The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra has a new Musical Director

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The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra’s international search for a new Music Director was announced in the spring of 2013. Over 12 months, a committee comprised of orchestra musicians and community members spent over 2000+ hours to screen a slate over more than 275 candidates from around the world to choose five finalists, who each conducted a classical program during the 2014-2015 season.

The finalists were,  Alondra de la Parra, Steven Jarvi, Eric Jacobsen, Dirk Meyer, and Leslie B. Dunner. On May 4th, patrons of the Philharmonic were invited to the Plaza Live Theater for a Sneak Peek to find out who would conduct the orchestra for the next season. As at the Academy Awards, a single sealed envelope sat on a music stand at center stage. Emily Lindahl was kind enough to be sure I found a seat up front to sketch from. As we bustled through the crowd, she let slip that HE was the perfect choice as conductor. So the list was whittled down to four finalists in my head now. If Orlando wasn’t ready for a female conductor, would they be ready for an African American conductor? I didn’t get to see every conductor perform, so I am unqualified to decide who should lead the Orchestra into the future. But I was certainly impressed with Alondra and Leslie, the conductors I did get to sketch.

 After much pomp and circumstance the envelope was opened and the tympani drum roll began. Eric Jacobsen‘s name was announced and the Philharmonic brass section played regal music from the balcony. Hailed by the New York Times as “an interpretive dynamo,” conductor and cellist Eric has built a reputation for engaging audiences with innovative and
collaborative programming projects. As co-founder and Music Director of
adventurous orchestra The Knights and a founding member of genre-defying
string quartet Brooklyn Rider, he may take credit for helping to ensure
“the future of classical music in America”. (Los Angeles Times).

David Schillhammer., the Philharmonics Executive Director sat on stage opposite Eric and together they announced the upcoming season. Eric must have some loose ends to tie up because there were quite a few concerts where a guest conductor had to fill in.

Mark Your Calendars! The Music Director Debut will be on Saturday October 24, 2015 at 8:00pm at the Bob Carr Theater. Eric Jacobsen will conduct and Joyce Yang will be on piano. Music Director Eric Jacobsen and the orchestra embark on
their musical journey with two concerts featuring Van Cliburn silver
medalist Joyce Yang, and a banquet of masterpieces spanning four
centuries.

BEETHOVEN  Leonore Overture No. 3

TCHAIKOVSKY  Piano Concerto No. 1

GABRIEL KAHANE World Premiere

RAVEL  Daphnis et Chloe: Suite No. 2

 For more information about all the other concerts coming up this season, be sure to check the Orlando Philharmonic web site.

The Orlando Ballet brings the magic of Coppélia to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

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On April 30th I went to the Dr. Philips Center for the Performing Arts to sketch a dress rehearsal of Coppélia. In Greek Coppélia means “young lady” and this comic ballet premiered in 1870. The performance was set to he music of Léo Delibes. Terry decided that she wanted to see this rehearsal, so she met me in front of the Center. When I opened the stage door, I was surprised to see a crowd of journalists. At Earth Day, I bumped into Jim Cundiff, the Interim Executive Director at the Orlando Ballet. He told me about an exciting collaboration between the Ballet, Orlando Philharmonic, and Central Florida Community Arts. It turned out that this rehearsal was the platform to officially announce this collaboration.

Robert Hill, the Ballet’s Artistic Director, David Shilhammer, the Executive Director of the Orlando Philharmonic and Joshua Vickery the founder and Executive Director of Central Florida Community Arts stood on stage before the rehearsal.  Since it’s inception in 1974, the Orlando Ballet has relied on recorded music for it’s performances. Starting in October of 2015, the Philharmonic Orchestra will perform in the pit to bring all future ballet performances to life. David Shilhammer explained that recorded music limits the performers from taking chances and varying their rhythm and timing, The orchestra can adapt to each performance allowing for greater flexibility. In April of 2016 the Ballet will collaborate with Central Florida Community Arts which has 800 singers in multiple choirs. This is a win win for all the organizations and audiences. As the Dr. Phillips Center was being constructed, critics assumed that local arts groups would never stand to benefit. This incredible collaboration proves that they can and will endure.

Coppélia concerns an inventor, Dr Coppelius, who has made a life-size dancing doll.
It is so lifelike that Franz, a village youth, becomes infatuated with
it and sets aside his true heart’s desire, Swanhilde. She shows him his
folly by dressing as the doll, pretending to make it come to life and
ultimately saving him. The rehearsal was playful and magical. The mechanical dance choreography was delightful. I had never seen this ballet and I am glad I finally did. I also admired the gorgeous painted backdrops which had a rich deep impressionistic use of color. I would think that the dancers might hold back a bit in a rehearsal, but everyone danced full out. Many of their athletic moves defied gravity.

Mark Your Calendars! The remaining performances of  Coppélia are today May 2nd at 11am and 8pm and May 3rd at 2pm at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts 445 South Magnolia Avenue

Orlando, FL. Tickets  starting at $38.75 are available online or at the box office. This really is an amazing production, and bring your kids, they will love it too.

Looking ahead…

October 30- November 1, 2015 Gisselle with music by the Orlando Philharmonic.

December 17 – 20, 2015 Nutrcacker with music by the Orlando Philharmonic.

February 5-7, 2016 the world premiere of The Firebird with music by the Orlando Philharmonic.

March 18-20, 2016 Don Quixote with music by the Orlando Philharmonic.

April 29-May 1, 2016 the world premiere of Beauty and the Beast with Central Florida Community Arts.

Cirque De La Symphonie

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Merrill Lynch was a primary sponsor for the Cirque De La Symphonie concert on March 30th. Terry invited quite a few of her clients to the concert and the VIP reception held beforehand at the Bob Carr. I started sketching the buffet while Terry entertained clients. Within moments the line for Food grew. I was faced with a wall of people’s backs and an occasional glimpse at the spread. Outside, the sun set causing the sky to flash orange. For the longest time I left the middle table empty because I couldn’t catch a glimpse of it. Carol Connor joked that by the time I finished the sketch, the food would all be gone so leaving the table empty might be correct. When my sketch was done, the line had died down so I quickly ate a small plate of food as the lights flashed to get people seated in the theater. Merrill Lynch financial advisers purchased tickets for their clients to attend the concert. David Shilhammer announced that it was the largest number of tickets ever sold to a single corporate sponsor.

At the concert, Cirque and the Orlando Philharmonic collaborated in a thrilling program featuring music by Bizet, Tchaikovsky, Dvorak and others. Acrobats, contortionists, jugglers and strongmen performed and aerialists soared overhead as the orchestra supplied the musical suspense. Elena Tsarkova did an amazing act in which she performed quick costume changes on stage in a matter of seconds behind a glittering curtain. I have no idea how it was done but every woman should see this act to realize it shouldn’t take long to get dressed to go out.

When Elena performed as a contortionist, Terry leaned over and said, “I bet you would like to sketch her.” She was right.

Orlando Philharmonic Sneak Peek

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This is the 20th anniversary of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. A sneak peek event was held at the brand new Full Sail Live facility on 436 and University Boulevard. The event was for Friends of the Philharmonic and the Press. I made the mistake of putting my Full Sail lanyard around my neck thinking it would make me blend in. It must have made me look like a lost student instead. One of the women at a reception table asked if she could help me. When she realized I wasn’t lost, she offered me a press pass.

All the front row seats had purses, programs and persons seated in them. A string quartet was playing and I decided I should start sketching right away. I wandered back stage a bit and sat down in my artists stool to sketch. When the music stopped, David Shillhammer, the executive director of the Orchestra, addressed the crowd. The 20th Anniversary season will kick off on September 29th with Mahler’s Symphony # 3, the Pastorale Symphony. On October 13th “Wicked Divas” will hit the stage with Andrew Lane conducting and Broadway stars Alli Mauzey and Nichole Parker singing songs from Wicked, Gypsy, Chicago, Ragtime and Phantom. November 17th Bronfman & Beethoven will come to the Bob Carr. Yefim Bronfman will perform on the piano. Local composer Stella Sung will unveil a new piece commissioned by Lynn & Chuck Steinmetz, the recipients of the 2o12 John Blackburn Distinguished Service Award.

David Shillhammer made an announcement that Sharon & Marc Hagle donates $750,000 that morning to the Philharmonic. This was the first gift towards establishing a family foundation endowment fund to continue endorsing the orchestra going into the future. The Bryce West foundation also supports the performing arts in Central Florida. Harriett Lake is Sponsoring “How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying.” This show about corporate ladder climbing will be on May 11th at 2pm and 8pm Saturday.

Opera is being kept alive as the Philharmonic joins forces with the Florida Opera Theater Company to stage, Rigoletto on March 2nd & 4th, The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart on November 9th & 11th, and Madam Butterfly by Puccini on April 5th & 7th. Frank McClain is directing these productions which are semi staged featuring the music by having the orchestra onstage as the actors sing. Cirque De La Symphonie on March 30th at 2Pm & 8pm Saturday sounded thrilling. Featuring the music of Bizet, Saint Saens, Tchaikovsky, Dvorak and others along with acrobats, contortionists, jugglers and strongmen. Aerialists will sour overhead as the orchestra offers suspense.

For the first time the Orchestra will be collaborating with the Shakespeare Theater to bring “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” to like. There is also “The Summer Series”, “The Focus Series” and “My Funny Valentine” featuring Michael Andrew & Swingerhead on February 9th. There is plenty happening as the 20 year old Symphony forges forward into its mature years.