South Florida Classical Review

Franz Welser-Möst will conduct three of the Cleveland Orchestra's four Miami programs next season.

The Cleveland Orchestra will expand its Miami season to four weeks in 2012-2013, adding a fall program and more offbeat repertoire to its tried-and-true lineup of populist works and star soloists.

“We are honored to serve Miami further with an increased number of performances, presenting the world’s greatest orchestra in a stunning full season,” said Daniel R. Lewis, chairman of the Musical Arts Association of Miami, in a statement released by the orchestra. “The Cleveland Orchestra’s undeniable artistry and commitment to Miami combined with extraordinary audience response to our first six seasons has resulted in this exciting expansion.”

Music director Franz Welser-Möst will conduct three of the four programs. The season will open November 16-17 with Mahler’s monumental Symphony No. 3. Welser-Möst and the orchestra will be joined by mezzo-soprano Bernarda Fink, the University of Miami Frost Symphonic Women’s Chorus and the Miami Children’s Chorus.

Joshua Bell will partner with Welser-Möst and the Clevelanders January 25 and 26 for a program featuring Beethoven’s Violin Concerto and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10.  The following weekend, February 1 and 2, Garrick Ohlsson will be in the spotlight in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 with Welser-Möst also leading the orchestra in Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique.

The orchestra’s seventh Miami season will close March 15-16 with principal guest conductor Giancarlo Guerrero leading Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, the same work that opened the Cleveland Orchestra’s Florida residency. The vocal quartet in the symphony will feature Nicole Cabell, Elizabeth DeShong, Garrett Sorenson and Raymond Aceto. DeShong will also perform Peter Lieberson’s beautiful Neruda Songs on the first half, and the Master Chorale of South Florida and Master Chorale of Tampa Bay will team up for the choral forces in the Beethoven.

Call 305-949-6722 or go to arshtcenter.org or clevelandorchestramiami.com.

Posted in News

Leave a Comment