Chris Botti, Beethoven, Schubert, et al. Set for Columbus Symphony 2012-2013 Season

Subscriptions are now on sale for the Columbus Symphony's 2012-13 Masterworks and Pops seasons. Masterworks will continue to present eight concerts at the Ohio Theatre and four concerts at the Southern Theatre. All Pops concerts will remain at the Ohio Theatre.

2012-13 MASTERWORKS SEASON:

Season Opener Special Event – BEETHOVEN'S NINTH
Friday, October 5, 8pm
Ohio Theatre (39 E. State St.)
Jean-Marie Zeitouni, conductor
Dominique Labelle, soprano
Susanne Mentzer, mezzo-soprano
Adam Diegel, tenor
David Pittsinger, bass-baritone
Columbus Symphony Chorus

Program:
Handel, Zadok the Priest (Coronation Anthem No. 1), HWV258
Mozart, Ave verum corpus, K. 618
Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125, Choral

Jean-Marie launches the season with Beethoven's uplifting Ninth Symphony performed by a brilliant quartet of guest vocalists, the Columbus Symphony Chorus, and the full orchestra. The work culminates with Ode to Joy, a heartening message of universal love and hope ("all men shall be brothers"). The evening's program also includes a grand ode for the coronation of England's King George II by Handel and a gentle motet by Mozart.

MASTERWORKS 1 – TCHAIKOVSKY & SCHUBERT
Friday, October 12, 8pm
Saturday, October 13, 8pm
Ohio Theatre (39 E. State St.)
Jean-Marie Zeitouni, conductor
Nareh Arghamanyan, piano

Program:
Glinka, Overture to Russlan and Ludmilla
Tchaikovsky, Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 23
Schubert, Symphony No. 9 in C Major, D. 944, The Great

From the soaring, folk-flavored themes of Tchaikovsky's beloved Piano Concerto No. 1 to Schubert's expansive and exhilarating final symphony, melody reigns supreme in this enthralling program. Winner of the 2008 Montreal International Music Competition, Armenian-born Nareh Arghamanyan is one of the finest pianists of today's promising young generation and will perform the Tchaikovsky work.

MASTERWORKS 2 – BEETHOVEN'S PASTORAL SYMPHONY
Friday, October 19, 8pm
Saturday, October 20, 8pm
Sunday, October 21, 3pm
Southern Theatre (21 E. Main St.)
Jean-Marie Zeitouni, conductor

Program:
Rossini, Overture to Guillaume Tell (William Tell)
Rebel, Les élémens
Beethoven, Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68, Pastoral

Jean-Marie will lead the orchestra in the familiar overture to Rossini's William Tell opera (ending with the galloping "Lone Ranger" theme) and a delightful suite of dances by the French Baroque composer, Jean-Féry Rebel, before guiding you through Beethoven's enchanting countryside landscapes in the refreshing "Pastoral" symphony.

MASTERWORKS 3 – RACHMANINOFF & SIBELIUS
Friday, November 2, 8pm
Saturday, November 3, 8pm
Ohio Theatre (39 E. State St.)
Tito Muñoz, conductor
Elina Vähälä, violin

Program:
Cowell, Ancient Desert Drone
Sibelius, Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Minor, Op. 47
Rachmaninoff, Symphony No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 27

Praised by the Chicago Tribune as "a musician whose brilliant technique is matched by abundant spirit, sensitivity, and imagination," violinist Elina Vähälä channels the fire and poetic atmosphere of the mighty concerto penned by her fellow Finnish native, Jean Sibelius. Also featured is the sumptuous Romanticism of Rachmaninoff's melodious Symphony No. 2.

MASTERWORKS 4 – CHEEK & CHARM
Friday, November 16, 8pm
Saturday, November 17, 8pm
Sunday, November 18, 3pm
Southern Theatre (21 E. Main St.)
Jean-Marie Zeitouni, conductor
Alicia Hui, CSO featured violin

Program:
Stravinsky, Octet
Prokofiev, Concerto No. 1 in D Major for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 19
Milhaud, Le Boeuf sur le toit, Op. 58
Ravel, Suite from Ma Mère l'Oye (Mother Goose)

From magical fairy tales by Ravel to Milhaud's zesty South American samba, a brisk, neo-classical chamber piece by Stravinsky, and a lyrical and exciting violin concerto by the young Prokofiev, this intriguing program shows you how much bright, appealing music was composed during the first quarter of the 20th century.

MASTERWORKS 5 – VIENNA DANCES
Friday, January 4, 8pm
Saturday, January 5, 8pm
Ohio Theatre (39 E. State St.)
Jean-Marie Zeitouni, conductor
Marc-André Hamelin, piano

Program:
Strauss, Overture to Die Fledermaus
Strauss, Burleske in D Minor for Piano and Orchestra
Brahms, Hungarian Dance No. 1 in G Minor
Brahms, Hungarian Dance No. 5 in G Minor
Brahms, Hungarian Dance No. 6 in D Major
Strauss, Kaiserwalzer (Emperor Waltz)
Mozart, Concert-Rondo in D Major for Piano and Orchestra, K. 382
Strauss, Suite from Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59

Works by composers who fell under the spell of Vienna's love for dance make up this irresistible program. A frothy operetta overture and a regal waltz by Johann Strauss, Jr. share the bill with the lilting suite from Richard Strauss' (no family relation) oh-so-Viennese opera, Der Rosenkavalier. Piano soloist Marc-André Hamelin, hailed as "one of the most complete musicians of his generation" for his debut concert with the Berlin Philharmonic, adds to your enjoyment with playful works by Mozart and Richard Strauss.

MASTERWORKS 6 – BAROQUE FESTIVAL
Friday, January 11, 8pm
Saturday, January 12, 8pm
Sunday, January 13, 3pm
Southern Theatre (21 E. Main St.)
Monica Huggett, conductor/violin

Program:
Vivaldi, La primavera from The Four Seasons for Violin and Orchestra, R. 269
Vivaldi, String Sinfonia alla Rustica
Vivaldi, String Sinfonia, RV 157
Vivaldi, L'estate from The Four Seasons for Violin and Orchestra, R. 315
Locatelli, Lamento in F Minor
Vivaldi, L'autunno from The Four Seasons for Violin and Orchestra, R. 293
Locke, The Tempest from Suite of Instrumental Music from The Tempest
Vivaldi, L'inverno from The Four Seasons for Violin and Orchestra, R. 297

Celebrated Baroque music expert Monica Huggett performs double duty as conductor and violinist in this feast of 18th century favorites headlined by Vivaldi's enormously popular, ever-fresh concertos portraying the four seasons.

MASTERWORKS 7 – MOZART & HAYDN

Friday, February 1, 8pm
Saturday, February 2, 8pm
Ohio Theatre (39 E. State St.)
Matthew Halls, conductor
GillIan Keith, soprano
Columbus Symphony Chorus

Program:
Haydn, Te Deum for the Empress Maria Therese, Hob. XXIIIc:2
Mozart, Exsultate, jubilate, K. 165
Mozart, Regina coeli, K. 108
Mozart, Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K. 551, Jupiter

This program is a glorious Mozart showcase, from his last and greatest symphony to two gorgeous works for soprano and orchestra. Also featured is the festive choral piece composed by his great friend, Joseph Haydn, for the wife of the Austrian emperor.

MASTERWORKS 8 – SONG OF THE EARTH
Friday, February 22, 8pm
Saturday, February 23, 8pm
Ohio Theatre (39 E. State St.)
Jean-Marie Zeitouni, conductor
Sasha Cooke, mezzo
Anthony Dean Griffey, tenor

Program:
Theofanidis, Rainbow Body
Britten, Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes, Op. 33a
Mahler, Das Lied von der Erde (The Song of the Earth)

The Song of the Earth, Mahler's infinitely ingenious combination of song cycle and symphony, anchors this rapturous program. Through texts drawn from eighth-century Chinese poems, it basks in the beauties of nature and distils the heartbreak of earthly experience. Britten's kaleidoscopic sketches of the sea in its many moods and an intriguing tribute to the spirituality of medieval music by Christopher Theofanidis complete the program.

MASTERWORKS 9 – BEETHOVEN & MENDELSSOHN
Friday, March 1, 8pm
Saturday, March 2, 8pm
Sunday, March 3, 3pm
Southern Theatre (21 E. Main St.)
Jeffrey Kahane, conductor/piano

Program:
Beethoven, Concerto No. 4 in G Major for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 58
Frazelle, Elegy for Strings
Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56, Scottish

The multi-gifted Jeffrey Kahane conducts from the keys for the most relaxed and genial of Beethoven's piano concertos. Switching solely to conducting, he also leads Mendelssohn's evocative souvenir of Scotland.

MASTERWORKS 10 – CELEBRATION OF SPRING
Friday, March 22, 8pm
Saturday, March 23, 8pm
Ohio Theate (39 E. State St.)
Jean-Marie Zeitouni, conductor
BalletMet

Program:
Stravinsky, Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring)

The Columbus Symphony and BalletMet collaborate to welcome spring with Igor Stravinsky's earth-shaking, riot-inducing recreation of prehistoric pagan rituals, The Rite of Spring. Conducted by Jean-Marie, the program will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ballet's Paris premiere with a piece choreographed by BalletMet's Gerard Charles performed on stage in front of the orchestra.

MASTERWORKS 11 – BRAHMS' REQUIEM
Friday, April 19, 8pm
Saturday, April 20, 8pm
Ohio Theatre (39 E. State St.)
Jean-Marie Zeitouni, conductor
Ronald Jenkins, conductor (Paulus work only)
Dominique Labelle, soprano
Joshua Hopkins, baritone
CSO Chorus

Program:
Paulus, World Premiere
Barber, Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Op. 24
Brahms, Ein Deutches Requiem, Op. 45 (German Requiem)

The soul-stirring A German Requiem by Brahms (named after the language in which it is sung) communicates profound messages of peace, hope, and consolation. You'll also enjoy Barber's nostalgic homage to small-town America, and the world premiere of a piece by the widely acclaimed composer, Stephen Paulus, commissioned in honor of Ronald Jenkins, director of the Columbus Symphony Chorus and Chamber Chorus since 1982.

MASTERWORKS 12 – FANTASTIQUE FINALE
Friday, May 3, 8pm
Saturday, May 4, 8pm
Ohio Theatre (39 E. State St.)
Jean-Marie Zeitouni, conductor
Vadim Gluzman, violin
The Ohio State University Chorale

Program:
Bach, Es ist Genug
Brahms, Three Motets, Op. 110
Berg, Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
Berlioz, Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14.

Jean-Marie concludes the Masterworks season with the ultra-colorful, dream-like landscapes of the Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique. Acclaimed violin soloist Vadim Gluzman performs the haunting Concerto by Alban Berg which quotes the lovely Bach chorale melody that opens the concert.

2012-13 POPS SEASON

AIR SUPPLY
Saturday, October 6
Ohio Theatre (39 E. State St.)
Albert-George Schram, conductor
The Australian born duo of guitarist/singer/songwriter Graham Russell and lead vocalist Russell Hitchcock have been making music together as Air Supply for more than 30 years with hits including "Lost in Love," "All Out of Love," "The One That You Love," "Sweet Dreams," and "Making Love Out of Nothing at All."

THE FAB FOUR
Saturday, November 10, 8pm
Ohio Theatre (39 E. State St.)
With uncanny note-for-note, live renditions of Beatles' songs and precise attention to detail, the Fab Four will make you think you're watching the real thing. This incredible stage show and loving tribute to the Beatles includes three costume changes representing every era of the super group's career and record-perfect live performances of such classics as "Can't Buy Me Love," "Yesterday," "A Day In The Life," "Twist And Shout," "Here Comes The Sun," and "Hey Jude." www.TheFabFour.com

HOLIDAY POPS
Friday, November 30, 8pm
Saturday, December 1, 8pm
Sunday, December 2, 3pm
Ohio Theatre (39 E. State St.)
Ronald J. Jenkins, conductor
Columbus Symphony Chorus
Columbus Children's Choir
BalletMet
A great annual Columbus tradition continues as Ronald J. Jenkins leads the Columbus Symphony and Chorus in some of the season's most-loved holiday songs and carols. Santa will also stop by to help spread holiday cheer!

CIRQUE DE LA SYMPHONIE
Saturday, January 19, 8pm
Ohio Theatre (39 E. State St.)
Peter Stafford Wilson, conductor
Cirque de la Symphonie is a unique and elegant fusion of cirque and orchestra, adapting the stunning artistry of cirque with the majesty of a full symphony orchestra. The program will feature works from the world's greatest composers while showcasing the best of cirque, including aerial flyers, acrobats, contortionists, dancers, jugglers, balancers, and strongmen. 

Al Jarreau
Saturday, March 9, 8pm
Ohio Theatre (39 E. State St.)
Al Jarreau's unique vocal style is one of the world's most precious treasures. His innovative musical expressions have made him one of the most exciting and critically acclaimed performers of our time, earning him seven Grammy Awards, scores of international music awards, and popular accolades worldwide.

Chris Botti
Friday, April 12, 8pm
Ohio Theatre (39 E. State St.)
Albert-George Schram, conductor
Since the release of his 2004 critically acclaimed CD When I Fall in Love, Chris Botti has become the largest selling American jazz instrumental artist. His success has crossed over to audiences usually reserved for pop music, and his ongoing association with PBS has led to four #1 jazz albums, as well as multiple Gold, Platinum, and Grammy Awards.