The Jacksonville Symphony will present “The Nutcracker & Sorcerer’s Apprentice” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 and 20 in Jacoby Symphony Hall as part of its Florida Blue Classical Series. The program, led by Music Director Courtney Lewis, showcases works that shaped the sound of modern orchestral music through vivid storytelling and groundbreaking orchestration.
The concert opens with Paul Dukas’ “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” widely recognized for its appearance in Walt Disney’s “Fantasia.” The piece’s driving rhythms and imaginative orchestration portray the chaos that erupts when magic runs out of control.
Claude Debussy’s “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun” follows, a work often cited as the beginning of musical Impressionism. Inspired by a poem by Stéphane Mallarmé, the piece introduced a new harmonic language that influenced composers throughout the 20th century.
Maurice Ravel’s “Shéhérazade” brings rich orchestral textures with soaring vocal lines. The work features contralto Avery Amereau, who performed the title role in “Carmen” during the symphony’s 2023-24 season. Since her professional debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 2016, Amereau has performed at top opera houses including the Bavarian State Opera, Santa Fe Opera and English National Opera.
Selections from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” continue the festive spirit with some of the most recognizable melodies of the holiday season. The program concludes with Debussy’s “La mer,” an atmospheric depiction of the sea that remains one of his most admired symphonic works.
This concert is part of the Florida Blue Classical Series and Greta Challen Berg Artist Series.
Tickets for “The Nutcracker & Sorcerer’s Apprentice” are available at JaxSymphony.org or by calling the box office at 904-354-5547.
