Carmel Symphony Orchestra announces 2019-20 Season

The Carmel Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and Music Director Janna Hymes proudly announce their 2019-20 season: Musical Journeys with Janna. The Masterworks Series consists of concerts designed to transport the audience to another time and place as they experience the power of 18 incredible composers performed by the CSO’s 85 talented musicians.

The Masterworks Series features world-renowned guest artists Edgar Meyer, Philippe Quint, and many more. Attendees to the Masterworks concerts are invited to join Janna for a free pre-concert talk, called Meet the Music, at 6:30 p.m., to learn more about the music they are about to enjoy. All concerts take place at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts unless otherwise noted.

In addition to the Masterworks Series, the CSO offers several special events. CSO’s Symphony on the Go Series wraps up on September 21 with a performance at Mallow Run Winery. In December, the IU Health Holiday Pops concert will feature guest artists Sarah Scharbrough, the Wright Brothers, and the award-winning Carmel High School Ambassadors. Subscribers to the Masterworks Series receive free admission to this holiday favorite! In January, returning guest artist Steve Lippia invites audience members to dress in period attire and enjoy the swinging sounds of Sinatra and Friends. In February the CSO and Actors Theatre of Indiana co-present a gripping semi-staged production of Steven Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

“Our special events are truly exceptional,” said Executive Director Jeanelle Adamak. “The Palladium is the perfect environment to enjoy the Carmel Symphony Orchestra’s great performances.”

Families with children are encouraged to attend CSO concerts. The CSO offers heavily discounted YouthPASS and CollegePASS single concert tickets. Every adult who purchases a Masterworks Series subscription receives a season YouthPASS, which allows high school and younger students to attend all the Masterworks Series concerts and the IU Health Holiday Pops concert free! In addition, the CSO offers several educational and family-friendly musical experiences throughout the year. The February Family Fun! concert invites families to sit on stage with musicians while they play, then visit a Musical Petting Zoo where kids can learn more about and try out the instruments they just saw and heard. And in March, Side-by-Side with Carmel High School, presented by Clay Township, showcases student and professional musicians playing together in a performance that inspires and motivates not only a rising generation of musicians but also all who attend.

“Our season is designed to inspire and entertain,” said Maestro Janna Hymes. “Whether you are an aficionado or seeing the symphony for the first time, you are welcome! I encourage you to take a musical journey with us,” she said.

Subscriptions and single tickets may be purchased by calling the Palladium Box Office at the Center for the Performing Arts at 317.843.3800. Learn more about our concerts at https://carmelsymphony.org.

The Masterworks Series

From Paris to Russia with Love - October 12, 2019. The Masterworks Series begins on October 12 with, “From Paris to Russia with Love.” This sweeping musical program features works by beloved French composers Berlioz and Ravel and culminates in an exciting presentation of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Op. 17. Tchaikovsky composed this symphony while visiting his sister’s family in Ukraine. In his favorite place, surrounded by family and friends he cherished, his work reflects his joy perfectly.

Hope of Romance and Adventure - November 9, 2019. Guest Artist: Philippe Quint, violin The series continues November 9 with, “Hope of Romance and Adventure.” This concert features wistful, imaginative and poignant pieces by Verdi, Ravel, and Schumann, and includes rarely performed compositions by silent movie icon Charlie Chaplin. The CSO is thrilled to welcome internationally renowned violinist, Philippe Quint, as guest artist. Quint, known for his remarkable lyricism and virtuosity, has performed with orchestras around the world, including Leipzig’s Gewandhaus and New York City’s Carnegie Hall.

An Austrian Odyssey - February 8, 2020. Guest Artists: Colleen Daly, Soprano; Ann McMahon Quintero, Mezzo; Matthew Vickers, Tenor; Branch Fields, Bass On February 8, the CSO goes on “An Austrian Odyssey,” with the Anderson University Choirs, led by Dr. Richard Sowers. This concert features Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125. The CSO is proud to welcome guest soloists Colleen Daly, Ann McMahon Quintero, Matthew Vickers, and Branch Fields.

Journey into Jazz - March 14, 2020. Guest Artist: Edgar Meyer, bass “Journey into Jazz” features music in the American tradition, including pieces from Gershwin, Joplin, and Gould. Award-winning bassist and composer, Edgar Meyer, joins the CSO on the Palladium stage for this journey. Hailed as “the most remarkable virtuoso in the relatively un-chronicled history of his instrument” by the New Yorker, Meyer’s performances and compositions can be heard in a wide variety of studio recordings by some of the best-known musicians of our day, including cellist Yo-Yo Ma and violinist Joshua Bell. The program includes one of Edgar Meyer’s own compositions, Concerto for Double Bass in D. The evening ends with a spirited performance of Badelt and Zimmer’s beloved film score, Pirates of the Caribbean.

Passport to Prague - April 18, 2020. The 2019-20 Masterworks Series ends with “Passport to Prague” featuring Dvořák’s joyous and energetic Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88. Dvořák composed his eighth symphony to celebrate his admission into the Prague Academy in 1889. At that time, Czech art and culture were experiencing a resurgence after centuries of imposed Germanization under the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Drawing from the folk music tradition of the Bohemian countryside, Dvořák achieved a new style with his work - pastoral and idyllic. This joyous and spirited symphony transports the audience to the lush and rustic Czech countryside and provides a fitting end to a season designed to transport CSO patrons through the brilliant world of symphonic music.