As The Venice Symphony celebrates its 45th “Sapphire” season, we also celebrate a new beginning with our incoming music director/conductor Troy Quinn who will be conducting every concert series this season except Holiday Pops. You can download our 2018-19 Season order form here.
This season’s exceptional music was chosen for you by Leif Bjaland, Artistic Director of the Florida West Coast Symphony Orchestra and former artistic director of The Sarasota Orchestra. His dynamic program includes masterworks by Beethoven, Mozart and Mahler, beloved pieces by Shostakovich, Rossini and Mendelssohn, a concert dedicated to the music of George Gershwin and our season finale featuring the greatest American composers.
The spotlight will be on The Venice Symphony’s accomplished musicians, concertmaster Marcus Ratzenboeck, principal cello Scott Crowley and cornet player Aaron Romm as they shine as soloists. In January we welcome winner of the Arthur Rubinstein Prize in Piano, Andrew Tyson and in February, Sarasota’s own Dr. Joseph Holt.
For season tickets and packages, call our box office at 941-207-8822. Subscriptions start at $156. Subscriptions and packages are now available for the 2018-19 season. Individual tickets and online sales begin on September 1, 2018.
CONCERT SCHEDULE
Fri, Nov. 16 7:30 pm
Sat, Nov. 17 3:30 pm
Festa Italia!
Celebrate our Sapphire Season with the joyous Festive Overture, op.96 by Dimitri Shostakovich. You’ll be transported to The Eternal City by Respighi’s lush Fountains of Rome and Pines of Rome and then to our “Sister City” with Carnival of Venice featuring The Venice Symphony’s Aaron Romm on Cornet. Concertmaster Marcus Ratzenboeck solos on Saint-Saens’ showpiece Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, op. 28.
Fri, Dec. 14 7:30 pm
Sat, Dec. 15 3:30 and 7:30 pm
Holiday Pops
This year’s Holiday concert has an international flair from Brazilian Sleigh Bells to Feliz Navidad. But don’t worry, Santa Claus IS Coming to Town. What would this treasured seasonal celebration be without music from The Nutcracker and our traditional sing-a-long? Our guest soprano soloist is Venice Symphony favorite Johanna Fincher.
Fri, Jan. 11 7:30 pm
Sat., Jan. 12 3:30 pm
Strauss, Schumann and Mendelssohn
What joy to hear Felix Mendelssohn’s Nocturne, Wedding March from a Midsummer’s Night’s Dream performed by a full symphony orchestra. Horns are the focus in Richard Strauss’s playful Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks. Romantic composer Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto, Op. 54 features guest soloist, Andrew Tyson, Hailed by the New York Times for “playing with passion and poetry.”
Fri, Feb. 1 7:30 pm
Sat, Feb. 2 3:30 and 7:30 pm
Rhapsody in Blue
From the infectious Girl Crazy Overture, to the rapturous An American in Paris, the Symphony will transport you to George Gershwin’s glorious Jazz Age. Sarasota’s Dr. Joseph Holt plays piano on I’ve Got Rhythm and on Gershwin’s masterpiece, Rhapsody in Blue. Wear your best blue and help us celebrate our Sapphire Season.
European Masters
Fri, Feb. 22 7:30 pm
Sat, Feb 23 3:30 pm
Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 with its enthralling Second Movement Allegretto is the showpiece of this concert that also features Rossini’s popular Overture to L’Italiana in Algeri. The spotlight shines on Venice Symphony Principal Cello Scott Crowley, soloist on Saint-Saens’ Concerto for Cello No. 1., op. 33.
Fri, March 22 7:30 pm
Sat, March 23 3:30 pm
Mozart and Mahler
Mozart’s exhilarating Symphony no. 41, (Jupiter), is the composer’s final symphony and considered by many to be among the greatest works in classical music. The second half of the concert is dedicated to Gustav Mahler’s Symphony no. 1, D Major (Titan) “One of the most spellbinding moments of symphonic inspiration in the 19th century” – guardian.com 50 Greatest Symphonies
Fri, April 26 7:30 pm
Sat, April 27, 3:30 pm
American Roots
We’ll be singing The Saint Louis Blues as The Venice Symphony concludes our 45th Season with outstanding works by great American composers, including Duke Ellington, Aaron Copland and John Williams. Concertmaster Marcus Ratzenboeck solos on Ashokan Farewell and Sweet Georgia Brown. From Times Square 1944 to Shenandoah, our road trip ends with Stars and Stripes Forever!
