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Inaugural Classics Series at Sandler Center; Classics at Suffolk Center
Romantic Favorites Ravel’s Bolero and Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture Highlights;
JoAnn Falletta Performs Vivaldi’s  Guitar Concerto;
Guest Artists Sir James Galway, Joshua Bell, Eroica Trio, Nicola Benedetti and more

Hampton Roads, VA… The Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s 2007-2008 season weaves the expressive threads of Romanticism through its repertoire as the orchestra inaugurates a season that adds seven Classics concerts at the newly built 1200 seat Sandler Center in Virginia Beach; continues its Classics series at Chrysler Hall, Norfolk; its Classics and Coffee Concerts series at the Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News and its Classics at St. Bede Catholic Church, Williamsburg and Regent University Theatre, Virginia Beach.

The Symphony will also present a new Classics series at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. “We have an exciting 88th season,” said Carla Johnson, “one with a broad sampling of great music. In keeping with our commitment to serve all of Hampton Roads, we are delighted to be  inaugurating a new Classics series in the Sandler Center in Virginia Beach and in the Center for Cultural Arts in Suffolk as well as continuing our Classics series at Chrysler Hall, Ferguson Center for the Arts, Regent University and St. Bede in Williamsburg. And we have Salon Chamber series in Smithfield and Yorktown as well.” said Johnson, “We are particularly excited about performing in the new Sandler Center. We have a small but very devoted audience for our Sunday matinees and by transferring these concerts to the Sandler Center, we hope that the intimacy of this 1200 seat hall will enhance their concert experience while allowing for growth.”

The 2008 season will showcase the 79 exceptional musicians of the orchestra as well as incomparable guest artists and guest conductors from around the globe in compelling programs with composers ranging from Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Ravel, Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Bruckner and Brahms to the music of our time by Adams, Corigliano and Kernis.

Headlining guest artists returning this year are violinist Joshua Bell, Sir James Galway, conductor Scot Yoo, pianist Christopher O’Riley and cellist Zuill Bailey.
Making their first appearances with the Virginia Symphony in 2007-2008 are violinist Nicola Benedetti, the Eroica Trio, conductor Edwin Outwater and pianist Yakov Kasman.
For the first time in her tenure with the Virginia Symphony Music Director JoAnn Falletta, will be the guest soloist on stage with the orchestra as she performs Vivaldi’s Guitar Concerto in D Major.

The season opens Friday, September 7, 2007, 8pm at the Ferguson Center for the Arts, continues Saturday, September, 8, 8pm, Chrysler Hall and  Sunday, September 9, 2:30pm, Ferguson Center for the Arts. For the season opener, JoAnn Falletta conducts Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6, “Pathetique,” the final symphony by the Romantic composer that premiered in 1893, nine days before his death. Tchaikovsky said of his symphony, “Guest pianist Christopher O’Riley joins the orchestra to perform Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major.

The VSO inaugurates its seven concert Classics Series at Sandler Center Sunday, November 4, 2007, 2:30 pm with Aaron Jay Kernis’s New Era Dance followed by Beethoven’s Triple Concerto featuring the stunning Eroica Trio, and Brahms Symphony No. 1.

Describing the season, Music Director Falletta noted, “The Virginia Symphony will present its most romantic season to date in 2007-2008 with a vibrant tapestry of works by Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, Ravel, Brahms, Beethoven and other composers who explore the full gamut of the emotional and dramatic possibilities for orchestra.  

Contemporary romantic voices such as John Corigliano and Aaron Jay Kernis will also bring new color to a year that holds beloved favorites and exciting discoveries.  Best of all, the  Symphony musicians will bring their magic to every corner of our region, proudly serving thousands of music lovers in southeasterm Virginia.”  

2007-2008 Classics Highlights

• Behind the Notes  Pre - Concert Conversations 7-7:30 pm offering an informal discussion by JoAnn Falletta and/or guest artists with refreshing insights into the program of the evening. Concert Conversations are free and open to all concert goers.
• Opening Night featuring performances of Tchaikovsky’s last symphony, Symphony No. 6, Pathetique and Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major performed by Christopher O’Riley.
• Joshua Bell performing Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 at Chrysler Hall
• Sandler Center Classics opens with Beethoven’s Triple Concerto performed by the Eroica Trio. Sunday afternoon Classics move to Sandler Center in November.
• Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts Classics begin in November
• Bolero  with Ravel’s famous composition as well as Schubert’s Symphony No. 4, Tragic and contemporary composer John Adams Violin Concerto performed by VSO Assistant Concertmaster Amanda Armstrong
• All Beethoven with JoAnn Falletta conducting Beethoven’s Egmont Overture,  Symphony No. 7 and Piano Concerto No. 3 performed by Cecile Licad
• 1812 Overture also featuring Rachmaninoff’s rarely-performed The Bells
• Sir James Galway performing Rossini, Kodaly and John Corigliano’s Pied Piper Fantasy with area flute students.
• JoAnn Falletta Plays Vivaldi with JoAnn Falletta performing Vivaldi’s Guitar Concerto in D Major
• Virginia Symphony  Soloists Performances including Concertmaster Vahn Armstrong, Associate Concertmaster Yun Zhang, Principal Second Violin Simon LaPointe, Assistant Principal Second Violin Elizabeth Coulter Vonderheide, Assistant Concertmaster Amanda Gates Armstrong and Principal Viola Beverly Kane Baker.

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The Virginia Symphony Orchestra with a complement of 79 professional musicians under the direction of Grammy-nominated Music Director JoAnn Falletta performs 140 concerts annually, reaching 200,000 concert goers every season in venues throughout the region. Our education and outreach programs reach 53,000 students and adult learners every year. The Virginia Symphony Orchestra is the cultural cornerstone of the performing arts in Hampton Roads.