Alexandria Symphony Announces 2022-2023 Season: Of Songs and Tales
Posted May 05, 2022 | ASO News, Press Releases,
Alexandria, VA—The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra announces its 2022-2023 Season led by Music Director James Ross. The five programs offer new collaborations, great masterworks, selections from living composers, soloists from diverse backgrounds and a timely new text for a centuries-old “Ode to Joy.”
The season launches on October 1 and 2, 2022 with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 (Ode to Joy). The ASO is joined by members of the Fairfax Choral Society, Northern Virginia Community Chorus and the Northern Virginia Chorale, with Chorus Director Thomas Colohan. Vocal soloists Dara Rahming, Marquita Raley-Cooper, Rodrick Dixon and Daniel Rich appear in collaboration with the Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts (CAAPA). The performances will feature a new English text by former U.S. poet laureate and Pulitzer prize-winner Tracy K. Smith. The program opens with Ralph Vaughan Williams’ ethereal Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis.
ASO performs Rimsky-Korsakov’s musical epic Scheherazade on November 12 and 13, 2022. Two new Alexandrians from Afghanistan—Hamid Habib Zada and Negin Khpalwak—bring their artistry to ASO stage with Dinuk Wijeratne’s Tabla Concerto and two songs by Afghanistan’s “Elvis,” Ahmad Zahir: Farwardin and Zindegi Akhair Sarayat. John Williams’ Adventures on Earth from E.T. the Extraterrestrial rounds out this adventuresome program.
ASO’s holiday celebration, December 17 and 18, 2022, features dancers from BalletNOVA in excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s beloved Nutcracker. Soprano Helena Colindres brings traditional holiday favorites and some Latin surprises. Favorites from Händel’s Messiah and an audience sing-along will add cheer to the season.
The Thalea String Quartet headlines on February 11 and 12, 2023 with Jessie Montgomery’s inspiring Banner and the American premiere of a newly completed work of Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante. Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings evokes anguish resolving to harmonious peace. The program concludes with Haydn’s last and greatest symphonic work, Symphony No. 104 (London).
For the season finale, a single performance on April 15, 2023, Maestro Ross pairs two of the most popular works in the symphonic repertoire: Stravinsky’s breathtaking ballet Rite of Spring recalls ancient Russian rituals, and pianist Natalia Kazaryan, a native of the Republic of Georgia, brings her virtuosity and lyricism to Grieg’s Piano Concerto. Guido López-Gavilán’s Mojito con saoco, commissioned by the Cuban American Youth Orchestra, is a spicy take on Hemingway’s favorite cocktail.
Both October performances and all Saturdays will be held at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center. Sunday matinees in November, December, February will be held at the George Washington Masonic Memorial. Subscription packages start at $86 for five concerts. Adult prices for single tickets start at $20; $5 for youth and $15 for students. Military, senior and group discounts are also available. Subscriptions available now; single tickets on sale July 1, 2022.
