occasion.”
Highlights of the BSO’s 125th season include:
- An opening concert for all ages, featuring Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra and Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F
- The world premiere of a new piece by Reinaldo Moya in March 2021, winner of the inaugural Ellis-Beauregard Foundation Composer Award
- Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in April 2021, presented alongside the premiere of a new arrangement of selections from Supply Belcher’s historic “Harmony of Maine” hymnal
- A season finale inspired by the world of film: Fantasia, Firebird, and Beyond
- The BSO debut of internationally acclaimed guest artists Joyce Yang (piano) and Jennifer Frautschi (violin), and return of Spencer Myer (piano)
The BSO will be using the next 6 months to make preparations that ensure both musician and audience safety. New audience protocols and cleaning regimens will be developed in partnership with the Collins Center for the Arts, home of the BSO, and in compliance with recommendations from the CDC. The planned return to stage will be contingent upon details in stage 4 of the Governor’s reopening plan and University of Maine campus requirements.
With a later start date, the BSO hopes its mainstage schedule will be clear of the most stringent social distancing guidelines for gatherings. However, the orchestra will be evaluating a variety of performance options should certain restrictions still apply.
Subscriptions for the BSO’s five-concert Masterworks series are on sale now. New subscribers save 50%. For this unique season, the BSO is rolling out additional subscriber benefits, including free access to two online courses led by Lucas Richman, and new digital content exclusive to BSO subscribers. Visit bangorsymphony.org/subscribe for details.
Both Lucas Richman and Brian Hinrichs are available for interviews. High resolution photos and promotional materials are available for download at bit.ly/bso125images. Contact Brian Hinrichs for more information.
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About the BSO
Founded in 1896 by Abbie N. Garland and Horace Mann Pullen, the Bangor Symphony Orchestra provides powerful, enriching and diverse musical experiences through live concert performances and education programs of the highest quality. The BSO enters its 125th season led by Grammy Award-winning Music Director and Conductor Lucas Richman with a focus on serving the community in unique and exciting ways. In addition to its mainstage concerts, signature BSO programs include the Bangor Symphony Youth Orchestras, the Bangor Arts Exchange, and the Music and Wellness Program at Acadia and St. Joseph Hospitals. A wide variety of digital content released by the BSO during the Covid-19 pandemic can be found at bangorsymphony.org/music.
Masterworks I: Celebrating 125 Years: Â Orchestral Spectacular
Sunday, January 31, 2021, 3PM at the Collins Center for the Arts
Lucas Richman, conductor | Spencer Myer, piano
Copland • Fanfare for the Common Man  Â
Andrews • March “Pride of the Army”
Gershwin • Piano Concerto in F
Wagner • Die Meistersinger: Prelude
Britten • Young Person’s Guide to the OrchestraÂ
Masterworks II: Russian Rhapsody
Sunday, March 14, 2021, 3PM at the Collins Center for the Arts
Lucas Richman, conductor | Joyce Yang, piano
Tchaikovsky • Festival Coronation March    Â
Rachmaninoff • Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini                        Â
Reinaldo Moya • World Premiere
Rachmaninoff • Symphonic Dances, op. 45
Masterworks III: Ode to Joy: Beethoven’s 9th
Sunday, April 11, 2021, 3PM at the Collins Center for the Arts
Lucas Richman, conductor | Jamilyn Manning-White, soprano | Kate Maroney, mezzo-soprano
Dominic Armstrong, tenor | UMaine Singers & Oratorio Society
Supply Belcher • Harmony of Maine Suite, arr. Mark Harrell
Beethoven • Symphony No. 9, Op. 125
Masterworks IV: Mozart & Mendelssohn
Sunday, May 2, 2021, 3PM at the Collins Center for the Arts
Lucas Richman, conductor | Jennifer Frautschi, violin
Mendelssohn • Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture Â
Mendelssohn • Violin Concerto in E minor
Mozart • Symphony No.39
Masterworks V: Fantasia, Firebird, and Beyond
Sunday, June 6, 2021, 3PM at the Collins Center for the Arts
Lucas Richman, conductor
Rossini • William Tell Overture
John Williams • Music from The Reivers
Dukas • The Sorcerer’s ApprenticeÂ
Stravinsky • The Firebird Suite
The Nutcracker
Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 2pm & 7pm
Sunday, December 20, 2020Â at 3pm
Lucas Richman, conductor
Robinson Ballet
Bangor Area Youth Choirs