Whether you’re looking for “An American in Paris,” “A Bow to Brahms” or a musical journey through space, the Toledo Symphony is offering these events and more during its 2009-10 season. Individual tickets for all events are now on sale, with concerts beginning in September.

“This season is all about the audience,” said Kristen Celek, symphony spokeswoman. “The Toledo Symphony is performing pieces from traditional to premieres. The season also brings a great musical variety in each of our series.”

“The 2009-2010 season places particular emphasis on members of the orchestra in solo roles,” said Robert Bell, Toledo Symphony president and CEO. “Seven Toledo Symphony Orchestra musicians are featured in the Classic Series, as well as the Toledo-based saxophone quartet ensemble, Sax Fourth Avenue. More orchestra talent appears in the pops series, including former local resident and violinist Zak Depue.”

The chamber music of Mozart, Wilder and Beethoven will be featured on Sept. 13, at the Toledo Club, while Mahler’s Third Symphony, the first concert in the Classics Series, is slated for Sept. 25-26 at The Peristyle. Described as a “virtuoso showpiece for a very large orchestra,” Mahler’s Third Symphony features both the BGSU Women’s Chorus and the Junior Choral Society of Northwest Ohio.

Gershwin’s “An American in Paris,” also part of the Classics Series, is on tap for Nov. 20-21 at The Peristyle. The concert features guest artist Stewart Goodyear on piano.

December will bring inaugural performances of Handel’s Messiah, which feature the full symphony orchestra and the combined choruses of The Toledo Choral Society and the BGSU Chorus. The concerts will take place on Dec. 5-6, at The Peristyle.

Also at The Peristyle is a performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons on Jan. 15-16, while Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Richard Marx performs on Jan. 23, at the Stranahan Theater as part of the KeyBank Pops Series. Marx’s hits include “Hold on to the Night,” “Right Here Waiting” and “Don’t Mean Nothing.”

On Feb. 27, Toledo native Jamie Farr will narrate Gustav Holst’s “The Planets,” a multimedia adventure in which images from the NASA Hubble Space Telescope projected on screens above the stage will choreograph with live music from the symphony and narration from Mr. Farr.

“Each planet has its own movement, and Jamie Farr will narrate descriptions about each of the planets between those movements,” Celek said. “This is a family-friendly concert that features a big, beautiful sound and the whole orchestra.”

Another season highlight features guest artist Kirill Gerstein on piano as he performs Rachmaninoff and Gershwin’s Rhapsodies. The concert will take place March 20, at The Peristyle. Gerstein made his Toledo Symphony debut last season.

For a listing of programs and to purchase tickets, visit www.toledosymphony.com or call (419) 246-8000.

This entry was posted on Friday, September 4th, 2009 at 12:00 am and is filed under Arts and Life, Toledo Symphony.
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