Style Weekly
Orchestral Maneuvers
The symphony highlights popular warhorses, romance and the circus.
by Stephanie Colpo
Richmond Symphony's season consists of four separate series, each with a distinct take on orchestral entertainment: the Altria Masterworks series, the Genworth Financial Symphony Pops, the LolliPops and the Metro Collection.
The Altria Masterworks series will shine a spotlight on classical warhorses that have been popular for ages, premiering at CenterStage with Beethoven's Ninth Symphony (Sept. 25-26). That will be followed by Rachmaninoff and Stravinsky (Oct. 16-17), Judith Shatin's “Jefferson in His Own Words” (Nov. 13-14) and an evening of opera's greatest hits (Jan. 15-16). Later in 2011 the orchestra will tackle Brahm's Piano Concerto, Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 and another Beethoven work, “Missa Solemnis.”
The Genworth Financial series is perfect for anyone who's up for a little more diversity and genre mixing, featuring such choices as a tribute to John Barry's work on the James Bond soundtracks. The series premieres with a “Cirque de la Symphonie” on Oct. 9 — a theatrical assembly of aerial dancers, acrobats, contortionists, jugglers, balancers and strong men performing live to the music. It continues with “Let It Snow!” an evening of holiday sounds on Dec. 4-5.
The LolliPops performances, specially designed for families, kicks off at CenterStage with a Halloween event, “Phantoms of the Orchestra” with the Magic Circle Mime Company on Oct. 30.
And the final series of the season, the Metro Collection, features intimate chamber orchestra concerts at various Richmond-area venues. The Metro season premieres on Oct. 1 at St. Mary's Episcopal Church and Oct. 3 at Randolph-Macon College with romantic pieces by Ives, Tchaikovsky and Dvorak.
Information on Richmond Symphony's season at richmondsymphony.com.
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