Celebrating 10 CAROLYN’S MASTERWORKS 2020-2021 TH SEASON!

AT I am thrilled to be celebrating my

th with10 the seasonHartford Symphony ! YOU - our wonderful HSO community - have been such an important part of my journey here in Hartford, and I programmed this deeply personal season, with some of my most beloved and meaningful music and artists, just for you. Carolyn Kuan, Music Director

Photos of Carolyn Kuan by Allegra Anderson Photography 2020-2021 Season Exclusive Subscriber AT-A-GLANCE BENEFITS

Bernstein & Become an HSO Masterworks Season Opener! subscriber, and enjoy these OCTOBER 2-4, 2020 special benefits!

Mendelssohn’s Italian » Your subscription price saves you NOVEMBER 6-8, 2020 as much as 25% compared to single ticket purchases.

Tchaikovsky & Grieg » $10 off tickets for friends of DECEMBER 4-6, 2020 subscribers (some restrictions apply).

» You’ll receive advance notice when From the New World a concert goes on sale and have JANUARY 15-17, 2021 the opportunity to purchase tickets before the general public.

Firebird » All subscribers are eligible for same- FEBRUARY 12-14, 2021 season exchanges for unused tickets (must notify box office in advance of Beethoven 7 & original concert). » As a subscriber, you’ll receive Time for Three discounts at our partner restaurants MARCH 12-14, 2021 in the Greater Hartford area.

» Choose from one of three exclusive Strauss & Glass subscriber events! APRIL 9-11, 2021 » Invitation to our exclusive annual meeting in October 2020. Scheherazade MAY 7-9, 2021 » Free bar drink for new subscribers. Missa Solemnis JUNE 4-6, 2021

THE MASTERWORKS SERIES IS SPONSORED BY 860-244-2999 hartfordsymphony.org OCTOBER 2-4, 2020 NOVEMBER 6-8, 2020

Bernstein & Copland Mendelssohn’s Italian Season Opener!

Copland Mendelssohn Selections from A Midsummer Bernstein On the Waterfront Night’s Dream Symphonic Suite Puts Flute Concerto Bernstein West Side Story Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4, Op. 90, Symphonic Dances “Italian” Karpman All American FEATURING FEATURING Carolyn Kuan conductor Carolyn Kuan conductor Adam Walker flute Join us for our fourth annual naturalization ceremony on Saturday, October 3 • 6:30 pm “As a child, I believed I was a troublemaking fairy before coming “Becoming a U.S. citizen at the HSO’s to this world, and I have always loved 2017 opening weekend will forever be that music can be a ‘Fountain of Youth’ - one of the most emotional moments of instantly transporting us to a world of my life. Join us as we again welcome light, innocence and fun. Mendelssohn’s new citizens and celebrate America with magical A Midsummer Night’s Dream is Copland’s awe-inspiring Lincoln Portrait, full of excitement and beauty. He wrote his featuring the powerful words of President Symphony No. 4 when he visited Italy for Lincoln. Our program includes music from the first time as a 20-year-old, and joy and Bernstein’s passionate West Side Story, wonder burst radiantly from the very first and his only original movie score, On the note. I think of American composer Kevin Waterfront, one of the greatest film scores Puts as our modern-day Mendelssohn, of all time. Emmy and Grammy-winning and I fell in love with his beautiful, lyrical composer Laura Karpman’s All American melodies when I conducted the world completes our stirring celebration of premiere of his Flute Concerto with America - our country.” - CK flute virtuoso Adam Walker. Appointed principal flute of the London Symphony Orchestra at the age of 21, Adam is simply one of the best in the world.” - CK Masterworks DECEMBER 4-6, 2020 JANUARY 15-17, 2021

Tchaikovsky & Grieg From the New World

Tchaikovsky The Tempest Fantasy- Still Darker America Overture Price Concerto in One Movement for Tchaikovsky Act I Finale from The Nutcracker Dvořák Symphony No. 9, Op. 95 Grieg Piano Concerto, Op. 16 “From the New World” FEATURING FEATURING Carolyn Kuan conductor Jeri Lynne Johnson conductor Alessio Bax piano Michelle Cann piano “I almost came to the US at age 8 to “As an Asian female, my journey as a pursue a career as a ballerina. It was conductor has been challenging, and therefore especially meaningful that the yet, it was even more difficult for my first time I ever conducted The Nutcracker black female colleagues. I have known was at Lincoln Center for the New York Jeri Lynne Johnson since she became City Ballet. One of Tchaikovsky’s most a fellow Taki Concordia winner in 2005. breathtaking musical moments symphonic We celebrate the new year with Concerto audiences rarely get to hear is in Act in One Movement for Piano by Florence 1; the moment when the clock strikes Price, the first African-American woman twelve, and the toys come alive is pure to have her music performed by a major magic. Tchaikovsky’s imagination and orchestra in 1933. Darker America was a storytelling also amaze in the fantasy- response to by African- overture The Tempest. Based on William American composer William Grant Still. He Shakespeare’s play, it is even more dramatic, treats the to a thorough symphonic noble and beautiful than his famous development in order to chart a triumphant Romeo and Juliet. You might not realize course ‘representative of the American it, but chances are you already know and Negro.’ Dvořák’s love of spirituals can be love Grieg’s romantic Piano Concerto - it heard in his music, especially in the Largo features one of the most famous openings movement of his Symphony No. 9, which in classical music.” - CK inspired ‘Goin Home’.” - CK

CONCERT SPONSOR Masterworks FEBRUARY 12-14, 2021 MARCH 12-14, 2021 Firebird Beethoven 7 & Time for Three

Bizet Selections from Carmen Beethoven Symphony No. 7, Op. 92 He/Chen The Butterfly Lovers Puts Triple Concerto Stravinsky The Firebird Time for Three Encores announced from stage FEATURING Carolyn Kuan conductor FEATURING Sirena Huang violin Carolyn Kuan conductor Time for Three string trio “There is a picture of me in college dressed as the risqué gypsy Carmen. I “The members of Time for Three are loved singing and performing the role, like The Beatles of the classical world - with her sultry melodies, surrounded by contagious energy, incredible charisma, the passion and bravado of bullfighters. A and brilliant music-making, while Russian prince falls in love with and defying convention and boundaries. Not saves the princess with the help of The surprisingly, they inspired me to conduct Firebird, and I’m excited to share the in leather pants for the very first time complete version of Stravinsky’s glorious when they were last with the HSO! Kevin and magnificent ballet with our audience. Puts’ new Triple Concerto is written Growing up, the most famous love story specially for Tf3, sparked by their joy, love was The Butterfly Lovers, our Chinese of music, humanity, and connection with Romeo and Juliet. We are thrilled to the audience. Praised as “the apotheosis welcome back violinist Sirena Huang of dance” and “Greatest. Music. Ever.”, to the HSO to share this 1000-year-old Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 may actually legend, which journeys from the joyful be my favorite Beethoven symphony.” - CK pentatonic youthful melodies to the final scene of two lovers turning into butterflies CONCERT SPONSOR to be together forever. - CK ” Saunders Fund for Innovative Programming

CONCERT SPONSOR The Alexander Campbell McNally and Tina Mahar McNally Memorial Concert Masterworks APRIL 9-11, 2021 MAY 7-9, 2021

Strauss & Glass Scheherazade

Humperdinck Hansel and Gretel Suite Shankar Concerto for Sitar and Glass Violin Concerto No. 1 Orchestra, No. 1 Strauss Der Rosenkavalier Suite Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade, Op. 35 FEATURING FEATURING Gerard Schwarz conductor Carolyn Kuan conductor Leonid Sigal violin Sitar to be announced “To mentor is to touch a life forever. “As an immigrant, I always look I think of guest conductor Gerard for opportunities to share the great Schwarz as a musical father, and he diversity of the world’s music with our touched my life as a musician and as a audience. Beatles guitarist George person when I worked as his Assistant Harrison collaborated closely with Ravi Conductor at the Seattle Symphony. An Shankar, and called him ‘the godfather impressive international conductor with of world music.’ Shankar’s enchanting over 350 recordings to his name, I was Concerto for Sitar and Orchestra is a mesmerized when I saw him conduct perfect example of how music has the Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier. It is as if power to transport the listener to a Strauss is in his blood, and I remember different time and place. I have always thinking I didn’t know music could admired strong women, like Scheherazade be this exquisite. Philip Glass’ Violin in Rimsky-Korsakov’s masterpiece. Her Concerto No. 1, featuring HSO’s Leonid bravery and 1001 tales changed her life Sigal, was composed for Glass’ late and the lives of all those around her. This father. It brought Glass tremendous music is dramatic, evocative, thrilling and international fame, just as Hansel and wistful – qualities that speak to me in a Gretel and Der Rosenkavalier brought very personal way. Humperdinck and Strauss their greatest ” - CK popular success.” - CK

CONCERT SPONSOR The Koski Memorial Concert Masterworks Mortensen Hall

JUNE 4-6, 2021 Masterworks concerts are performed in the Missa Solemnis Belding Theater at The Bushnell Friday & Saturday at 8 pm Sunday at 3 pm

Belding Theater

Beethoven Missa solemnis, Op. 123 FEATURING Adam Boyles conductor Hartford Chorale Richard Coffey, music director Vocal Soloists to be announced “I often think about how to make a difference and contribute to the lives of those around me. What could be better 860-244-2999 than celebrating this 10th season with hartfordsymphony.org the HSO by looking to the future and helping to bring someone’s dream to reality! I asked HSO’s beloved Assistant Conductor Adam Boyles what his dream pieces to conduct are, and one of his dreams is to conduct Beethoven’s Missa solemnis. It is always special to hear a work that is dearest to an artist. Our entire season includes music that is profoundly meaningful and special for us to share. In Adam’s words, ‘the Missa solemnis is Beethoven’s most public declaration of his spiritual faith.’” - CK

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