Distinguished International Conductors Highlight The Phoenix Symphony’s 2012/13 Season

Guest Conductors and major artists come together for Michael Christie’s final season
PHOENIX – The Phoenix Symphony today announced an exceptional 2012/13 season featuring a historic array of internationally known, world-class guest conductors and artists, major works of the classical repertoire and creative programming from Virginia G. Piper Music Director Michael Christie for his final season that promises to delight and entertain audiences.  This is the orchestra’s 65^th season since its founding in 1947. 

“From traditional classics to popular favorites, the upcoming season offers something for music lovers of all tastes,” said Virginia G. Piper Music Director Michael Christie. “I’m proud of the diverse lineup that reflects the spectacular growth and development of The Phoenix Symphony during the past seven years that I’ve had the privilege to lead the orchestra.” 

The 2012/13 season features 14 maestros, 14 classical programs, eight pops concerts, seven performances in the Scottsdale series, five family programs and several specials performed around the Valley in Symphony Hall, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Mesa Arts Center and various churches during the holiday season. 

The season opens with the exciting Sarah Hicks on the podium September 20 and 22 at Symphony Hall conducting Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with nationally recognized violinist Elena Urioste.   Hicks was heralded by the New York Times as part of “a new wave of female conductors in their late 20s through early 40s” securing her place in “the next generation of up-and-coming American conductors.” 

“This is truly the year of the conductor,” said Phoenix Symphony President and CEO Jim Ward. “It will be Michael Christie’s triumphant final season and we will also be able to enjoy the greatest talents of the next generation of orchestra conductors.”  

Including Sara Hicks on opening night, the Symphony’s Classics Series features a line-up of superstar conductors and dynamic artists. Highlights include: 

• Ignat Solzhenitsyn, the former music director of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and the son of the famed Nobel Prize winning author Alexander Solzhenitsyn, conducts the orchestra in Stravinsky’s Petrushka, and guest violist Nokuthula Ngwenyama performing Bartok’s Viola Concerto.  

• Mei-Ann Chen returns to Arizona following her triumphant debut during the 10/11 season.  Maestro Chen leads The Phoenix Symphony in Elgar’s Cello Concerto and Dvorak’s Symphony No. 7.  

• Tito Muoz, direct from the Cleveland Orchestra and the Opera National de Lorraine, conducts Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major  

• Andreas Delfs, world renowned conductor laureate of the Milwaukee Symphony, conducts Bach’s Double Violin Concerto featuring Anne Akiko Meyers and Phoenix Symphony Concertmaster
  Steven Moeckel

• Additonal guest conductors and artists include Benjamin Hockman, Thomas Wilkins, Miriam Freid, Andreas Delfs, , Paul Jacobs, Andrew Constantine, David Shifrin, Edwin Outwater and William Wolfram.  

• The orchestra performs audience favorites including Holst’s The Planets and Orff’s Carmina Burana.  

• Michael Christie conducts six concerts in his final season with his finale concert as the Virginia G. Piper Music Director featuring Dvork’s Scherzo Capriccioso, Mozart’s Prague Symphony and Lutoslawski’s Concerto for Orchestra.

Under the baton of Phoenix Symphony Resident Conductor Joseph Young, the Pops Series begins September 28, 29 and 30 at Symphony Hall.  Opening night The Phoenix Symphony presents Wicked Divas, a concert of diva showstoppers from Broadway, opera and popular music highlighted by selections from Gypsy, Titanic, Phantom of the Opera, and the Tony Award-winning musical Wicked. Other highlights of the 2012/13 Pops season include:

• The Texas Tenors, introduced to the nation on America’s Got Talent, blend country, classical, gospel and Broadway with great voices and a decidedly Texas tenor flavor.  

• Grammy and Oscar-winning singer Patti Austin joins The Phoenix Symphony performing a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington.  

• Bond and Beyond concert with vocalist Debbie Gravitte, Maestro Michael Krajewski and The Phoenix Symphony in such classics as Secret Agent Man, Sooner than Later, the music from Goldfinger and many more.

• Oscar, Grammy, Emmy and Tony award-winnner Marvin Hamlisch returns with his versatile style and recognizable music.  

• Audience favorites like Holiday Pops and a Salute to the Troops complete the Pops season. 

The Phoenix Symphony combines a love of reading with a love of music in its Family Series with concerts based on books. These fun-filled Saturday afternoons combine lively music and literacy education aimed at children ages 4-12. Every family concert is preceded by a variety of free “Creation Stations” featuring the popular Instrument Petting Zoo; theatre, storytelling, and craft activities showcasing the selected book; and the “Conductor’s Corner” with Resident Conductor Joseph Young. 

The Family Series begins October 27 as The Phoenix Symphony observes Da de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with music, dance and art that celebrates Latin culture. The concert features performances by Mexican Folklore dance company Ballet Folklorico; altar-making contests; and pre-concert activities based on the children’s book Frida Khalo: Artist.  Highlights of the Family Series include:

• Home for the Holidays featuring the orchestra playing Howard Blake’s soundtrack to The Snowman while the animated classic film plays above, the Symphony’s sing-along and timeless classics and holiday favorites.  

• Marvelous Mysterious Orchestra delves into the mysteries of the orchestra and explores little known facts about the many instruments you hear featuring the story of Tubby the Tuba.  

• In The Plundering Pirates of Symphony Hall the musicians present favorites for the entire family featuring music from Pirates of the Caribbean and Pirates of Penzance.  

• The final concert of the series is Carnival of the Animals based on Francis Poulenc’s classic Babar the Elephant. 

The Phoenix Symphony continues its Scottsdale Series at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts increasing the number of concerts to seven performances ensuring that the variety of conductors on the podium this season are seen both in Phoenix and Scottsdale. In addition to the series, the Symphony will be performing Handel’s Messiah at the Scottsdale venue as one of its Specials presented throughout the Valley. Highlights of the Scottsdale Series include:  

• Three of the guest conductors performing at Symphony Hall, including Sarah Hicks, Ignat Solzhenitsyn and Edwin Outwater.  

• Two concerts under the baton of Virginia G. Piper Music Director Michael Christie – Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Piazolla’s Four Seasons and his Scottsdale finale concert.  

• Two additional conductors exclusive to the Scottsdale Series, Daniel Meyer and Robert Moody.  

2012/13 Series Tickets

Season tickets to the 2012-13 season are now on sale, with a variety of packages offered for the Classics, Pops, Family and Scottsdale series. Packages provide subscribers with savings of up to 30 percent off ticket prices to the general public. Only subscribers enjoy exclusive benefits such as flexible ticket exchanges, pre-sales, and special offers. Package prices start at $58 and can be purchased by calling the Phoenix Symphony Box Office Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 602-495-1999 or visiting www.phoenixsymphony.org.  

2012-13 Season Calendar 

CLASSICS SERIES 
(*denotes Coffee Classics)

POPS SERIES 

SCOTTSDALE SERIES 

FAMILY SERIES

Da de los Muertos
(Day of the Dead)
October 27
Symphony Hall

Family Holiday Celebration
December 1
Symphony Hall 

Tubby the Tuba
January 19
Symphony Hall

A Pirate’s Adventure
March 16
Symphony Hall

Carnival of the Animals
May 25
Symphony Hall