New offerings from Jacksonville Symphony in February

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The month of February starts with a concert featuring one of the Jacksonville Symphony’s own musicians, Les Roettges. Having served as principal flute since 1986, he will perform the Nielsen Flute Concerto with guest conductor Anu Tali. New to the Symphony schedule is Video Games Live, an immersive concert event featuring music from the most popular video games of all time.

 

January 31/February 1 – Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony

Florida Blue Masterworks Series                                       

Anu Tali, conductor

Les Roettges, Jacksonville Symphony Principal Flute

·         Friday at 8 p.m.

·         Saturday at 8 p.m.

 

Tchaikovsky died just a week after the symphony’s premiere and the name “Pathétique” is certainly appropriate for the psychological drama it lays bare. Tchaikovsky himself called it, “…the best thing I ever composed.” Principal Flutist Les Roettges solos on Nielsen’s Flute Concerto, of which the composer wrote, “Here in a nutshell is what I demand of all art – opposing forces which meet aglow, appearing one but remaining two.”

 

Anu Tali: Described by the Herald Tribune as “charismatic, brilliant, energetic,” Anu Tali is one of the most intriguing conductors on the international scene today, belonging to a new generation of artists who are constantly striving for fresh and ingenious creativity.

 

Highlights of the 2019-2020 season include appearances with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Brussels Philharmonic, Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Turku Philharmonic and the Ulster Orchestra. Previously, Tali served as music director of the Sarasota Orchestra in Florida from 2013-2019.

 

Together with her twin sister Kadri, Anu Tali founded the Nordic Symphony Orchestra in 1997, with the aim of using music as a tool to develop cultural contacts between Estonia and Finland, and to unite musicians from around the world. Today the Nordic Symphony Orchestra has members from 15 countries, bringing together musicians from the world’s leading orchestras. In autumn 2007 the orchestra undertook its first European tour to Berlin and Munich.

 

Les Roettges has been the principal flute for the Jacksonville Symphony since 1986. During the summer he is the principal flute for the Eastern Music Festival. He is also a member of the six-time Emmy Award-winning All-Star Orchestra, Maestro Gerard Schwarz’s orchestra project that records and films shows for broadcast on PBS and for the Kahn Educational Network.

 

Before winning the position in Jacksonville, he performed as the principal flute for the Philharmonic Orchestra of Mexico City, Solisti New York and the Opera Ensemble of New York.  A native of Ohio, Roettges became a student of The Cleveland Orchestra’s Maurice Sharp at age 15.  He holds a bachelor’s degree from the New England Conservatory and a master’s from The Juilliard School. Roettges was the winner of the first annual James Papoutsakis Memorial Flute Competition. He is a regular participant in the San Marco Chamber Music society and can be heard on their 2018 release Songs & Dances. Roettges can also be heard in the region with the Saint Augustine Music Festival and with the Coastal Symphony of Georgia. Les and his wife Lorraine make their home in Ponte Vedra Beach with their rescue dog Bernie. 

 

February 8/9 – Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back – Film with Live Orchestra

Symphonic Night at the Movies Series

Deanna Tham, conductor

·         Saturday at 7 p.m.

·         Sunday at 3 p.m.

 

Roger Ebert said of The Empire Strikes Back, “…undoubtedly the best of the three Star Wars films and the most thought-provoking.” Featuring the GRAMMY-winning music of John Williams played live to the film by the Jacksonville Symphony.

 

February 14/15 – A Romantic Valentine

Fidelity National Financial Pops Series

Raymond James Coffee Series

Michael Krajewski, conductor

Analisa Leaming, soprano

Rodney Ingram, tenor

·      Friday at 11 a.m.

·      Friday at 8 p.m.

·      Saturday at 8 p.m.

 

There’s no more amorous Valentine’s Day than one spent listening to great love songs and duets with the Jacksonville Symphony. With Michael Krajewski on the podium, and Analisa Leaming and Rodney Ingram bringing their vocals, the program will feature selections from Aladdin’s “A Whole New World,” to “Till There Was You” from The Music Man.

 

February 21/22 – Beethoven’s Mass in C

Florida Blue Masterworks Series

Courtney Lewis, conductor

Sara Gartland, soporano

Amanda Crider, mezzo-soprano

Issachah Savage, tenor

Steven Humes, bass

Jacksonville Symphony Chorus

University of North Florida Chorale

·         Friday at 8 p.m.

·         Saturday at 8 p.m.

 

Both the Mass in C and music from the ballet Pulcinella feature world-class vocal soloists. Discover the wonders of another Beethoven masterpiece with the combined forces of the Symphony, soloists, the Symphony Chorus and the University of North Florida Chorale.

 

February 28 – Video Games Lives

Emmanuel Fratianni, conductor

·      Friday at 8 p.m.

 

Video Games Live™ is an immersive concert event featuring music from the most popular video games of all time. Created, produced and hosted by well-known game industry veteran and superstar Tommy Tallarico, top orchestras and choirs around the world perform along with exclusive synchronized video footage and music arrangements, synchronized lighting, well known internet solo performers, electronic percussion, live action and unique interactive segments to create an explosive one-of-a-kind entertainment experience.