Join us to celebrate the collective power of women in classical music. The FSO is delighted to showcase the gifts of the female composers and performers that will occupy 50% of the Season 74 programming! By gathering as a community to partake in their creations, we ensure that the legacy of female composers, performers, and educators in classical music is fully appreciated and valued.
This season’s robust program has something for everybody. It includes romantic and timeless symphonies, to profound and exciting works by living composers, to soul music and choral collaboration, and even a joint performance with Flag Shakes, the NAU Dance Academy, and NAU Vox Astra. Here’s to a fresh and exciting Season 74! Come Break Sound Barriers with us.
Love and Laughter: Dvořák, Cloud and Rachmaninoff – September 29, 2023
The perfect date night awaits. Be swept away by the lively, thrilling melodies of Dvorak’s Carnival Overture. The delightful charm of HiJinx, a whimsical composition by Flagstaff’s own Judith Cloud, will put a smile on your face as you witness the extraordinary talents of our guest clarinetist, Jun Watabe. Then, hold on to your seat for Sergei Rachmaninoff’s monumental Second Symphony, filled with lush, heartwarming melodies that will leave you feeling inspired.
Fantastique! Ortiz, Liszt and Berlioz – October 27, 2023
An impressively vivid evening of musical magic. Hector Berlioz’ Symphonie Fantastique paints a vivid picture of a composer’s wild imagination, consumed with love for a woman he has never met. Our concert will bring this incredible story to life with captivating excerpts and descriptions, immersing you in 1830s Paris. Flagstaff’s own Silvan Negrutiu performs Franz Liszt’s bombastic Totentanz. You’ll also discover Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz’s Kauyumari, based on Native Mexicans’ peyote-fueled interactions with the blue deer spiritual guide that helps them communicate with their ancestors.
Symphonic Soul: Morgan James – January 20, 2024
Powerhouse vocalist, Broadway veteran and concert favorite Morgan James brings the classic sounds of Memphis to a full symphony orchestra. This program is a love letter to one of the great American birthplaces of soul, featuring brand-new arrangements of Memphis classics by Al Green, Otis Redding, Ann Peebles, Sam and Dave, and, of course, Elvis. Morgan rounds out the evening with her own Memphis soul originals and storytelling. Hear your favorite soul tunes come to life in a brand-new way that will have you dancing and singing along!
A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Felix Mendelssohn / William Shakespeare – February 17, 2024
Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece comes to life in a special one-of-a-kind performance featuring actors from the Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival. Felix Mendelssohn’s music written for the play brings together the FSO, NAU’s Vox Astra choir, and the NAU Community Music and Dance Academy’s ballet program. Join us for this huge, festive community celebration of the arts!
Visionaries in Sound and Motion – April 12, 2024
To conclude the season, FSO presents captivating music and mesmerizing visuals to celebrate two groundbreaking works by contemporary women composers. Mary Watkins; Five Movements in Color is a poignant and powerful reflection on the African-American experience, certain to stir the hearts of all who listen. Jocelyn Hagen’s Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, featuring Shrine of the Ages Choir and Master Chorale of Flagstaff, immerses you in the artist’s unique genius. This awe-inspiring multimedia concert experience masterfully combines live music with cutting-edge video syncing technology. Witness the brilliant sketches and words of da Vinci come to life before your eyes in a dazzling display of artistry and innovation.
