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or Thursdays at 7:30pm
Saturdays at 8pm
Stravinsky A Storyteller at His Best
MARCH 22 OR 24
JUNE 14 OR 16
SIBELIUS SYMPHONY NO. 2
WONDERFUL TOWN
Ludovic Morlot, conductor SIBELIUS: The Oceanides BRITTEN: Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes SIBELIUS: Symphony No. 2 From Sibelius’ Mediterranean nymphs to Britten’s North Sea fishermen, these aquatic scenes capture the wonder of open water. In the Second Symphony, we encounter a distinctly Finnish musical world with its gorgeous melodies and haunting nationalistic atmosphere that earned Sibelius a place on the world stage.
Ludovic Morlot, conductor Benjamin Lulich, clarinet Jessica Rivera, soprano Kevin Deas, baritone Seattle Symphony Chorale ALEXANDRA GARDNER: New Work (World Premiere) BERNSTEIN: Prelude, Fugue and Riffs BERNSTEIN: Wonderful Town Leonard Bernstein understood the pulse of American life like no other composer, and his sassy, energetic scores still get our blood pumping. The Seattle Symphony brings Bernstein’s Broadway classic Wonderful Town to life with “Christopher Street,” “A Little Bit in Love,” “Ohio” and the “Conga!” JUNE 28 OR 30
SAINT-SAËNS SYMPHONY NO. 3 ORGAN Ludovic Morlot APRIL 26 OR 28
STRAVINSKY PERSEPHONE Ludovic Morlot, conductor Marc-André Hamelin, piano Kenneth Tarver, tenor Cristina Valdés, piano | Jessica Choe, piano Li-Tan Hsu, piano | Dmitry Pokrovsky Ensemble Anna Marra, dancer | Northwest Boychoir Seattle Symphony Chorale Michael Curry, director & designer STRAVINSKY: Song of the Volga Boatmen STRAVINSKY: Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments STRAVINSKY: Les noces STRAVINSKY: Persephone Hearing any of these Stravinsky rarities live is a special treat. To witness them together on one spectacular night — with star soloists, dancers, puppeteers, three choirs, four grand pianos and the Seattle Symphony, all led by Ludovic Morlot — will be unforgettable.
Kazuki Yamada, conductor Benjamin Grosvenor, piano SAINT-SAËNS: Danse macabre CHOPIN: Piano Concerto No. 2 SAINT-SAËNS: Symphony No. 3, “Organ” Saint-Saëns’ astonishingly long career spanned from Beethoven to Stravinsky, which meant he was forever experimenting with new styles. This constant evolution shows through in his thrilling and majestic Third Symphony, which he himself acknowledged to be daunting to perform. “Daunting or not, it’s a one-of-a-kind work that’s perfectly suited to Benaroya Hall with its famous and impressive organ!”
Jessica Rivera
You don’t need to have attended a traditional wedding in rural Russia to identify with the volatile emotions Stravinsky captured in Les noces, from the rowdy groomsman to the weeping mother of the bride. This performance featuring Russia’s Dmitry Pokrovsky Ensemble draws out the raw, folk-based roots of a work that clarified Stravinsky’s path out of his homeland (musically and personally) after The Rite of Spring. In the Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments, Stravinsky fleshed out the crisp neoclassical style that defined his years of exile in Europe. With Persephone, his third dramatization of Greek mythology, Stravinsky completed the transformation from explosive young outsider to suave citizen of the world. In a historic production the fanciful artist and puppet designer Michael Curry reimagines an ancient tale of self-sacrifice and renewal. This fresh look at the 20th century’s most iconic composer underscores a theme that unites his entire output: guided by a deep fascination with human rituals and myths, Stravinsky produced music that transcended any one culture or era.