My pace has been at a breakneck speed and I’m looking forward to slowing things down with A Night at the Symphony sponsored by SPX to explore the Magic of Christmas with other bloggy friends here in Charlotte. It will be a welcome night out filled with laughter, fun and the Christmas spirit. In case you’re wondering, I’ll be the one humming along… loudly.
Conductor Albert-George Schram has returned to direct the Oratorio Singers of Charlotte and Charlotte Children’s Choir at this annual, family-friendly program. SPX Corporation has stepped into sponsor this years program to ensure the Belk Theater will be filled to the rafters with the classics of the Christmas canon—from “Jingle Bells” to Strauss’ Overture to Die Fledermaus and everything in between.
While I’m excited about the entire show, I’m really looking forward to hearing the Loch Norman Pipe Band, who will play an authentic “Highland Cathedral.” Later in the performance Caroline Calouche & Co. will thrill attendees on aerial silks and trapeze choreographed to “Silent Night” and “Angels We Have Heard on High.”
Later in December, Director of Choruses and Assistant Conductor Scott Allen Jarrett will lead the orchestra and the Oratorio Singers of Charlotte through a staple of the seasonal repertoire, the time-honored Handel’s Messiah. For centuries, Handel’s masterpiece has moved thousands of people all over the world with its joy, sorrow, exaltation and serenity, the thrill of the Hallelujah Chorus; audiences can experience the Charlotte Symphony’s performance of Messiah at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, December 18 at Belk Theater.
About the Charlotte Symphony
Founded in 1932 and led by internationally renowned Music Director Christopher Warren-Green, the Charlotte Symphony is a non-profit organization that serves our whole community through music that educates, entertains and enriches the human spirit. We are world-class musicians, music teachers and music lovers. We put violins in the hands of Charlotte’s children and actively nurture the next generation with our programs in music education. We bring artistic excellence to Charlotte’s parks and hospitals, schools and churches, stadiums and concert halls. The Charlotte Symphony is a cornerstone of our cultural community, connecting people and adding value to our lives through music.
Upcoming Charlotte Symphony Shows:
January
- Brahms Symphony No. 2 – Jan 10 & 11, 8 pm, Belk Theater: The Charlotte Symphony will ring in the New Year with the light-hearted sounds of Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin followed by Debussy’s coruscating Danses sacree et profane, featuring CSO Principal Harpist Andrea Mumm, and, of course, Brahms airy Second Symphony. Christopher Warren-Green, conducting; Andrea Mumm, harp. Tickets $19.50 -$85.50.
- Sights & Sounds of America–Jan 24, 7:30 pm, Knight Theater: More than 100 of Ansel Adams’most powerful landscape images will be projected above the orchestra in sync with the Symphony as it performs Dave and Chris Brubeck’s“Ansel Adams: America,”plus music from Copland and Ellington and a post-concert party featuring live jazz with the Noel Friedline Trio. Scott Allen Jarrett, conducting; Oratorio Singers of Charlotte. Tickets $29.00, general admission, including free drink and post-concert activities.
- The Heart of Motown–Jan 31 & Feb 1, 8 pm, Knight Theater: The hit musical group Spectrum returns to pay tribute to The Four Tops, Temptations, MarvinGaye, Spinners, Stevie Wonder, and other classic Motown artists. Albert-GeorgeSchram, conducting. Tickets$39.50 – $65.50
February
- Tubby the Tuba–Feb 1, 11 am, Knight Theater: Whistle with the woodwinds, sing with the strings and help Tubby the Tuba find his melody. One by one you will discover the sights and sounds of the instrument families until you met the whole orchestra at the “Great Gate of Kiev” for the grand finale! Roger Kalia,conducting; Aubrey Foard, tuba. Tickets $15.50–$24.50, including pre-concert Lollipops Festival and Musical Petting Zoo.
- Schumann & Haydn–Feb 7 & 8, 8 pm, Belk Theater: Benjamin Britten’s Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes opens a program that highlights CSO Principal Cellist Alan Black in Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C major and, finally, as the name suggests, Schumann’s Rhenish Symphony is a celebration of the German composer’s glorious Rhineland. Christopher Warren-Green, conducting; Alan Black, cello.Cost: $19.50-$85.50.
- Broadway Rocks!–Feb 21 & 22, 8 pm, Knight Theater: Vocalists from the Broadway stage, Capathia Jenkins, Christiane Noll and Rob Evan, join the Symphony to perform numbers from Rock-inspired musicals including The Wiz, Hairspray, Wicked, Mamma Mia, Rent and Phantom of the Opera. Albert-George Schram, conducting.Tickets $39.50- $65.50.
- Symphonie Fantastique–Feb 28&Mar 1, 8 pm, Belk Theater: The Charlotte Symphony hosts Robert Moody,Music Director of the Portland Symphony (Maine) and neighboringWinston-Salem Symphony, to conduct North Carolina composer Dan Locklair’s energizing Phoenix for Orchestra, American composer Samuel Barber’s nostalgic Knoxville: Summer of 1915, featuring soprano Sarah Jane McMahon,and Berlioz’s epic Symphonie Fantastique, a story of the artist’s journey of self-destructive passion.Tickets$19.50-$85.50.
March
- Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra Winter Concert–Mar 3, 7:30 pm, Halton Theater: Founded in 1961, the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestras are led by their Music Director, Dr. Ernest Pereira, a Charlotte Symphony violinist. Serving nearly 200 students from over 60 schools in the 4th – 12th grades, the youth orchestras rehearse weekly and receive intensive coaching from Charlotte Symphony musicians to prepare them to play sophisticated repertoire in a professional environment.Tickets:adults $8,student $6.
- Dvořák SymphonyNo. 8–Mar 14 & 15, 8 pm, Belk Theater: “A virtuoso who begins where others leave off”, is how The Washington Post describes Stephen Hough, one of the world’s most acclaimed concert pianists. Hough joins the Symphony for Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A Minor for a program that also features Dvorak’s cheery, folk-inspired Symphony No. 8. Christopher Warren-Green, conducting; Stephen Hough, piano. Tickets$19.50 -$85.50.·
- A Little Knight Music–Mar 28, 7:30 pm, Knight Theater: Step back in time to Mozart’s era as the Orchestra performs three works by the master, then watch the Orchestra disappear to Haydn’s dramatic “Farewell”Symphony”. Afterwards, ‘Light the Knight’ with luminescent activities by Discovery Place! Christopher Warren-Green, conducting; Co-hosted by Discovery Place. Tickets $29.00, general admission, including free drink and post-concert activities.
Key: Classics are teal, Pops are blue, Knight Sounds are red, Lollipops are green and Youth Orchestra is purple. For Classics, students (18 and under or college/university ID) are half price). Classics and Pops concerts are typically 2 hours long with an hour intermission. Lollipops and Knight Sounds are an hour long with no intermission. Youth Orchestra concert lengths vary, but are no more than 1.5 hours. For more info and tickets go to charlottesymphony.org or call the Charlotte Symphony ticket office at 704-972-2000.
Lisa is a lifestyle blogger, writer and social media strategist living in Charlotte, NC. 
