New Haven Symphony Orchestra Announces 2022-23 Season Concerts

Press release from NHSO:

Aug. 26, 2022

The New Haven Symphony Orchestra (NHSO) announces the concert programs for its 2022-2023 residency at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). The season will open on Sunday, October 23 at 3:00pm with a program conducted by music director Alasdair Neale and featuring the premiere of To Awaken the Sleeper, NHSO Composer-in-Residence Joel Thompson’s ode to literary giant James Baldwin.

NHSO Residency at Southern Connecticut State University

The residency amplifies the Symphony’s commitment to performing accessible concerts for diverse audiences, collaborating on- and off-stage with community partners, and infusing educational opportunities into every facet of the organization. The residency will include on-campus concerts, classroom visits, hands-on learning experiences, and internships.

The Symphony’s main performance venue for the 2022-2023 Season will be the John C. Lyman Center for the Performing Arts, SCSU’s multi-disciplinary performing arts venue. The distinctive 1,500-seat mainstage features a three-quarter “thrust” stage design, placing the audience in an intimate semi-circle around the stage. Other features of the Lyman Center include free and easy parking lots, modern facilities, and fast access to surrounding restaurants, highways, and public transportation.

The series at the Lyman Center will include orchestral music by historic and living composers and featuring guest artists from around the world and from within the orchestra’s roster. The NHSO will also continue its regional concerts at Shelton High School and Hamden High School this season in a Pops Series curated and conducted by Principal Pops Conductor Chelsea Tipton, II.

Music Director Finalist Concerts

Four music director finalists have been chosen by the NHSO Music Director Search committee, comprising NHSO musicians, board directors, and community members. The finalists will each spend a different week in New Haven in the Winter and Spring of 2023, rehearsing with the orchestra for a concert that they have programmed, leading music education activities, and meeting with key community constituency groups. The search committee will review feedback from employees, the audience, and broader community and will announce the new music director in the Summer of 2023. Current Music Director Alasdair Neale’s tenure will continue through the Spring of 2024 and the new Music Director will begin in the role in the Summer of 2024.

2022-2023 SEASON CONCERT SCHEDULE:

UNFORGETTABLE: THE MUSIC OF NAT KING COLE

Saturday, October 8 at 3pm – Hamden High School

Sunday, October 9 at 3pm – Shelton High School

The season kicks off with the Unforgettable hits of legendary singer Nat King Cole, including L-O-V-E, Nature Boy, and Mona Lisa. The NHSO welcomes guest star CAESAR, whose smooth velvet voice has often been compared to Nat King Cole’s, but with his his own interpretation and style that compares to none.

featuring Chelsea Tipton, II, Principal Pops Conductor and Caesar, guest vocal soloist

TO AWAKEN THE SLEEPER

Sunday, October 23 at 3pm – Lyman Center for the Performing Arts at SCSU

Joel Thompson – To Awaken the Sleeper (Premiere)

Dmitri Shostakovich – Symphony No. 11, “The Year 1905”

featuring Alasdair Neale, conductor and Joel Thompson, narrator

A Gala Celebration!

BRAHMS & RACHMANINOFF

Friday, November 11 at 7:30pm – Lyman Center for the Performing Arts at SCSU

Pre-Concert Gala Reception at 5:00pm – Adanti Center Ballroom at SCSU

Johannes Brahms – Symphony No. 2

Sergei Rachmaninoff – Piano Concerto No. 2

Samuel Coleridge Taylor – Ballade

featuring Alasdair Neale, conductor and Joyce Yang, piano

HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA

Saturday, December 17 at 3pm – Lyman Center for the Performing Arts at SCSU

Sunday, December 18 at 3pm – Shelton High School

Holiday favorites including excerpts from The Nutcracker, You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch, Polar Express, Deck the Halls, Greensleeves, Somewhere in my Memory, Stille Nacht, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

featuring Alasdair Neale, conductor and the Fairfield County Children’s Choir

CABRERA CONDUCTS DVORAK

Friday, January 20 at 7:30pm – Lyman Center for the Performing Arts at SCSU

Antonín Dvořák – Symphony No. 8

Emmanuel Séjourné - Concerto for Marimba and Strings

Anna Clyne - Stride for String Orchestra

Richard Strauss – Serenade in E-flat Major

featuring Donato Cabrera, music director candidate and Aya Kaminaguchi, NHSO principal percussionist

RHAPSODY IN BLUE

Saturday, February 18 at 3pm – Hamden High School

Sunday, February 19 at 3pm – Shelton High School

Experience one of the defining voices in American music in a program of music celebrating George Gershwin. This jazzy program will include vocal solos from the American songbook as well as Gershwin’s virtuosic masterpiece, Rhapsody in Blue.

featuring Chelsea Tipton, II, Principal Pops Conductor

MILLER CONDUCTS SCHUMANN & BEETHOVEN

Friday, March 10 at 7:30pm – Lyman Center for the Performing Arts at SCSU

Ludwig van Beethoven - Piano Concerto No. 2

Robert Schumann - Symphony No. 2

Valentin Silvestrov - Hymne

featuring Tania Miller, music director candidate and Chelsea Guo, piano & soprano soloist

SO CONDUCTS BEETHOVEN

Sunday, March 26 at 3pm – Lyman Center for the Performing Arts at SCSU

Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony No. 3

Samuel Barber - Violin Concerto

Tania León - Ácana

featuring Perry So, music director candidate and Aubree Oliverson, violin soloist

FREE Admission!

YOUNG PEOPLE’S CONCERT

Saturday, April 1 at 1pm – Lyman Center for the Performing Arts at SCSU

Florence Price - “Juba Dance” from Symphony No. 1

Arturo Marquez - Danzon No. 2

Alberto Ginastera – excerpts from Variaciones Concertantes

John Williams – excerpts from Star Wars

Igor Stravinsky, “Berceuse” and “Finale” from The Firebird

featuring Alasdair Neale, conductor

BLATCHLY CONDUCTS DAWSON

Sunday, April 16 at 3pm – Lyman Center for the Performing Arts at SCSU

William Levi Dawson - Negro Folk Symphony

Angélica Negrón – Moriviví

Violin Concerto to be Announced

featuring James Blatchly, music director candidate and Simone Porter, violin soloist

PRICE, BONDS & HAGAN

Friday, May 12 at 7:30pm – Lyman Center for the Performing Arts at SCSU

Florence Price – Piano Concerto in One Movement

Margaret Bonds – Montgomery Variations

Helen Hagan – Piano Concerto No. 1, Mvt. 1 (premiere)

Quinn Mason – A Joyous Trilogy

featuring Alasdair Neale, conductor and Michelle Cann, piano

ARETHA: A TRIBUTE

Friday, June 2 at 7:30pm – Lyman Center for the Performing Arts at SCSU

Sunday, June 4 at 3pm – Shelton High School

A Tribute to the Queen of Soul, this program features Broadway sensation Capathia Jenkins performing such iconic hits as “Respect,” “Think,” “A Natural Woman,” “Chain of Fools,” and many others.

featuring Chelsea Tipton, II, Principal Pops Conductor and Capathia Jenkins, guest vocal soloist

Tickets: Patrons who purchase tickets or subscribe to 4 or more concerts get a 20% discount that can be applied to any subsequent ticket purchases on concerts through June 2023. Subscription packages start as low as $48. Ticket prices for individual concerts vary by performance and can start as low as $15. Tickets for kids 17 and under are free with the purchase of an adult ticket. Young People’s Concerts are free admission although ticket registration is required. To purchase tickets, visit NewHavenSymphony.org or call (203) 693-1486 Monday-Friday from 12-5pm.

Covid-19 Protocols: The NHSO will announce updated policies for Covid-19 safety at the end of the summer and those policies will be posted at NewHavenSymphony.org. Policies may be adjusted throughout the year as conditions change. The NHSO will exchange or refund tickets upon request due to concerns over a change in policy.

This press release was produced by NHSO. The views expressed here are the author's own.