Create
Gershwin takes the spotlight in next Florida Orchestra season
Music director Michael Francis and The Florida Orchestra will salute the iconic American composer George Gershwin with several concerts in the 2023-2024 season, which will begin in September.
George Gershwin. Photo: Wiki Commons.
A pops concert Jan. 27 at the Mahaffey Theater, and the following day at the Straz Center’s Morsini Hall, will celebrate the occasion of Gershwin’s 125th birthday. The all-Gershwin program will include “‘S Wonderful,” “The Man I Love,” selections from Porgy & Bess, An American in Paris and more.
Rhapsody in Blue, Gershwin’s best-known longform work, blending symphonic music with jazz, will turn 100 in 2024 – and TFO will perform the piece at a pair of Mahaffey Theater Masterworks concerts Feb. 17 and 18. That program also includes “Herald, Holler & Hallelujah: Fanfare for Brass & Percussion” by contemporary composer Wynton Marsalis, along with three dances from Leonard Bernstein’s “On the Town” and Mason Bates’ “Alternative Energy.”
American Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring is performed Oct. 21 and 22; the program also features Grammy-nominated baritone Jubilant Sykes performing American spirituals.
TFO’s Pop Series includes Cirque Dances (with in-person acrobatics from Troupe Vertigo), concert tributes to the Beatles, disco and science fiction movies, and, of course the annual Holiday Pops concert (with five performances) and the free Pops concert in Vinoy Park (date to be announced).
New this season will be secret “mystery pieces – moments of discovery and fun that won’t be listed in the program,” Francis said in a prepared statement. “We remain passionate about reflecting the different cultures that make up Tampa Bay and beyond.”
A full schedule of TFO’s specials and community concerts such as Inside the Music, Sing Out Tampa Bay, full-orchestra family concerts, the Soundwaves Chamber Concert Series and more will be released over the summer.
Season tickets are available now at the orchestra website. Single tickets go on sale July 31.
Francis will be the guest on Friday’s Arts Alive! podcast, discussing the new season.
Masterworks Series
Holst’s The Planets, with the Percussion Collective, the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay. Sat, Sept 30, 8 p.m., Mahaffey Theater; Sun, Oct 1, 7:30 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall.
Copland’s Appalachian Spring, with Jubilant Sykes, baritone. Selected Old American Spirituals, Copland: Appalachian Spring Suite, Dvorak: Slavonic Dances. Oct 21, 8 p.m., Mahaffey Theater; Sun, Oct 22, 7:30 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, with Michael Daugherty: Metropolis Symphony, Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Ravel: La Valse. Sat, Oct 28, 8 p.m., Mahaffey Theater; Sun, Oct 29, 2 p.m., Mahaffey Theater – Matinee
Brahms’ Symphony No. 1, with Wagner: Flying Dutchman Overture, Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2. Fri, Nov 17, 8 p.m., Straz Center, Ferguson; Sat, Nov 18, 8 p.m., Mahaffey Theater; Sun, Nov 19, 7:30 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall
Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 4, with Respighi: Fountains of Rome, Bernstein: On the Waterfront Symphonic Suite, Missy Mazzoli: Sinfonia (For Orbiting Spheres), Sat, Jan 6, 8 p.m., Mahaffey Theater; Sun, Jan 7, 7:30 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall
Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6, with Valentin Silvestrov: Prayer for Ukraine (arr. Resatch), Barber: Violin Concerto, Fri, Jan 19, 8 p.m., Straz Center, Ferguson; Sat, Jan 20, 8 p.m., Mahaffey Theater
Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue (celebrating its 100th anniversary), with Wynton Marsalis: Herald, Holler & Hallelujah: Fanfare for Brass & Percussion, Mason Bates: Alternative Energy, Bernstein: Three Dance Episodes from On the Town, Stravinsky: Ebony Concerto. Sat, Feb 17, 8 p.m., Mahaffey Theater; Sun, Feb 18, 2 p.m., Mahaffey Theater – Matinee
Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto, with R. Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, “A Hero’s Life,” Fri, Feb 23, 8 p.m., Straz Center, Morsani; Sat, Feb 24, 8 p.m., Mahaffey Theater; Sun, Feb 25, 7:30 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall.
Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony, with John Adams: The Chairman Dances: Foxtrot for Orchestra, Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 2, Fri, Apr 5, 8 p.m., Straz Center, Ferguson; Sat, Apr 6, 8 p.m., Mahaffey Theater; Sun, Apr 7, 7:30 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall.
Dvorak’s New World Symphony, with Berlioz: Roman Carnival Overture, Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante. Fri, Apr 12, 8 p.m., Straz Center, Morsani; Sat, Apr 13, 8 p.m., Mahaffey Theater; Sun, Apr 14, 2 p.m., Mahaffey – Matinee
Saint-Saens’ Organ Symphony, with Lili Boulanger: Of a Spring Morning, Faure: Requiem (with the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay), Fri, Apr 26, 8 p.m., Straz Center, Ferguson; Sat, Apr 27, 8 p.m., Mahaffey Theater; Sun, Apr 28, 2 p.m., Mahaffey – Matinee
Elgar’s Enigma Variations, with Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin, Brahms: Double Concerto, May 17, 8 p.m., Straz Center, Ferguson; Sat, May 18, 8 p.m., Mahaffey Theater; Sun, May 19, 7:30 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall
Mahler: Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection” with the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, Sat, May 25, 8 p.m., Mahaffey Theater; Sun, May 26, 7:30 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall
Pops Series
Cirque Dances with Troupe Vertigo, the circus meets the symphony. Arial acts and choreographed to Copland’s Hoe-Down, Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty, Khachaturian’s Masquerade and more, Sat, Oct 7, 8 p.m., Mahaffey Theater; Sun, Oct 8, 2 p.m., Mahaffey Theater — Matinee
Women Rock, music of Tina Turner, Heart, Aretha Franklin, Carole King, Janis Joplin and more, Fri, Nov 3, 8 p.m., Straz Center, Ferguson; Sat, Nov 4, 8 p.m., Mahaffey Theater
Hollywood’s Golden Age, film scores from Vertigo, King Kong, Victory at Sea, Psycho, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and more. Sat, Nov 11, 2 p.m., Mahaffey Theater — Matinee; Sat, Nov 11, 8 p.m., Mahaffey Theater
Holiday Pops, with Tampa Oratorio Singers. Fri, Dec 15, 8 p.m., Straz Center, Morsani; Sat, Dec 16, 2 p.m., Mahaffey Theater – Matinee/Sat, Dec 16, 8 p.m., Mahaffey Theater; Sun, Dec 17, 2 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall – Matinee/Sun, Dec 17, 7:30 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall
Sci-Fi Spectacular, music from science fiction movies and television, including Avatar, Star Wars, Star Trek, The Mandalorian, Interstellar and more. Sat, Jan 13, 8 p.m., Mahaffey Theater; Sun, Jan 14, 7:30 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall
Gershwin Celebration, celebrating the composer and pianist who blended popular, jazz and classical genres to create a whole new style of music. With “‘S Wonderful,” “The Man I Love,” “Porgy & Bess” selections, “An American in Paris” and more. Sat, Jan 27, 8 p.m., Mahaffey Theater; Sun, Jan 28, 2 p.m., Straz, Morsani — Matinee
From Broadway With Love, with vocalist Ashley Brown. Sat, Feb 10, 2 p.m., Mahaffey Theater – Matinee; Sat, Feb 10, 8 p.m., Mahaffey Theater
Twist & Shout: The Music of The Beatles, Fri, Mar 1, 8 p.m., Straz Center, Morsani
Disco Fever, with the greatest hits of the ‘70s. Fri, May 3, 8 p.m., Straz Center, Ferguson; Sun, May 5, 7:30 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall
Morning Matinees Series
Free Pre-concert Conversations with musicians and conductors start one hour before each concert.
Take Flight, music inspired by birds. Featuring Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, Respighi’s The Birds and more. Wed, Oct 4, 11 am, Ruth Eckerd Hall; Thur, Oct 5, 11 am, Mahaffey Theater
Natural Wonders, bringing the great outdoors into the concert hall. Featuring Debussy’s La Mer and more. Wed, Nov 8, 11 am, Ruth Eckerd Hall; Thur, Nov 9, 11 am, Mahaffey Theater
Mythic Masterpieces, featuring Beethoven’s Creatures of Prometheus, Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld and more. Wed, Nov 29, 11 am, Ruth Eckerd Hall; Thur, Nov 30, 11 am, Mahaffey Theater
From the Beginning, the origin story of the symphony. Featuring Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Mahler and more. Wed, Jan 10, 11 am, Ruth Eckerd Hall; Thur, Jan 11, 11 am, Mahaffey Theater
Center Stage, music for the theater. Featuring Beethoven, Grieg, Wagner and more. Wed, Feb 7, 11 am, Ruth Eckerd Hall; Thur, Feb 8, 11 am, Mahaffey Theater
Waltz into Spring, featuring Strauss’ Blue Danube, Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty and more. Wed, May 1, 11 am, Ruth Eckerd Hall; Thur, May 2, 11 am, Mahaffey Theater
