Symphony Silver Season

THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 93rd SEASON

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C E L E B R AT I N G M U S I C D I R E C T O R

J AY D E A N

ON HIS 25th SEASON

25 Dear Symphony and Opera Patrons, It is my pleasure to invite you to be a part of the 93rd season of The University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and the 64th season of the Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company. We have planned a variety of musical events for you this season, ranging from standard symphonic works to opera and musical theatre productions. There is truly something for everyone.

As I look forward to my 25th year at Southern Miss, I want to thank all of you for your continued support over those many years. It has been a pleasure to be a part of this institution’s history and to work with the many outstanding musicians who have been members of both the orchestra and opera, as well as the excellent faculty who have been a vital part of their training while at Southern Miss.

It has also been a pleasure to work with the long-time supporters in our community, state and region. The many outstanding events that we have experienced together over those years have been both extraordinary and memorable. We hope you enjoy this season’s performances, and thank you so much for being a part of our musical family.

Sincerely,

Jay Dean Director of Orchestral Activities

SILVERSEASON b r i n g i n g t h e w o r l d t o m i s s i s s i p p i

SILVERSEASON OPENING NIGHT

nadja salerno-sonnenberg

4 OCTOBER 7:30 P.M. Bennett Auditorium

Wagner Prelude to Act III from Lohengrin Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E Minor Brahms Symphony No. 4 Jay Dean, conductor

Electrifying performances, fearless interpretations and musical depth have established violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg as one of the leading violinists of our time. Now she returns to Hattiesburg to kick off the season in high style.

Her exceptional artistry is paired with great musical intelligence which, along with her unique personality, have served her well in numerous environments from recording to television and film. She has hosted a Backstage/Live from Lincoln Center program for PBS, appeared in the PBS/BBC series The Mind, and with everyone from Johnny Carson to Big Bird. Interviewed and profiled on CBS; 60 Minutes, CNN, NBC, A & E, Bravo and more, she was the subject of the 2000 Academy Award-nominated film, Speaking In Strings, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

Don’t miss another dazzling performance by this musical sensation right here in Hattiesburg!

T I C K E T S

601.266.5418

usm.edu/symphony

A NIGHT AT THE OPERA

D ie Fledermaus Presented by The Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company 16 & 19 October 7:30 p.m.

Parkway Heights United Methodist Church Rob Mulholland, director Jay Dean and Jennifer Hart, conductors Experience the joy and glory of Old Vienna with the Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company’s new production of Johann Strauss’s Die Fledermaus (“The Bat”). This musical tale has been the treat of both operatic and Broadway stages for over a century. Now, be immersed in a special production that literally intertwines audience and cast!

As tuneful as a Viennese ball, the opera sparkles with musical gems and period charm. In the story, both maid and mistress attend a gala one night, and the husband, Eisenstein, is caught dallying with both of them—even though Eisenstein is supposed to be in jail at the time. All of these shenanigans are stagemanaged by the scheming Dr. Falke, who believes Eisenstein deserves his come-upance. Strauss’ lively and witty Die Fledermaus promises a sparkling evening in the theatre for both operatic fans and newcomers alike.

SILVERSEASON b r i n g i n g t h e w o r l d t o m i s s i s s i p p i

Musica Classica 1 November 7:30 p.m.

Bennett Auditorium

Mozart J.C. Bach

Stamitz

Symphony No. 35 (Haffner) Cello Concerto Alexander Russakovsky, cello

Viola Concerto

Hsiaopei Lee, viola

Jay Dean and Ivan del Prado, conductors Musica Classica is an exciting program of classical and classical-style pieces.

Light, graceful, elegant and fiery, Mozart’s “Haffner” Symphony is truly Mozart at his symphonic best!

Carl Philipp Stamitz, one of the most important representatives of the Manheim School, wrote more than 60 concertos. His viola concerto, one of the most exciting written for the instrument, is a favorite of violists around the world.

Johann Christian Bach’s music is known for being more melodic and less contrapuntal than his father’s, J. S. Bach.

However, it was actually composed in 1911 by Henri Casadesus. Thus, this concerto is called “The J.C. Bach/Casadesus Concerto.” It is a wonderful 20th tribute to the classical style.

T I C K E T S

601.266.5418

usm.edu/symphony

SPIRIT OF THE SEASON

Holiday Choral Spectacular 4 December 7:30 p.m.

Main Street Baptist Church Gregory Fuller and John Flannery, conductors The combined voices of the Hattiesburg Choral Union will join The University of Southern Mississippi Symphony Orchestra in what has become a holiday tradition. Magnificent choral works and orchestral selections will ring through the air, heralding the season.

Don’t miss this holiday gift for the whole family!

SILVERSEASON b r i n g i n g t h e w o r l d t o m i s s i s s i p p i

A M u s i c a l Va l e n t i n e 14 February 7:30 p.m.

Bennett Auditorium

Beethoven Strauss

Symphony No. 8 Concerto for Oboe Erin Hannigan, principal oboist with the Dallas Symphony Jay Dean, conductor

The program for our Valentine program was chosen because both of these works had their premieres in February.

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 was composed in 1812.

Beethoven called it “my little symphony in F.” It is a serious work that contains many light passages that some think to be musical jokes. Beethoven conducted its premiere in February 1814.

Written in 1945, near the end of his life, this oboe concerto is one of Richard Strauss’ last works. Its world premiere was in Switzerland in February 1946, but anyone who watched American television in the 1960s will be delighted to know that the U.S. premiere was given by Mitch Miler, a then young oboist who eventually became vice president of CBS Television and had his own show called Sing Along with Mitch.

Erin Hannigan is principal oboe of the Dallas Symphony.

She has also served as guest principal oboist with the Chicago Symphony, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, Atlanta Symphony and the Los Angeles Symphony. As soloist, she has also performed with numerous orchestras, and can be heard on her solo CD “From Hafiz to Firewing (and Beyond)” on Crystal Records.

She is a faculty member at the Southern Methodist University School of Music and the Festival Institute at Round Top, Texas. She also gives annual master classes for the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado. She is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory and the Eastman School of Music.

T I C K E T S

601.266.5418

usm.edu/symphony

BROADWAY IN THE ‘BURG

S w e e n e y To d d Presented by the School of Music

28 February – 2 March 7:30 p.m.

3 March 2 p.m.

Mannoni Performing Arts Center Auditorium GRAND REOPENING

A chilling, suspenseful, heart-pounding masterpiece of murderous barber-ism and culinary crime, Sweeney Todd tells the infamous tale of the unjustly exiled barber who returns to 19th century London seeking revenge against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. His thirst for blood soon expands to include his unfortunate customers, and the resourceful proprietress of the pie shop downstairs soon has the people of London lining up in droves with her mysterious new meat pie recipe!

Sophisticated, macabre, visceral and uncompromising, Sweeney Todd nevertheless has a great sense of fun, mixing intense drama with howlingly funny moments of dark humor. Audiences find themselves laughing hysterically one moment and gasping in surprise the next.

Directed by Mike Lopinto with Michael Miles, music director; Jennifer Hart, chorus master; Stephen Judd, set designer; Kelly James-Penot, costume designer; and Tammy Mansfield, production manager, this production is a tour de force for the School of Music and Department of Theatre.

Tickets available only as part of symphony season package. Individual tickets to this event on sale Halloween October 31.

SILVERSEASON b r i n g i n g t h e w o r l d t o m i s s i s s i p p i

MAESTRO’S FAVORITE

Mahler Symphony No. 5 28 March 7:30 p.m.

Bennett Auditorium Jay Dean, conductor Written in the first years of the 20th century, Mahler’s fifth symphony represents the composer at his most innovative and creative period. Mahler was fascinated by marches, and the fifth symphony abounds in them.

Accordingly, the first three movements are brassy and loud—Frau Mahler thought them excessively so, but her husband wisely changed nothing in the score. By contrast, the fourth movement is a delicate adagietto, best known to audiences today as a central theme in Luchino Visconti’s acclaimed film Death in Venice. The last movement is a boisterous cheer triumphing over the funereal darkness of the opening movement. Because of the difficulty of his music, Mahler’s works are seldom heard outside of large cities in America.

Don’t miss this chance to hear Mahler’s great middle-period masterpiece.

T I C K E T S

601.266.5418

usm.edu/symphony

SILVERSEASON FINALE DOUBLE HEADER

Future Stars & B e l s h a z z a r ’s F e a s t 2 May 7:30 p.m.

Main Street Baptist Church Gregory Fuller, conductor The evening opens with one of our most popular events – Future Stars.

Students in the Southern Miss School of Music annually compete in the William T. Gower Competition. The winners appear as soloists with the orchestra in one of our most popular evenings of music. This year, winners will be selected from the piano, string and voice divisions.

Walton’s much-loved Belshazzar’s Feast is one of the composer’s most acclaimed pieces, telling of the Jews’ miraculous regaining of their freedom following the fall of the Babylonian King Belshazzar.

A superbly crafted oratorio, the work is brilliantly colored by the orchestral forces, including two brass bands.

A magical evening of outstanding students soloists, gifted singers, wonderful music and the incomparable Symphony Orchestra, the SilverSeason Finale makes for a spectacular close to the season.

SILVERSEASON b r i n g i n g t h e w o r l d t o m i s s i s s i p p i

THE UN I V E R S I T Y O F S O U T H E R N M I S S I S S I P P I SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 93rd SEASON

SILVERSEASON

C E L E B R AT I N G M U S I C D I R E C T O R J AY D E A N O N H I S 2 5 t h S E A S O N

ORDER NOW Online

www.southernmisstickets.com Click on BUY SOUTHERN MISS TICKETS, then ARTS & LETTERS EVENTS, then SYMPHONY SEASON

Phone

800.844.8425 or 601.266.5418

In Person

Southern Miss Ticket Office Pat Ferlise Center W. Fourth St. and Golden Eagle Ave.

The symphony is proudly sponsored by

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SILVERSEASON SPECIAL

Order a season package and get the best seats to all eight events for the price of six - including Die Fledermaus and Sweeney Todd!

Season Tickets

PLATINUM $ 125 ($45 savings!)

GOLD $ 110 ($35 savings!)

SILVER $ 95 ($20 savings!)

Service Fee

$

5

Please be prepared to select an opera performance (choose one) Oct. 16 or 19, at 7:30 p.m.

Please be prepared to select a musical performance (choose one) Feb. 28 - Mar. 2, at 7:30 p.m. or Mar. 3, at 2 p.m.

Please have your credit card ready.

Individual tickets on sale September 4.

Become a season ticket holder prior to September 4 to be included on the VIP guest list to a special celebration at Longleaf Plantation. www.longleafplantation.net Bringing the World to Mississippi chronicles the history of the Symphony at Southern Miss. This beautifully bound coffee table book features a behind-the-scenes look at the orchestra as told by its members, faculty, staff and guest artists.

The perfect gift, this is a must-have for fans of the orchestra.

Available from Barnes & Noble at Southern Miss for only $29.95.

ORDER TODAY! 601.266.4386

AA/EOE/ADAI

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 118 College Drive #5081 Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001

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SILVERSEASON

bringing the world to mississippi