Southwest Florida Symphony celebrates 50 years
A community orchestra which blossomed into a larger, professional theater assemble will be officially celebrating its 50th anniversary on April 15 this year.
Southwest Florida Symphony has come along way from playing in community centers and schools. It has grown from 20 to 70 musicians and now performs in arts halls while providing a support system for young artists through competitions and scholarships grants.
The symphony was congratulated at a recent meeting of the Fort Myers Beach Town Council, when the Town of Fort Myers Beach proclaimed January 2011 as Southwest Florida Symphony Month. Joan Calder was on hand to accept the proclamation on behalf of the orchesrta and organization.
“It started in 1961 when they played their music to high schools in the area,” she Calder, who is the president of the symphony society as well as the fund-raising arm. “We are now a professional orchestra with 60 to 70 highly trained musicians.”
Calder noted the symphony’s classical and pop concerts are held at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers among other venues. The symphony also supports a youth orchestra, which is conducted by fourth-year Music Director Michael Hall.
“It’s a superb group of talented high school students from all over the county,” said Calder of the youth orchestra. “We provide programs for the Lee County schools and staff a music camp during the summer.”
BOX
Southwest Florida Symphony
50th Anniversary Season concert calendar
-Ticket prices range from $18-$60 and are available by contacting the Box Office 418-1500 or visiting web site www.swflso.org.
n Jan. 29, 2011
MasterWorks #2 (Classic II) 8 p.m. Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall
Michael Hall, Conductor / Guest: Mihai Marica, Cello
January not only brings with it New Year celebrations, but the opportunity to hear extraordinary works. Prokofiev’s Symphony no. 1 “Classical” is featured in our second MasterWorks concert- a piece that is ‘classical’ in form while exhibiting a more modern harmonic language.
The orchestra will also perform the Symphony no. 103 “Drumroll” by Joseph Haydn. This engaging and energetic symphony was the second to last of twelve symphonies that Haydn performed in London. Along with this timeless piece, the Southwest Florida Symphony will indulge in one the most charming and graceful of all works for cello and orchestra, Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations, as well as JC Bach’s Cello Concerto in C minor, both featuring cello soloist Mihai Marica.
n Feb. 1, 2011
Classically Simple (Around Town I) 7:30 p.m. The Village Church at Shell Point
Prokofiev’s Symphony no. 1 “Classical” is featured in our first around town concert- a piece that is ‘classical’ in form while exhibiting a more modern harmonic language. The orchestra will also perform the Symphony no. 103 “Drumroll” by Joseph Haydn. This engaging and energetic symphony was the second to last of twelve symphonies that Haydn wrote for London. Along with this timeless piece, the Southwest Florida Symphony will indulge in one the most charming and graceful of all works for cello and orchestra, Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations, as well as JC Bach’s Cello Concerto in C minor, both featuring cello soloist Mihai Marica
n Feb. 13, 2011
Come Away My Love (Stained Glass) 4 p.m. Faith Presbyterian Church
There is something uniquely intimate and personal about the human voice. There is something magical that happens when one voice combines in a chorus, all of a sudden that wonderful sound is created, our emotions are stirred, and we communicate something beyond our words. Come and be transported and inspired.
n Feb. 18 & 19, 2011
Five By Design, Stay Tuned (Pops II) 8 p.m. Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall Michael Hall, Conductor / Guest: Five by Design
February finds the Southwest Florida Symphony saluting the TV Variety shows of the 50’s and 60’s with the humor, novelty acts and quick-change artists known as Five By Design. This national touring group has appeared before thousands. The Washington Post heralded Five By Design as “one of the best pops performances of the season.”
Combining their warm, well-rounded signature vocals with vintage fashions and a bit of theatrical panache, Five By Design will perform, Stay Tuned, a nod to the “television variety show” and American culture from 1950-1966 with the Southwest Florida Symphony.
n Feb. 26, 2011
MasterWorks #3 (Classic III) 8 p.m. Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall
Michael Hall, Conductor
In a season celebrating 50 years, it is interesting to look back and reflect on how much the Southwest Florida Symphony has grown from its modest beginnings. As a special treat, Maestro Hall takes us back to a recreation of the very first concert for today’s audiences.
You will hear the same program that launched the Southwest Florida Symphony in 1961, including the ever-popular Symphony no. 5 by Beethoven. Even if you are less than familiar with classical music, you are sure to recognize the fatefully tragic ‘da-da-da-daah’ at the beginning. This program also includes Schubert’s breathtaking Symphony no. 8 in B minor, “The Unfinished Symphony,” and Intermezzo from Harry Janos Suite by Kodaly.
n March 1, 2011
Genesis (Around Town II) 7:30 p.m. The Village Church at Shell Point
This is an encore presentation of the same program that launched the Southwest Florida Symphony in 1961, including the ever-popular Symphony no. 5 by Beethoven. Even if you are less than familiar with classical music, you are sure to recognize the fatefully tragic ‘da-da-da-daah’ at the beginning. This program also includes Schubert’s breathtaking Symphony no. 8 in B minor, “The Unfinished Symphony,” and Intermezzo from Harry Janos Suite by Kodaly.
n March 4 & 5, 2011
Spectrum, A Salute to 50 Years of Motown (Pops III) 8 p.m. Barbara B Mann
Michael Hall, Conductor / Guest: Spectrum
Sharing 50 years of music along with the Southwest Florida Symphony is Motown. Paying tribute to Motown and R&B is one of the most widely known and reputable groups to perform the music of Motown. Spectrum draws upon the talent of four radiant voices and diverse personalities to form a first class vocal quartet.
n March 18, 2011
A Banquet of Baroque (Around Town III) 7:30 p.m. Faith Presbyterian Church Michael Hall, Conductor
n March 20, 2011 – A Banquet of Baroque (Sanibel II) 7 p.m. Schein Hall, BIG Arts Michael Hall, Conductor
Music with elaborate ornamentation and expressive dissonance, yet so constructed as to reflect the “perfect order” of the universe: that is the essence Baroque music. Enjoy this exuberant program of lively and tuneful Baroque music, including such favorites as Purcell’s Trumpet Voluntary, Bach’s Air on a G string, Pachelbel’s Canon and more.
n March 26, 2011
MasterWorks #4 (Classic IV) 8 p.m. Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall
The Southwest Florida Symphony will bring to life Mahler’s Symphony no. 2 “Resurrection” in MasterWorks #4. This will be the largest production of the year for the Southwest Florida Symphony, with as many as 90 musicians, as well as the Southwest Florida Symphony Chorus filling the stage at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall. This piece, Mahler’s most popular and successful work during his lifetime, marks his lifelong view of the promise of the afterlife and resurrection.
n April 8 & 9, 2011
Ellis Island – The Dream of America (Pops IV) 8 p.m. Barbara B Mann
Michael Hall, Conductor / Guest, Florida Rep
The conclusion to our Pops series features spectacular collaborative projects. The first part of our evening will feature the Southwest Florida Youth Symphony performing side-by-side with the Southwest Florida Symphony. This rare opportunity will showcase our talented young musicians. You won’t want to miss this inspiring event.
The second half of this collaborative evening will bring to life the challenges and dreams of early immigrants to America with the production of Ellis Island The Dream of America by Peter Boyer. The Southwest Florida Symphony and the Florida Rep Theatre will present a captivating and thoughtful program celebrating the immigrant experience and the American dream. Innovative in its format, the work brings elements of the theatre and multimedia onto the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall stage.
n April 10, 2011
For the Love of Woodwinds (Sanibel III) 7 p.m. Schein Hall, BIG Arts on Sanibel Michael Hall, Conductor The first half of the concert is a woodwind lovers paradise with Hahn’s Le Bal de Beatrice d’Este, a French salon piece for wind instruments, piano and harp, and Beethoven’s Rondino, a light and airy piece for woodwind octet. The second half features Sibelius’ Pelleas et Melisande Suite, incidental music for a play that tells the story of doomed and forbidden love.
n April 16, 2011
MasterWorks #5 (Classic V) 8pm Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall
Michael Hall, Conductor / Guest: William Larsen, Flute
Our last Classical concert of our 50th Anniversary season will feature a second world premiere, entitled Pandora’s Waltz a concerto for flute. Also included in MasterWorks #5 is the romantic Hebrides Overture by Mendelssohn and the featured piece of the evening, Symphony no.2, by the Finnish nationalist, Jean Sibelius.
-schedule provided by Southwest Florida Symphony