TENTATIVELY POSTPONED TO 5/23. The 19-20 season continues with an exciting program that features a Grammy Award winner and timeless compositions. Edward Elgar’s concert overture In the South opens the program with a boisterous theme re-purposed from another work, that joyfully expresses his experiences with his family in Italy. The soloist for the evening is Grammy Award-winning guitarist Jason Vieaux. Vieaux performs Joaquín Rodrigo’s well known Concierto de Aranjuez. Rodrigo was blinded at a very young age, but this challenge did not hinder him from composing his gold standard guitar concerto, inspired by the sounds and fragrances of the Royal Gardens of Aranjuez, Spain. Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 finishes out the evening. Written not long after his first symphony, at the inspiring backdrop of a vacation in Pörtschach, Austria, Brahms let the environment influence his cheery symphony which will sweep the audience away with its jubilance.

Leap into your seat for this Leap Day concert featuring works by Mozart, Beethoven, and pieces and performers from Turkey. Throughout his career, Music Director and Conductor, Toshiyuki Shimada has visited Turkey to conduct many of the country’s leading orchestras. These collaborations have connected Toshi with some of the country’s phenomenally gifted artists. The evening opens with the orchestra performing Esintiler (Inspirations) a work by one of Turkey’s most beloved composers Ferit Tüzün. Soloists for the evening are Çagatay Akyol, harpist, and Bülent Evcil, flutist. The duo performs Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Concerto for Harp and Flute. This is Mozart’s only concerto for harp, and the pairing of flute and harp was seen as an unusual combination at the time. Following intermission, Toshi and the orchestra perform Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, one of the composer’s most popular works. Music from this symphony has been used in many television shows and movies such as Mr. Holland’s Opus, The King’s Speech, X-Men: Apocalypse, and Cosmos. In Beethoven’s time, the 2nd movement was so well liked by the audience that it was encored at the work’s debut in 1813.

The 2020 portion of our 19-20 season kicks off with a non-traditional pairing: the New London Big Band on the stage for the first time with the ECSO. Continuing the celebration of Music Director & Conductor Toshiyuki Shimada’s 10th anniversary, this concert presents a slate of national and local treasures. In recognition of Black History Month, the ECSO performs Concert Overture No. 2 by composer Florence Price. Price was the first African-American woman to have a composition performed by a major symphony orchestra. Principal Clarinetist, Kelli O’Connor, returns to the front of the stage to perform Artie Shaw’s spirited Clarinet Concerto. A medley of big band hits closes out the first half with classics such as In the Mood, Begin the Beguine, Moonlight Serenade, and more, all arranged by Lee Norris. The New London Big Band, led by Sean Nelson, is featured prominently on the 2nd half as they join forces with the ECSO for originals and works by big band composers. Music of the legendary jazz composer and orchestra leader, Duke Ellington, will thrill the audience along with works by George Gershwin, Tommy Dorsey, and more.

The ECSO continues its 73rd season with an array of pieces that showcase the wide scope of the orchestral repertoire. Opening the concert in bombastic fashion is an arrangement of the iconic rock band Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, a prog-rock operetta and one of their most popular songs. The Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus joins to open the concert with this piece. Composer Charles Frink, an original member of the ECSO, and good friend of founding Music Director, Victor Norman, grew to become a well-known New London composer and educator. His piece entitled John Henry, after the American folk figure, features the Eastern Connecticut Symphony and Chorus. Originally premiered by Victor Norman and the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus (ECSC), the ECSO and ECSC revisits this piece under the baton of its current Music Director & Conductor Toshiyuki Shimada. Composer Richard Strauss’s tone poem Death and Transfiguration, based on the poem by Alexander Ritter, depicts the process of death, and coming to terms with life’s accomplishments. The work’s final theme is an uplifting and jubilant celebration of transition. The concert closes with Johannes Brahms’ lush and exciting Violin Concerto performed by 2019 ECSO Instrumental Competition winner, Hannah Cho. Brahms wrote this piece in consultation with his friend, violinist Joseph Joachim. It is regarded as one of the most epic works of the violin repertoire for both performers and listeners.

The ECSO opens its 73rd season with a show-stopper program sure to excite the audience. Grammy Award-winning composer, Kenneth Fuchs’ (University of Connecticut faculty) exciting overture, Discover the Wild, opens the concert evoking images of America’s wild west. The evening’s soloist, international touring violinist and University of Connecticut faculty member Solomiya Ivakhiv, makes her ECSO debut performing what is arguably the most popular violin concerto of all time, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. Following intermission, the orchestra returns in full force to celebrate Music Director & Conductor Toshiyuki Shimada’s 10th anniversary by performing the symphony that he programmed on his audition concert 10 years ago – Antonín Dvorák’s Symphony No. 9 (From the New World). Dvorák wrote his iconic symphony in America drawing from spiritual and Americana themes to create one of the most satisfying melodic journeys in the orchestral canon.

Special pricing: $10/adults, $5/children 18 & under

Join the ECSO for the continuation of its popular family concert offering, as we explore the excitement of orchestral music! The concert opens with a thrilling overture titled Los esclavos felices by Juan Arriaga. Next, South of the Border Mexican Medley by John Philips helps celebrate Cinco de Mayo with an arrangement of familiar melodies. The concert will come to a satisfying conclusion with one of the most well-loved pieces in the orchestral repertoire by listeners of all ages, Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. This piece will feature a narrator and dancers from the Eastern Connecticut Ballet to tell its whimsical story, which uses distinctive musical themes to highlight instruments of the orchestra in a fascinating way.

Arrive at Palmer Auditorium at 1pm for pre-concert activities in the lobby, including a photobooth, musical petting zoo sponsored by Stewart’s Music in Niantic, and many other activities. This event is general admission, and tickets are only $10 for adults and $5 for children.

The season finale opens with a piece from a true titan of orchestral music: Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven’s Prometheus Overture was derived from his only offering in the arena of ballet music. The Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus joins forces with the ECSO for another iconic composer’s offering. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Mass in C Major (Coronation) will ring out the hall with exuberance in its stately setting of the Mass text, which led it to be performed at coronations for many years, thus earning its subtitle. Closing out the evening and season is a work of epic proportions by Gustav Mahler, his Symphony No. 1 (Titan). Mahler defied convention with his first symphony, by borrowing sounds from nature, quoting “Frère Jacques” as a funeral march, and incorporating klezmer themes, all leading to a triumphant finale in full orchestral voice.

Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra and Chorus To Perform Free Concert of Mozart’s Requiem on Sunday, April 14, 7:30pm

Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will perform Mozart’s Requiem at the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Norwich, CT on Sunday, April 14 at 7:30pm. General admission seating is free and the doors will open at 6:45pm.

The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation has given a significant grant to ensure that this concert is an accessible benefit to all of Southeastern CT and beyond. The Foundation had the following statement: “Kathryn Lord, Jeffrey Lord and Joel Suisman, Trustees of The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation, are excited to have offered grant support to the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra to once again bring its production of Mozart’s Requiem to the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Norwich. This free concert is a wonderful community activity for our Norwich neighbors to enjoy. The music, singing and ethereal acoustics provided by the Cathedral venue make this event a real ‘happening’ for Norwich.” The Knights of Columbus have given additional significant sponsorship to make this event possible, as well as the American Group.

Soloists who will join the performance include soprano Carley DeFranco, baritone Gregory Flower, tenor Ethan DePuy, and mezzo-soprano Caroline Olsen.

Caleb Bailey, Executive Director of the ECSO was quoted as saying “We have a strong commitment toward enabling access to members of our community, and free concerts help realize this goal, along with our reduced-price offerings. We are so grateful for this grant from the Lord Foundation which helps us continue to share the music with our region in exciting ways.”

Goodwill donations collected at the event will benefit the ECSO and the St. Vincent de Paul Place in Norwich, CT.

The ECSO ushers in spring with an eclectic blend of repertoire sure to entice listeners of all varieties. Continuing the tradition of featuring women composers, Joan Tower’s work Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman, No. 6, rounds out her 80th anniversary celebration. The ECSO co-commissioned the next work for violin and orchestra, Michael Torke’s Sky, a bluegrass-inspired concerto written for and performed by rising star violinist, Tessa Lark. On the concert’s second half, the orchestra performs the thrilling Symphonic Dances by Sergei Rachmaninoff. Rachmaninoff composed the three-movement suite while overlooking the Long Island Sound in 1940. The work, originally conceived to be music for a ballet, combines wild rhythms and rich harmonies. Now it is performed most often in the concert hall as a stand-alone piece, which is a testament to its compositional strength.

60th Annual ECSO Instrumental Competition

The Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra invites the general public to attend its annual Instrumental Competition. This competition, now in its 60th year, was established to recognize the outstanding talents of emerging young musicians through the age of 25. 12 contestants will be selected for the final round held at Evans Hall on the campus of Connecticut College in New London, CT on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at 1:00pm. Complimentary refreshments are offered at the conclusion of the competition, after judges announce the winners.

Ludwig van Beethoven’s Egmont Overture opens this mid-winter concert. Commissioned to accompany the play Egmont by Goethe, this whirlwind overture takes the audience on an emotional journey depicting victory over oppression. The ECSO 2018 Instrumental Competition Winner, Justin Park, performs Sergei Prokofiev’s Sinfonia Concertante for cello and orchestra. Prokofiev called upon virtuoso cellist Mstislav Rostropovich to explore the richness of the cello as a soloist instrument, resulting in a dramatic and technically exciting work, with much interplay between soloist and orchestra. Antonín Dvorák’s Symphony No. 7 closes out the program with its subtle Slavic themes, and showcases the work of a composer who was full of inspiration from his home country.

The ECSO gathers all of the artistic forces in our community for a joyous celebration of Leonard Bernstein’s 100th anniversary with a concert performance of his Broadway work Candide. Bernstein himself was quoted as saying “there’s more of me in that piece than anything else I’ve done.” Technically a comic operetta, Candide depicts Voltaire’s satirical novel of the same name. Opposing philosophies and ideologies are sung and beautifully orchestrated through two acts of entertaining music. Soloists provided from Yale Opera will deliver the humorous libretto with energy and pluck. This fitting season finale will pay brilliant homage to one of Music Director and Conductor Toshiyuki Shimada’s greatest mentors.

Tickets range from $28 - $62, with $12 tickets available for active/retired military members and anyone under 30, sponsored by General Dynamics Electric Boat.

Two magnificent pieces by Joseph Haydn and Gustav Mahler form a military-themed concert showcasing the orchestra’s talent in different contexts. Haydn’s Symphony No. 100 (Military) is one of his London symphonies, written during and after his exposure to the city. His military symphony derives its subtitle from the 2nd movement which features trumpet fanfares and “Turkish” percussion – triangle, cymbals, and bass drum. Jumping forward in time a century, Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 is his first fully instrumental symphony and begins with a funeral march. A chorale of hope appears in the 2nd movement, and returns to symbolize glory and triumph in the final movement, leaving the audience spell-bound.