FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 
 

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra’s 2015-16 Season:

Celebrating 30 Years with Nicholas McGegan,

the Orchestra’s 35th Season,

and the Philharmonia Chorale’s 20th

Nicholas McGegan, music director

• Six concert programs showcase the virtuosity of the Orchestra and Chorale around the Bay Area
• Nicholas McGegan’s 30^th season gala concert with Susan Graham
• Tour of major North American concert halls in Spring 2016, including guest artists Anne-Sofie von Otter and Andreas Scholl
• American premiere and new recording of Alessandro Scarlatti’s La gloria di primavera on its 300th anniversary
• Collaboration with singers from San Francisco Conservatory of Music, UC Berkeley, and Stanford for Mendelssohn’s monumental Symphony No. 2, Lobgesang (“Hymn of Praise”)
• Special performance of Handel’s Messiah in Berkeley
• The Orchestra returns to San Francisco’s Herbst Theatre

 

January 29th, 2015, San Francisco – Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra today announced its 2015-16 season, which includes three important anniversaries: Nicholas McGegan’s 30th season as music director, the Orchestra’s 35th season, and the Philharmonia Chorale’s 20th season. To celebrate these milestones, the 2015-16 season includes a special gala at San Francisco’s City Hall in honor of Nicholas McGegan’s 30-year tenure accompanying a concert at Herbst Theatre with Susan Graham; a North American tour with appearances on both coasts; a new recording to be released on the Orchestra’s label; and a spectacular concert season. Subscriptions to the new season range in price from $150 to $630 and are on public sale. Call (415) 295-1900 to subscribe, or visitphilharmonia.org/subscribe.

“I am delighted to mark my 30th season with Philharmonia as music director as the Orchestra celebrates its 35th season and the Chorale its 20th,” said Nicholas McGegan. “We have planned a terrific season to showcase the talents of our Orchestra and Chorale, including the American premiere and first recording of Alessandro Scarlatti’s La gloria di primavera, as well as an appearance by Susan Graham and a major North American tour.”

Under Nicholas McGegan’s direction, Philharmonia has become America’s leading period instrument orchestra, with regular appearances in major concert halls around the U.S. and Europe, and a highly acclaimed discography of more than thirty recordings.

This October, the Orchestra kicks off its 2015-16 Bay Area season with Alessandro Scarlatti’s La gloria di primavera, the American premiere of this long-neglected masterpiece first performed nearly 300 years ago. Composed by Scarlatti, the founder of the Neapolitan school of opera, to celebrate the birth of the heir to the Habsburg empire, La gloria di primavera sees the return of mezzo-soprano Diana Moore and baritone Douglas Williams, as well as tenor Nicholas Phan’s debut with Philharmonia. This concert marks the Orchestra’s return to San Francisco’s newly renovated Herbst Theatre.

Scarlatti’s La gloria di primavera will become the ninth recording on Philharmonia’s house label, Philharmonia Baroque Productions, to be released in 2016. It will also be a featured program on Philharmonia’s North American tour that same year, with performances on both coasts.  Further details of these performances will be announced at a later date, including concerts with mezzo-soprano Anne-Sofie von Otter and countertenor Andreas Scholl.

In November, Philharmonia welcomes much sought-after harpsichordist and guest conductor Richard Egarr, music director of the Academy of Ancient Music, to lead Bach’s best-loved orchestral works: the Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 1, 3, 4 and 5. This concert of enduring classics showcases the unique colors of Baroque harpsichord, oboes, flutes, and hunting horns, giving Philharmonia’s virtuoso players a star turn.

In December, Philharmonia’s Chorale shines in a concert honoring the patron saint of music: Handel’s Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day alongside Purcell’sTe Deum and Jubilate in D. With tenor Isaiah Bell, who made his debut with Philharmonia in Mark Morris’s Acis and Galatea at Lincoln Center in 2014, and soprano Sherezade Panthaki, this concert will make a festive start to the holiday season.

Later in December, Philharmonia gives a special performance of Handel’sMessiah at Berkeley’s First Congregational Church. This concert – not included in the Orchestra’s subscription series – offers Bay Area audiences the chance to hear a Christmastime favorite as only Nicholas McGegan and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra can perform it.

In February 2016, the Orchestra welcomes the brilliant young fortepianist Kristian Bezuidenhout to play Mozart’s Concerto for Fortepiano No. 23. This all-Mozart program also includes Mozart’s Symphonies Nos. 39 and 27. Bezuidenhout gave his first Bay Area performance in 2014 at the Berkeley Early Music Festival, where he performed two Bach keyboard concertos with Philharmonia and a solo recital of Mozart keyboard works.

A spectacular gala in celebration of Nicholas McGegan’s thirty years as music director takes place in February 2016. After a sumptuous dinner at San Francisco’s City Hall, McGegan leads a special performance at Herbst Theatre featuring mezzo-soprano Susan Graham followed by further post-concert celebrations. On the program are arias from Handel’s Ariodante andXerxes, plus some of Handel’s best-known orchestral works. Tickets for this performance are available exclusively to subscribers.

In March, McGegan and the Orchestra lead audiences on a tour of Baroque Europe featuring instrumental works by Vivaldi, Rameau, Zelenka, and Arne. This concert showcases Philharmonia’s talented musicians as they perform works written for the virtuoso players of Versailles, London, Dresden, and Venice.

Nicholas McGegan leads the season’s final concert in April 2016: a performance of Felix Mendelssohn’s monumental Hymn of Praise (Lobgesang), alongside works by Beethoven including the Leonore Overture. This spectacular concert features the Philharmonia Chorale, directed by Bruce Lamott, joined by members of the San Francisco Conservatory Chamber Choir, the Stanford Chamber Chorale, and the UC Berkeley Chamber Chorus. Soprano Dominique Labelle and tenor Thomas Cooley join the Orchestra for this concert with some of Mendelssohn’s and Beethoven’s most profound works.

Philharmonia continues its partnership with Stanford Live, where three performances take place at Stanford University’s Bing Concert Hall.

Classical KDFC is the radio home of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra.

Season Concert Schedule

December 2-6, 2015: 

Hail, Bright Cecilia! A Celebration Perfect for the Season

HANDEL

Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day

“Tra amplessi innocenti” from Cecilia, volgi un sguardo

PURCELL

Te Deum and Jubilate in D

Suite from Distressed Innocence

Nicholas McGegan, conductor

Sherezade Panthaki, soprano

Isaiah Bell, tenor

Philharmonia Chorale, Bruce Lamott, director

WHEN & WHERE:

Wednesday 2 December @ 7:30 PM

First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto

Friday 4 December @ 8:00 PM

Herbst Theatre, San Francisco

Saturday 5 December @ 8:00 PM

First Congregational Church, Berkeley

Sunday 6 December @ 4:00 PM

First Congregational Church, Berkeley

 

February 3-7, 2016: 

All Mozart with Kristian Bezuidenhout

MOZART   Concerto for Fortepiano No. 23 in A major

MOZART   Symphony No. 39 in E-flat major

MOZART   Symphony No. 27 in G major

Nicholas McGegan, conductor

Kristian Bezuidenhout, fortepiano

WHEN & WHERE:

Wednesday 3 February @ 7:30 PM

First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto

Friday 5 February @ 8:00 PM

Herbst Theatre, San Francisco

Saturday 6 February @ 8:00 PM

First Congregational Church, Berkeley

Sunday 7 February @ 7:30 PM

First Congregational Church, Berkeley

March 2-6, 2016: 

Explore Baroque Europe – Vivaldi and Rameau

VIVALDI

Concerto in D major, RV 562

 

RAMEAU

Suite from Les Fêtes de L’Hymen et de L’Amour

ZELENKA

Hipocondrie à 7 Concertanti

ARNE

Overture to Purcell’s King Arthur

HEINICHEN

Concerto in F major, S. 235

Nicholas McGegan, conductor

WHEN & WHERE:

Wednesday 2 March @ 7:30 PM

First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto

Friday 4 March @ 8:00 PM

Herbst Theatre, San Francisco

Saturday 5 March @ 8:00 PM

First Congregational Church, Berkeley

Sunday 6 March @ 4:00 PM

First Congregational Church, Berkeley

April 27 – May 1, 2016: 

Hymns of Praise – Beethoven and Mendelssohn

BEETHOVEN

Leonore Overture No. 3

Elegiac Song (Elegischer Gesang)

Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage

MENDELSSOHN

Symphony No. 2, Hymn of Praise (Lobgesang)

Nicholas McGegan, conductor

Dominique Labelle, soprano

Thomas Cooley, tenor

Philharmonia Chorale, Bruce Lamott, director

Members of San Francisco Conservatory of Music Chamber Choir, Stanford Chamber Chorale, and UC Berkeley Chamber Chorus

WHEN & WHERE:

Wednesday 27 April @ 7:30 PM

Bing Concert Hall, Stanford

Thursday 28 April @ 8:00 PM

Herbst Theatre, San Francisco

Saturday 30 April @ 8:00 PM

First Congregational Church, Berkeley

Sunday 1 May @ 7:30 PM

First Congregational Church, Berkeley

 

 

December 19, 2015: 

Messiah with McGegan

HANDEL  Messiah

Nicholas McGegan, conductor

Amanda Forsythe, soprano

Meg Bragle, mezzo-soprano

Isaiah Bell, tenor

Tyler Duncan, baritone

Philharmonia Chorale, Bruce Lamott, director

WHEN & WHERE:

Saturday 19 December @ 8:00 PM

First Congregational Church, Berkeley

February 11, 2016: 

Baroque Fireworks with Susan Graham

A Celebration of 30 Years with Nicholas McGegan

Nicholas McGegan, conductor

Susan Graham, mezzo-soprano

HANDEL

Water Music in D major

Music for the Royal Fireworks

Arias from Ariodante and Xerxes

WHEN & WHERE:

Thursday, February 11 @ 8:00 PM

Herbst Theater, San Francisco