The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra (HPO) is proud to announce the 17-18 Season. Reconnect with old classics from Beethoven and Haydn, replenish the senses with a celebration of Russian composers and revive musical passion with a tribute to West Side Story composer Leonard Bernstein. This season offers a full range of orchestral repertoire while highlighting internationally recognized talent and brings forward HPO musicians as soloists. The 17-18 Season promises to be dynamic, immersive and exciting, in the way that only a live, professional orchestra can.
This season, Canadian superstar violinist James Ehnes, returns to FirstOntario Concert Hall to perform Barber’s famous concerto, and James Sommerville returns as guest conductor for Dvořák’s famous New World Symphony in a special weeknight performance.
The Best of Italian Opera brings opera back to the Great Hall with guest conductor Fabio Mastrangelo highlighting famous arias by Verdi, Puccini and Rossini. The HPO recognizes Remembrance Day with Hamilton Remembers, an evening paying homage to our military community and Hamilton’s history. The HPO’s own Michael Fedyshyn returns as the trumpet soloist for this special evening.
In a special end to the season, the HPO celebrates Principal Timpanist Jean Norman Iadeluca’s many years of service to the local and national orchestral community by performing a special work commissioned by American-Canadian composer Ronald Royer. This dynamic and exciting evening also pays tribute to Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday with Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.
In addition to these mainstage performances, the HPO returns to the McIntyre Performing Arts Centre at Mohawk College for two Marz Homes Family Concerts.
17-18 MAINSTAGE CONCERTS
September 23, 2017
Opening Night: Russian Celebrations
FirstOntario Concert Hall, 7:30pm
GEMMA NEW Conductor
MARTIN CHALIFOUR Violin
Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol, Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto, Borodin: Prince Igor Polovtsian Dances, Stravinsky: Firebird (1919 Suite)
Music Director Gemma New kicks off the 17-18 Season with electrifying Russian classics. Canadian violinist and Los Angeles Philharmonic Concertmaster Martin Chalifour makes his Hamilton solo debut in a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, while energetic works by Rimsky-Korsakov and Borodin round out the program. This suite from Stravinsky’s breakthrough ballet, The Firebird ends this concert with a bang, as you HPO brings this dazzling and colourful score to life.
October 21, 2017
Best of Italian Opera
FirstOntario Concert Hall, 7:30pm
FABIO MASTRANGELO Conductor
YANA KLEYN Soprano
JOHN MACMASTER Tenor
The beauty and excitement of opera returns to the Great Hall in an evening of magnificent Italian operatic works. Experience the drama, intrigue and intensity of this genre in a concert featuring famous arias by Verdi, Puccini and Rossini, along with some of opera’s greatest and most familiar melodies.
November 11, 2017
Hamilton Remembers
FirstOntario Concert Hall, 7:30pm
GEMMA NEW Conductor
MICHAEL FEDYSHYN Trumpet
BACH ELGAR CHOIR Guest Artist
GRAND PHILHARMONIC CHOIR Guest Artist
SHANNON MERCER Soprano
JULIE NESRALLAH Mezzo
LAWRENCE WILIFORD Tenor
JOHN FANNING Baritone
Abigail Richardson-Schulte: Fanfare*, John Estacio: Trumpet Concerto, Mozart: Requiem Mass in D minor
In this powerful musical evening, our community comes together to acknowledge Remembrance Day and Hamilton’s history. Our own Principal Trumpet Michael Fedyshyn steps back into the solo position in Canadian composter John Estacio’s new Trumpet Concerto, written as part of the Canada Mosaic partnership in celebration of Canada’s Sesquicentennial. Finally, your HPO presents Mozart’s grand and spiritually cleansing Requiem, as we present one of history’s most moving pieces of music and acknowledge those who have committed their lives to our country. This concert also features a new Fanfare by Composer-in-Residence Abigail Richardson-Schulte which was commissioned for Canada Mosaic, a Canada 150 Signature Project. This project commissioned short works from Canadian composers for 38 partner orchestras.
*world premier
December 16, 2017
Home for the Holidays
FirstOntario Concert Hall, 7:30pm
LUCAS WALDIN Conductor
HEATHER BAMBRICK Vocalist
BRONZE FOUNDATION HANDBELL CHOIR Guest Artist
It’s a winter wonderland as Conductor Lucas Waldin returns to Hamilton in this festive holiday classic! Enjoy the shimmering sounds of handbell choir as your HPO takes you on a journey through heartwarming holiday carols and family favourites from the big screen.
January 20, 2018
Cirque de la Symphonie
FirstOntario Concert Hall, 7:30pm
DANIEL BARTHOLOMEW-POYSER Conductor
The magic of Cirque returns to the HPO, as acrobats perform daring and extraordinary feats of artistry to the beautiful sounds of well-known masterpieces. Your HPO performs works by famous composers such as Bernstein, Bizet, Tchaikovsky and John Williams as aerialists, contortionists and acrobats grace the stage.
February 17, 2018
Beethoven & James Ehnes
FirstOntario Concert Hall, 7:30pm
GEMMA NEW Conductor
JAMES EHNES Violin
Christos Hatzis: Zeitgeist (Spirit of the Age), Barber: Violin Concerto, Op. 14, Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 (Eroica)
Canadian superstar violinist James Ehnes takes one of the 20th century’s most lyrical and rhapsodic works in this program inspired by the heroism of the Romantic era. This ravishing style of Barber’s violin Concerto contrasts Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, a defining piece in the great composer’s body of work.
March 17, 2018
Gemma Conducts Haydn
FirstOntario Concert Hall, 7:30pm
GEMMA NEW Conductor
STEPHEN SITARSKI Violin
GRAHAM MACKENZIE Oboe
JACK MENDELSOHN Cello
ERIC HALL Bassoon
Clementi: Symphony in B-flat major, Haydn: Sinfonia Concertante, Mozart: Overture to Lucio Silla, Haydn: Symphony No. 88
Hamilton’s Haydn Festival closes with pillars of the classical era: Clementi, Mozart and Haydn. Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante features HPO Principals as soloists, and his popular Symphony No. 88, a concert favourite, offers the inventive spirit that made him one of the most celebrated composers in Europe.
April 19, 2018
From the New World
FirstOntario Concert Hall, 7:30pm
JAMES SOMMERVILLE Conductor
CONRAD TAO Piano
György Ligeti: Concert Românesc Béla, Bartók: Piano Concerto No. 3, Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 (From the New World)
James Sommerville returns to Hamilton to conduct Dvořák’s famous New World Symphony in an evening featuring the works of celebrated Bohemian composers. Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 typifies how he could beautifully weave the melodies of African-American spirituals into one of the most popular symphonies of all time. The gypsy spirit is evident in Hungarian composer György Ligeti’s Concert Românesc, inspired by Romanian village music and dynamic young artist Conrad Tao performs Bartók’s folk melody-filled Piano Concerto No. 3.
May 12, 2018
Bernstein & Music of the Americas
FirstOntario Concert Hall, 7:30pm
GEMMA NEW Conductor
JEAN NORMAN IADELUCA Timpani
ERNEST PORTHOUSE Drum Set
Copland: Rodeo Ronald, Royer: Dance Suite for Timpani, Drum Set and Orchestra*, Marquez: Danzon No. 2, Bernstein: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
In tribute to the 100th birthday of Leonard Bernstein and his inimitable artistic style, we turn our ears to the music of the Americas in the 20th century. Bernstein’s playful and pulsating Symphonic Dances from West Side Story are emblematic of the cultural influences of 1950’s New York City, blending the rhythms of Latin dances, jazz and Broadway styles. Additionally, the HPO Timpanist Jean Norman Iadeluca is recognized for his years of service to the local and national orchestral community in a new commission for timpani and drum set by American-Canadian composer Ronald Royer.
*world premier
17-18 MARZ HOMES FAMILY CONCERTS
October 14. 2017
Peter and the Wolf
McIntyre Performing Arts Centre at Mohawk College
Concert begins at 2pm
February 3, 2018
Pinocchio
McIntyre Performing Arts Centre at Mohawk College
Activities 11am – 1:30pm
Concert begins at 2pm
The HPO is proud to present another exciting season of Marz Homes Family Concerts. Families connect with the HPO at these fun, themed, one-hour concerts at Mohawk’s McIntyre Performing Arts Centre.
Ticket Information
Subscriptions to the 17-18 Mainstage Season can be purchased in 9-, 7-, 5- or 3-concert packages. Subscribers can also add Family Concert tickets to their subscription packages ahead of the general public. Subscribers can save up to 18% off single ticket prices, and packages start at as little as $64 (plus HST) for a 3-concert package. Subscriptions can be purchased by calling 905.526.7756.
Single tickets for the 17-18 Season go on sale July 1 and will be available online at staginghpo.wpengine.com, by calling 905.526.7756 or in-person at the HPO Box Office in First Ontario Concert Hall at 10 MacNab Street South.
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About the HPO: The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1884 as The Hamilton Orchestral Society and grew to become one of Canada’s major professional orchestras. Today, the HPO is a leader in Hamilton’s robust arts community where it provides professional orchestral services and music education programs to address the needs of the community. The HPO continues to commission and premier works and is one of the artistic jewels of the Hamilton area. The combined musical talents of its artists continue to enrich the community and enhance the quality of life for its residents.
Media Contacts:
Kim Varian
Manager, Marketing and Development
Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra
905.526.1677 X 226
kvarian@hpo.org
Diana Weir
Executive Director
Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra
905.526.1677 X 227
dweir@hpo.org