SASO retrospect and new season preview

Chinese guzheng player Jing Xia will perform with SASO January 27-28.

Chinese guzheng player Jing Xia will perform with SASO January 27-28.

American violinist Chloe Trevor will perform with SASO October 14-15.

American violinist Chloe Trevor will perform with SASO October 14-15.

Punch Howarth

Musicians in the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra provided great musical experiences to mostly sold-out audiences last season. The closing concert was a season high with Melanie Chae’s reading of the Schumann Piano Concerto and Dvorak’s melodic Symphony No. 7. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 was S.R.O. Other gems were Gershwin’s Piano Concerto, Elgar’s Violin Concerto and Faure’s Requiem with soloists and SASO Chorus. Director Linus Lerner was in top form throughout the season, and Russian guest conductor Anton Shaburov was outstanding. The orchestra continues to grow with several new faces maintaining musical quality.

Next season will again offer a variety of concerts with a solid base of “tried and true” selections along with newer works and a special program celebrating Chinese New Year with the Tucson Sino Choir. Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony No. 6 is the only symphony scheduled. Concertos by Khachaturian, Rachmaninov, Fine and Wieniawski will thrill concert goers. Christi Amonson will return again singing Barber’s Knoxville: Summer 1915 and Poulenc’s Gloria with the SASO Chorus. New works by Harberg, Fine and Theofanides will be performed. Other well-known composers: Enescu, Vivaldi, Dvorak and Rossini have selections to be performed. Again the Dorothy Vanek Youth Concerto Competition winner will be selected. Rachmaninov’s brilliant Symphonic Dances will close the season.

SASO will perform a free program at the Fox Theater downtown of opera arias and Mexican symphonic works on September, 15, time T.B.A. SaddleBrooke and Oro Valley concert dates are October 14 and 15, November 18 and 19, January 27 and 28, March 10 and 11, April 14 and 15.

For information about tickets, membership, concert and soloist details, go to www.sasomusic.org or call 520-308-6226.