Central Oregon Symphony Conductor Michael Gesme announced the musical programs for the Symphony’s upcoming 50th anniversary season. In the spirit of the anniversary, he has arranged return performances by recent audience favorite guest artists .
Gesme describes the season as “a nod to more than two centuries of orchestral music and musicians. There are works from six different composer nationalities, various styles of composition such as symphonies, concerti and dance, music that was composed in 1786, music that will be completed in 2017 and numerous points in between. It’s a very exciting season!”
The season schedule is packed with variety designed to delight every musical taste, including:
August 21, 9am COCC track starting line. At the season’s warm-up event, runners have the opportunity to Beat Beethoven. If you can run 5k before Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony ends, you beat Beethoven. Ends with a live performance by the Summit Express Jazz Band.
September 21, 6pm Riverhouse Convention Center. The Pacific Coast Horns come from LA to entertain at the Symphony’s anniversary kick-off party. The bistro-style supper and show are a tribute to 50 successful years of the COS in the community. Maestro Gesme marks his 21st season with the Symphony.
October 7, 7:30pm Sunriver Observatory. Adding sparkle to the anniversary celebration is a Starlight Serenade with vocal music and dessert in the Pozzi Education Center followed by stargazing at the Observatory.
2016-17 COS Concert Series
Guest artists and programs for the upcoming season:
FALL – October 22-24. Guest artist 3 Leg Torso plays compositions by Balogh/Von Drehle. The concert includes Polovtsian Dances by Borodin, and Ballet Suite from Le Cid by Massenet.
WINTER – February 11-13, 2017. Guest artist Kotaro Fukuma, piano, performs Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1; additional works include Mozart’s Overture to The Impresario, and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 (Italian).
SPRING – May 20-22, 2017. Guest artist Linda Wang, violin, performs Violin Concerto by Brahms. Cascades, a new work by James Barnes commissioned for the anniversary by the Central Oregon Symphony Association will receive its world premiere. The concert will close with the raucous Danzon No.2 by Marquez.
May 21, 2017, 6pm Riverhouse Convention Center. The Anniversary Season concludeswith a Musicians’ Appreciation Dinner, where current and past orchestra members and COS donors will gather to celebrate COS’s first 50 years.
COS offers a Children’s Concert, Symphony Spotlight recitals, Music in Public Places and Symphony Stars programs.
www.cosymphony.com