The Santa Maria Philharmonic Society announced the lineup of concerts for the 2016-2017 season, which is the debut season with Michael Nowak as music director. According to a press release from the board of directors, the organization has strived over the past three years to establish financial stability while expanding programs and the season.
The concert season opens on Sept. 24 with Rach and Roll, which closes out with guest pianist Robert Edward Thies performing Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 2” with the orchestra. The first half of the program includes Berlioz’s “Beatrice and Benedict” and Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite.” The second season concert takes place Dec. 2 and is titled Holiday Baroque, which will feature Corelli’s “Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 8,” Marcello’s “Oboe Concerto in D Minor,” Handel’s “Water Music,” and Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Air from Suite No. 3.”
The first concert of 2017 takes place on Feb. 25, featuring one composer for the Mozart Maximus concert. The program includes Mozart’s “La Clemenza di tito,” the “Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major” with guest violinist Jessica Guideri, and “Symphony No. 40 in G Minor.” The last season concert will be April 22, 2017, featuring The Bold and the Beautiful, including Brahms’ “Haydn Variations,” Barber’s “Adagio for Strings,” and Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5.”
The Santa Maria Philharmonic Society is also planning a 2016 Gala event, with the theme of “Casablanca,” which will include an evening of romance and big band music. More information is available, including season tickets, at santamariaphilharmonic.org.
This article appears in Aug 11-18, 2016.