News
February 11, 2016Albany Symphony Announces 2016-2017 Season
The Albany Symphony is excited to celebrate Grammy Award winner David Alan Miller’s 25th anniversary season as music director, as he continues to energize and inspire Capital Region audiences through a broad range of adventurous and innovative programs for audiences young and old. His dynamic presence on the podium, passion for the music of our time, and strong devotion to music education have brought the Albany Symphony to a new level of success during his tenure. The 2016-2017 season will be the Symphony’s 87th, and is designed to celebrate all the things that make the collaboration between Maestro Miller and the Orchestra so special. There are great treats in store for patrons of all ages and interests!
The anniversary season will feature recognized artists, including world famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Additional highlights include Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, an opening night gala, a weekend of Mozart and Bach, and the popular American Music Festival.
Patrons are encouraged to purchase season subscriptions, which are currently on sale. For those purchasing the full subscription series, the Albany Symphony will provide eight concerts for the price of seven—and subscribers will have priority access to the very best seats for Yo-Yo Ma’s concert on December 8, 2016.
“I am so excited to share our new season with you, our patrons and friends. It features my very favorite music new and old, as well as many of my favorite guest artists, including the magnificent Yo-Yo Ma. At the same time, we have also invited many young and emerging performers and composers, who will be with us for the very first time. A lot has changed during my 25-year tenure with the Albany Symphony. What haven’t changed are the incredible quality of our musicians and the sophistication and passionate interest of our listeners. Our goal remains to provide each audience member with unforgettable, one-of-a-kind musical experiences that celebrate the power of music. I feel so fortunate to have lived and worked in our enlightened, artistically vibrant community for these 25 years,” said Albany Symphony Music Director, David Alan Miller.
The guest artists for the 2016-2017 season are among the most talented in the music world. The gala opening concert will feature soprano Saili Oak and pianist Natasha Paremski. In January, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1 will be performed by the great Russian virtuoso, Ilya Rashkovskiy. Other artists making their first appearance with the Albany Symphony include oboist Kathleen Needleman, violist Richard O’Neill, and guest conductor Karina Canellakis. In addition, there will be soloists from the Bard College Conservatory for the Mozart & Bach weekend. Several outstanding guest artists will participate in the American Music Festival in May, including the radiant violinist Chee-Yun and legendary Indian Folk-Clarinetist Shankar Tucker.
“There is so much to be excited about as we embark upon our new season. We hope to encourage as many people as possible to purchase a subscription and celebrate with us all year long. You won’t want to miss the exciting emerging composers who will join us, as well as those who regularly grace us with their talents, including Michael Torke, George Tsontakis, Christopher Rouse and Joan Tower, whose “Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman, No. 6” will be performed alongside Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9,” said Miller.
Chair of the Board Marisa Eisemann said, “We want to thank our talented music director for the 25 years he has dedicated to our incredible Albany Symphony. David has brought world-class musicians and renowned composers to the orchestra, and his vision and passion have made so many people fall in love with classical music, old and new. During his tenure, the Albany Symphony has become one of the most vital, exciting, and important orchestras in the country. We look forward to many more years of great leadership and inspiration from Maestro Miller.”
The season will also connect the orchestra and the music it performs to society and community in meaningful ways. For example, the January 7, 2017 concert, featuring John Corigliano’s masterpiece Symphony No. 1, “Of Rage and Remembrance,” will feature part of the AIDS quilt in the lobby of the Palace Theatre.
The 2016-2017 season runs from October through June. Concerts will be held at the Palace Theatre, Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, and EMPAC. Patrons can purchase a season subscription online, by phone or visiting the box office (see info below).
2016-2017 Season:
Opening Night Gala- Ravel & Sibelius
Saturday, September 24, 2016: 7:30 p.m.
Palace Theatre
David Alan Miller, Conductor
Saili Oak, Soprano
Natasha Paremski, Piano
Reena Esmail: “Aria” for Soprano and Orchestra
Ravel: Piano Concerto in G
Sibelius: Symphony No. 5
Peer Gynt
Saturday, October 22, 2016: 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 23, 2016: 3 p.m.
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
David Alan Miller, Conductor
Katherine Needleman, Oboe
Reznicek: Donna Diana Overture
Leroy Anderson: Three Pieces
Rouse: Oboe Concerto
Grieg: Peer Gynt, Suite No. 1
Tchaikovsky: Francesca da Rimini
Water Music & Schumann
Saturday, November 19, 2016: 7:30 p.m.
Sunday November 20, 2016: 3 p.m.
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
David Alan Miller, Conductor
Richard O’Neill, Viola
Handel: Selections from “The Water Music”
Theofanidis: Viola Concerto
Bermel: “A Shout, A Whisper, and a Trace”
Schumann: Symphony No. 4
An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma (Non-Subscription Series, but first access to season subscribers)
Thursday, December 8, 2016: 7:30 p.m.
Palace Theatre
David Alan Miller, Conductor
Yo-Yo Ma, Cello
Wagner, Prelude to “Die Meistersinger”
Dvorak, Serenade for Strings
Conor Brown, New Work (World Premiere)
Elgar, Cello Concerto
Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto
Saturday, January 7, 2017: 7:30 p.m.
Palace Theatre
David Alan Miller, Conductor
Ilya Rashkovskiy, Piano
Barber: The School for Scandal Overture
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1
Corigliano: Symphony No. 1, “Of Rage and Remembrance”
Brahms’ Fourth
Saturday, February 18, 2017: 7:30 p.m.
Palace Theatre
Karina Canellakis, Guest Conductor
Higdon: Dance Cards
Beethoven: Triple Concerto
Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor
Mozart & Bach
Saturday, March 4, 2017: 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 5, 2017: 3:00 p.m.
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
David Alan Miller, Conductor
Soloists from the Vocal Division of Bard College-Conservatory
Mozart: Symphony No, 40 in G minor
Torke: Three Concertinos for Solo Instruments and Orchestra (World Premiere)
Bach: Cantata No. 78 “Jesu, der du meine Seele”
Beethoven’s 9th
Saturday, April 8, 2017: 7:30 p.m.
Palace Theatre
David Alan Miller, Conductor
Albany Pro Musica
Tower: Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman, No. 6
Tsontakis: 25th Anniversary Commission (World Premiere)
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor (“Choral”)
American Music Festival
Saturday, May 21, 2017: 7:30 p.m.
EMPAC
David Alan Miller Conductor
Chee-Yun, Violin
Shankar Tucker, Clarinet
Harbison: Partita for Orchestra
Theofanidis: Violin Concerto
Reena Esmail: Clarinet Concerto (World Premiere)
Mellon Young Composer: New Work (World Premiere)
Additional Subscriber Specials:
Roscoe: An American Grand Opera, by Evan Mack (World Premiere)
Saturday, October 15, 2016: 7:30 p.m.
Palace Theatre
David Alan Miller, Conductor
A new opera composed by Capital Region resident and Skidmore College Professor Evan Mack, based on the novel of the same name by Pulitzer Prize winning author William Kennedy.
Magic of Christmas
December 4, 2016: 3 p.m.
Palace Theatre
David Alan Miller, Conductor
American Music Festival
May 18-21, 2017
A weekend of innovative new works by living American composers, artistic happenings, and special events across Troy, including performances by the Albany Symphony and the Dogs of Desire.
Upgrade your Subscription to include a Festival Pass. The discounted Festival Pass in your passport to explore every festival event.
To Purchase a Season Subscription:
Tickets for all Albany Symphony performances can be purchased by calling 518.694.3300, online, or by visiting the Albany Symphony Box Office at 19 Clinton Ave., Albany, NY 12207. Special rates are available to groups of ten or more. Contact: 518.465.4755 ext. 35.
Purchase a Subscription Online
