Welcome to our exciting 2008-2009 season! This year’s concert programs feature our Brockton Symphony, crown jewel of our community’s rich cultural life, in music by the world’s most beloved classical composers. From the opening grandeur of Richard Wagner’s Prelude to Die Meistersinger this fall to the spectacular finale to Beethoven’s immortal Emperor Piano Concerto next spring, each program is guaranteed to ignite the passions of our ardent BrSO fans.
We are proud to welcome world-class soloists Frank Powdermaker and Virginia Eskin who will collaborate with our great orchestra in performances of Saint-Saens beloved Third Violin Concerto and Beethoven’s mighty Emperor Concerto, respectively.
On December 7th, like the sweet cream filling of that classic children’s cookie sandwiched between our classical offerings is our perennial family favorite, the Brockton Symphony Holiday Pops concert led by my esteemed colleague, BrSO Assistant Conductor, Dr. Emilian Badea. Dr. Badea is renowned throughout the region for delivering imaginative programs with humor and grace, guaranteeing a fun-filled Holiday Concert to delight the inner child within us all. Adding an extra touch of spice to Brockton Symphony’s holiday cheer is Dr. Badea’s special guest artist, the exquisitely talented vocalist Francesca Simone, newly crowned winner of the Miss Rhode Island 2008 pageant.
Our Gala Season Opener features a trio of sonic spectaculars penned by exponents of their respective nationalist schools of composers. Richard Wagner, the great German composer, is famous for his monumental operas built upon heroic literary themes. Die Meistersinger delights with its soaring melodies and rich orchestrations, favorites among instrumentalists for the wealth of challenging performance opportunities afforded every musician.
Saint-Saens is the quintessential French composer. His Third Violin Concerto combines elegant phrasing and passionate melodies with fiery technical displays. My good friend and colleague, Frank Powdermaker is a veteran soloist and master ensemble musician leader, having served as concertmaster of the Opera Company of Boston and Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestras, and won auditions for positions with the Toronto and Pittsburgh Symphonies, and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Frank and I occasionally are assigned to the same violin desk in the Boston Pops where I have the opportunity to observe first-hand his unparalleled professionalism and world-class musicianship. We also share a common tie to Brockton: my teacher, Stanley Benson of the Boston Symphony, was a native of Brockton. Frank studied with Stanley’s wife Clara, who frequently performed as a violinist with our very own Brockton Symphony!
Rounding out our first program is Tschaikowsky’s mighty Second Symphony, the “Little Russian.” While researching music for our current season, Tschaikowsky’s name appeared a dozen times in my season outline. His best known symphonies, 4, 5 and 6, require massive string and wind sections which exceed our current budget and concert stage limitations. Suddenly, I recalled this “diamond in the rough,” his Second Symphony! Tuneful, majestic, full of folk melodies and the orchestral pyrotechnics which musicians and audiences crave from this master symphonist, the “Little Russian” is a sure-fire barnburner, and the perfect complement to our Wagner and Saint-Saens crowd pleasers. Just ask our brass section: they’re already fired up and raring to show off their mighty prowess on opening night!
Stay tuned for details of an additional BrSO pops concert currently in the planning stages and targeted for mid-winter with sponsorship provided by our wonderful friends at the Brockton Rotary Club.
These are difficult economic times for us all. We are deeply grateful to you, our longtime listeners and supporters, for helping us keep Brockton Symphony’s proud heritage of community service alive and well. But, ticket revenue covers only a small fraction of the cost of producing top-level orchestral concerts. We encourage your contributions to the continuing success of BrSO in the form of tax deductible contributions, goods and services, and volunteering in the office or at performances. Please contact our symphony office for further details.
With your passionate support, we look forward to creating the next 60 years of vibrant Brockton Symphony concert memories!
The Brockton Symphony Orchestra is recognized as Brockton's leading performing arts institution, one of the leading community symphony orchestras in Massachusetts, and one of the best regional orchestras in the country.
