Tacoma Symphony Orchestra World Premiere
World Premiere with percussionist Evelyn Glennie, performance by violinist Vadim Gluzman highlight first season under Sarah Ioannides.
TACOMA, WA - Percussion superstar Evelyn Glennie and internationally acclaimed violinist Vadim Gluzman are among the guest artists appearing on the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra's 2014-2015 concert lineup, the inaugural season of new Music Director Sarah Ioannides. Ms. Ioannides, who was selected last December after a two-year international search encompassing more than 100 prospects, will conduct her first concert as Music Director on October 25, 2015. Hailed by The New York Times as a conductor with "unquestionable strength and authority," Sarah Ioannides was a prize-winner of the Leeds Conducting Competition and was also awarded the JoAnn Falletta award for the most promising female conductor.
On the season opening concert, Dame Evelyn Glennie will perform the world premiere of a new concerto by Australian composer Sean O'Boyle. The project was conceived and proposed to Ms. Glennie by Sarah Ioannides, who recently discovered Mr. O'Boyle's music. Israeli violinist Vadim Gluzman, lauded for his "big, powerful tone of tremendous intensity and great expressive range," (Seattle Times) will be featured in the Brahms Violin Concerto on February 22, 2015.
Centralia-born prodigy pianist Charlie Albright will make his TSO debut performing Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 on November 24. Returning to the TSO stage after seven years will be cellist Amit Peled, who will be featured in the Schumann Cello Concerto on May 9. The season will include such major orchestral works as Brahms's Symphony No. 2, Dvòřak's Symphony No. 8, and Holst's The Planets, performed along with a multi-media presentation conceived by Ms. Ioannides.
A previous engagement prevents Ms. Ioannides from being available to lead the TSO's annual Sounds of the Season program. Instead, she and Chorus Director Geoffrey Boers are trading concerts next December: Ms. Ioannides will conduct the Tacoma Symphony Chorus's annual performance of Handel's Messiah, while Mr. Boers will ascend the podium for Sounds of the Season. In fact, he will collaborate on musical direction for the Christmas choral pops program with pianist/arranger Bo Ayars; Boers will bring his Chorus to the stage and Ayars will bring his popular Portland vocal quartet The Signatures. Under their leadership, Sounds of the Season 2014 will be styled after an old-time radio variety show.
In March, Ms. Ioannides will present her own unique pops program, Songs from the Emerald Isle, featuring a tap dancer and Uillean piper along with soprano Kaitlyn Lusk, nationally acclaimed for her performances in the Lord of the Rings Symphony.
"This season I hope will be as special as many to come," said Sarah Ioannides. "I am very much looking forward to the start of my time with the orchestra and chorus. In addition to the musical gems on the season, we will also have a few small surprises for our audience."
"It has been inspiring to work with Sarah Ioannides on developing the 2014-2015 Season," stated Executive Director Andy Buelow. "She plans each concert with the same care and diligence as a curator planning an exhibit. Each program will be as thrilling for the orchestra to play as for the audience to hear."
Subscribers are being mailed renewal materials, and new subscriptions are available immediately. The streamlined menu of packages include the Premier (all 8 concerts) and the Master (Pantages and Rialto concerts). A Pick & Choose series (4 concerts of your choice) will be introduced later in the spring after the Premier and Master subscribers have had first choice on seating. Subscriber benefits have been enhanced; in particular, Premier subscribers will now save 25%-the equivalent of getting two concerts for free. Prices range from $442 for box seats to all 8 concerts; to $108 for D section tickets to four concerts. Orders may be placed via mail, phone at 253-272-7264, or in person at the TSO Administrative Office, 901 Broadway, Suite 600. Single tickets go on sale this summer.