The Venice Symphony Plans Return to Live, In-Person Concerts in 2021-22
Music director of The Venice Symphony Troy Quinn.
Image: Courtesy The Venice Symphony
In another sign that arts organizations hope to return to normalcy by fall, The Venice Symphony has announced its 2021-22 season, planning for live, in-person performances.
The names of the guest performers and the works being played may sound familiar to symphony patrons. As music director Troy Quinn said in the season announcement release, “We promised to roll over our concert programs and guest artists from last season to this season due to the response to the programs and the great artistry of these guest artists.” The Covid-19 crisis had forced postponement of last year’s regular season.
So, the 48th season (taking place at the Venice Performing Arts Center) now commences Nov. 19 and 20 with “Brahms and the Boys,” featuring Brahms’ Symphony No. 4 and welcoming Thomas Hooten, principal trumpet of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, on Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto in E-Flat Major.
In time for Christmas and Chanukah, “A Holly Jolly Holiday,” Dec. 17 and 18, brings audiences classic carols and music from The Nutcracker and film favorites, with Key Chorale returning to the stage for Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” and a traditional sing-along.
Guest vocalist Coya Bailey Jones performs in January 2022.
Image: Courtesy The Venice Symphony
Our area’s ties to the circus are saluted with “Under the Big Top: A Tribute to the Circus,” Jan. 14 and 15, 2022. Guest soloist Coya Bailey Jones will perform “Never Enough” from The Greatest Showman, and music from Gypsy, The Lion King and Swan Lake is included.
Piper Eric Rigler reprises his original performance of “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic when the symphony offers “A Night at the Oscars,” Feb. 4 and 5. You can also expect to hear music from Forrest Gump, The Godfather, Braveheart and more.
Piper Eric Rigler, performing in February.
Image: Courtesy The Venice Symphony
It’s a mix of “Superheroes and Schumann” Feb. 25 and 26 when the orchestra presents Sibelius’ Finlandia on the same program as The Dark World of Thor, paying a visit to the Marvel and DC universe. The concert will conclude with Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, featuring concertmaster Marcus Ratzenboeck.
The symphony’s gala weekend will be celebrated with “Game of Romes,” March 18 and 19, with the rousing score of Ben-Hur, the theme from Game of Thrones, and Rossini’s Overture from William Tell all on the bill. The finale is Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4, “The Italian Symphony.”
Violinist Fabiola Kim, guesting in April.
Image: Courtesy The Venice Symphony
Violinist Fabiola Kim solos on Ralph Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending when the orchestra presents “Fantasy, Firebird and Fabiola,” April 22 and 23. The finale, of course, delivers Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite.
Not part of the subscription series and also rescheduled from 2020 is “Songs from the Screen and Stage with Linda Eder,” May 6 and 7. This concert will offer a mix of classics from Broadway and Hollywood.
Season subscriptions and packages are available now by calling (941) 207-8822. The symphony’s Pre-Concert Talks (free) will also resume before each concert. For complete info, go to thevenicesymphony.org.
