Sarasota Orchestra Announces 2022-23 Season

First, the Sarasota Orchestra last month announced plans to build a new multimillion-dollar home on a site on Fruitville Road (between Honore and Cattleman), where an 1,800-seat concert hall and a 700-seat recital hall will welcome the public in a state-of-the-art acoustic concert center. Now the orchestra has announced its 2022-23 concert season, its first full season led by music director Bramwell Tovey.
The season features a lineup of five different subscription series in all, as well as a special gala featuring world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

The “Masterworks” series begins November 4-6, with Tovey conducting and guest pianist Joyce Yang on works by Grieg and Berlioz. “Luminous Colours” will follow December 2-4, with Lina Gonzalez-Granados conducting and guest violinist Bornsori Kim, as works by Bruch and Dvorak are performed. Tovey conducts again (and welcomes longtime collaborator violinist James Ehnes, as well as soprano Laquita Mitchell) in concerts from January 5-8 featuring Sibelius’ Violin Concerto and Mahler’s Fourth Symphony. Tovey returns once again for “A Romantic Affair,” Feb. 2-5, with pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii playing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2; and Copland and Stravinsky are the focus of the February 24-26 concerts conducted by Kensho Watanabe and featuring Karen Gomyo on violin.
by Beethoven emperor Prokofiev’s Concerto and Symphony No. 5 headline concerts March 16-19 (with conductor Paul Daniel and pianist Behzod Abduraimov); and the Masterworks Series concludes March 31-April 2 with Tovey and the Musicians joined by violinist Gil Shaham and works by Korngold and R. Strauss.
The Pops series, meanwhile, features an array of Broadway favorites (April 21 and 22); classic British pop tunes from Noel Coward to James Bond (March 3 and 4); and a music program by Billy Joel and Elton John (January 20 and 21). All are at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
The orchestra’s “Discoveries” series offers 75-minute programs designed to appeal to both newcomers and those more experienced in classical music. Works by Mozart and Tchaikovsky fill the bill on October 1; by Liszt and Bizet on December 21; and by Villa-Lobos and Mendelssohn, May 13. These concerts take place at the Sarasota Opera House.
One of the orchestra’s most popular series, “Great Escapes,” mixes lighthearted classics and popular favorites in concerts centered on “A Night at the Movies” (October 12-15); “Seasonal Gifts” (7-11 December); “A Little Night Music” (January 11-15); “Date Night” (February 8-12); “American Vibes” (March 8-12); and “Sounds of Spring,” April 12-15. The intimate small ensemble performances called “Chamber Soirees” will feature the Sarasota String Quartet (October 9); Orion Weiss and Friends (November 13); Wind quintet and trio (December 18); “Scottish Songs” (January 22); Schumann and Brahms (April 23); and something really special, as Music Director Tovey plays Gershwin’s Rhapsody in blue (February 19).
Tovey will also conduct two special concerts this season, “The Thrill of a Lifetime” on February 18, which highlights the talents of the Sarasota Youth Philharmonic; and this gala evening (March 2) welcoming cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who will perform Dvorak’s Cello Concerto.
For show and ticket details, visit www.sarasotaorchestra.org.