RI Philharmonic Orchestra Announces New 2018-19 Season

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI—The RI Philharmonic Orchestra has announced the upcoming 2018-2019—74th season—including the details for the TACO Classical and Amica Rush Hour concert series. Tickets go on sale Monday, July 23. Following a season-long search for a music director, the RI Philharmonic Orchestra will name a new one later this summer.

For the 2018-2019 season, selections include Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, Berlioz’ Symphonie fantastique, Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony, Dvořák’s Fifth Symphony and Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, as well as concerti by Philip Glass, Elgar, Mozart, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven and Prokofiev. Also, featured will be favorites from the heart of the grand opera, "Nessun dorma" from Puccini’s Turandot, scenes from the classic La bohème, and Rossini’s thrilling William Tell Overture.

To mark 100 years since World War I, the Providence Singers will join the Orchestra on Saturday, Nov. 17, for Vaughan Williams’ Dona nobis pacem. On Saturday, Dec. 15, the Singers return to join the Orchestra for the perennial holiday favorite Handel’s Messiah, conducted by the Singers' Artistic Director, Christine Noel.

Soloists include violinist Jennifer Koh opens the season with a return engagement. In 2014, she gave a riveting performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, which captivated a record-setting audience. Also re-appearing with the Orchestra at The VETS is Benjamin Beilman. His 2015 Sibelius Violin Concerto was hailed in the Providence Journal as “soulful… passionate, even dramatic but never showy, tossing off blazing scale passages without breaking a sweat.” In addition, cellist Colin Carr and audience favorite violinist Jennifer Frautschi make return engagements to The VETS. Making their debut with the Orchestra are pianists Sara Davis Buechner, Fabio Bidini and jazz virtuoso Aaron Diehl.

“The upcoming season has some incredible surprises,” said David Beauchesne, executive director of the RI Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School. “In addition to continuing the tradition of the Providence Singers performing Handel’s Messiah with the Orchestra, we are also excited to be able to include our new music director-designate as well as new guest conductors.”

All performances are at The VETS, One Avenue of the Arts, Providence, and the season features eight TACO Classical concerts at 8:00pm on Saturdays on the following dates: Sept. 22, Oct. 20, Nov. 17, Jan. 26, Feb. 23, March 16, April 13 and May 4. The Amica Rush Hour concerts will be on Fridays at 6:30pm on the following dates: Oct. 19, Feb. 22, March 15 and May 3. The perennial holiday favorite Handel’s Messiah is on Dec. 15 at 7pm.

Subscriptions are currently available for as few as four concerts in a series, with discounts for students, children and veterans. Subscriptions can be purchased online at tickets.riphil.org or by phone at 401.248.7000 (M-F 9am-4:30pm, closed on holidays). Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. Single tickets go on sale, July 23.

Subscriber benefits include:

• Reserved seats for every TACO Classical or Amica Rush Hour concert, and first priority to upgrade your seats
• Significant ticket discount–eight concerts for the price of seven
• Priority access to special event tickets
• Fifteen percent off on additional series tickets (some restrictions apply)

Groups of 10 or more can arrange a special rate and personalized experience. Visit riphil.org/groups or call 401.248.7076.

The new season is made possible through the generous support of Taco/The White Family Foundation, Amica Insurance, Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) and National Endowment of the Arts (NEA). Each of the concerts next season will be conducted by either the newly appointed music director-designate, who will be announced later this summer, or a guest conductor. Artists and programs are subject to change.

2018-2019 TACO Classical and special concerts

Saturdays at 8:00pm
The VETS, One Avenue of the Arts, Providence
The TACO Classical concert series is made possible through the generous support of the Taco/The White Family Foundation.

Sept. 22, 2018: Pictures at an Exhibition

BACH/STOKOWSKI: Toccata and Fugue in D Minor
GLASS: Violin Concerto No.1, Jennifer Koh, violin
TORKE: Bright Blue Music
MUSSORGSKY/RAVEL: Pictures at an Exhibition

Oct. 20, 2018: Rhapsody in Blue

GERSHWIN: Cuban Overture; Rhapsody in Blue and I Got Rhythm Variations, Aaron Diehl, piano
HINDEMITH: Kammermusik No.1; Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes of Carl Maria von Weber

Nov. 17, 2018: Armistice Centennial

BEETHOVEN: Leonore Overture No.3
ELGAR: Cello Concerto, Colin Carr, cello
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Dona nobis pacem with Providence Singers, Christine Noel, artistic director

Dec. 15, 2018: Special Concert

Handel’s Messiah with Providence Singers, Christine Noel, conductor

Jan. 26, 2019: Viennese Favorites & Beethoven 4
MENDELSSOHN: A Midsummer Night's Dream: Overture
R. STRAUSS: Burleske; MOZART: Rondo in A, Sara Davis Buechner, piano
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No.4
J. STRAUSS: On the Beautiful Blue Danube

Feb. 23, 2019: The Romance of Rachmaninoff

DUKAS: The Sorcerer's Apprentice
RACHMANINOFF: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Fabio Bidini, piano
BERLIOZ: Symphonie fantastique

March 16, 2019: Beethoven's Violin Concerto

JANÁČEK: The Cunning Little Vixen: Suite
BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto, Jennifer Frautschi, violin
DVOŘÁK: Symphony No.5

April 13, 2019: A Night at the Opera

Favorites from the heart of grand opera: “Nessun dorma” from Puccini’s Turandot; Classic scenes from La Bohème and Gianni Schicchi; Rossini’s thrilling William Tell Overture; and Respighi’s roaring Roman Festivals.

May 4, 2019: 1812 Overture, Season Finale
TCHAIKOVSKY: 1812 Overture
PROKOFIEV: Violin Concerto No.1, Benjamin Beilman, violin
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No.10

2018-2019 Amica Rush Hour Series

Fridays at 6:30pm
The VETS, One Avenue of the Arts, Providence
The Amica Rush Hour Series is possible through the generous support of Amica Insurance

Oct. 19, 2018: Rhapsody in Blue

GERSHWIN: Cuban Overture; Rhapsody in Blue and I Got Rhythm Variations, Aaron Diehl, piano
HINDEMITH: Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes of Carl Maria von Weber

Feb. 22, 2019: The Romance of Rachmaninoff

DUKAS: The Sorcerer's Apprentice
RACHMANINOFF: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Fabio Bidini, piano
BERLIOZ: Symphonie fantastique, Movements 4&5

March 15, 2019: Beethoven's Violin Concerto

JANÁČEK: The Cunning Little Vixen: Suite
BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto, Jennifer Frautschi, violin

May 3, 2019: 1812 Overture

TCHAIKOVSKY: 1812 Overture
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No.10