2017/ 18 SEASON

MAESTRO GRONER’S Grand Finale FVSO 51ST SEASON

OUR LEAD SPONSORS

Resident Partner of the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center FROM THE

Welcome to the 51st season of the Fox Valley Symphony !

his season marks my final season as and Conductor of this fine orchestra T and each program is filled with pieces which I sincerely want to share with the audience. All the soloists chosen are wonderful artists with whom I have worked before and they feel like part of my extended family. Before I auditioned for this orchestra, I did a good deal of research, asking many people in the region what they thought about the FVSO and the community which supported it. Fox Cities residents shared that this is a place that works hard to give their children a good musical education and that the community shows strong support for its orchestra. That convinced me to BRIAN GRONER apply (with well over 100 of my colleagues) and I Music Director happily found that both things were (and are) true. & Conductor Music changes lives. Whether you are a creator of the music, a listener or a supporter of the arts in general, it has a powerful impact on all of those involved. Maintaining a strong orchestra takes great effort, but are worth every bit of the energy it takes to sustain them to keep them alive and healthy. This community understands that, and as a result this orchestra will continue to nourish souls, inspire noble visions, and create a clearer sense of who we are and what we dream of being for a very long time to come. There are too many people I wish to thank for the truly memorable years I have spent as Music Director of this ensemble. I will make certain that I share my gratitude to them in person, but for now please allow me to say to each of you a humble thank you for allowing me to be part of this very special place. Thank you for allowing me to make music with this wonderful group of musicians who are now my colleagues and friends. SEASON PACKAGE / CONCERT 1 SEASON PACKAGE / CONCERT 2

November 18, 2017 • 7:30 p.m. European Tour Gioachino Rossini • Semiramide: Overture Richard Wagner • Tristan und Isolde, WWV90: Prelude & Liebestod (Love’s Death) Special guest vocalist Katy Harth Serge Prokofiev • Classical Symphony, Op. 25 Benjamin Britten • Peter Grimes: Four Sea Interludes, Op. 33a one

awrence University OPENING NIGHT graduate Katherine Harth October 7, 2017 • 7:30 p.m. L joins us for Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde. “Her voice, like her Russian Masters persona, has great warmth and Special guest Wen-Lei Gu clarity,” says Groner. The Classical Symphony by Smith/Key • Star-Spangled Banner Prokofiev, according to Maestro Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Groner, “is so Mozartian in clarity, • Overture to Voyevoda, Op. 3, TH 1 so Prokofiev in its difficulty, and so delightful.” The Four Sea Interludes, extracted from the Dmitry Shostakovich • No. 1, Op. 77, A minor Peter Grimes, closes out this magnificent musical tour. Modest Mussorgsky/arr. Ravel • Pictures at an Exhibition

e start our season with the emotionally challenging and technically brilliant WShostakovich No. 1, played by Lawrence University’s professor Wen-Lei Gu. This award-winning and internationally popular soloist is a great friend of Maestro Groner, and we are delighted to welcome her back to our stage. “Her playing remains so elegant and so sophisticated,” says Groner. “It has been my distinct privilege to work with her on ten different occasions.” We finish this all-Russian program with Pictures at an Exhibition, selected to showcase how the orchestra has grown and to celebrate the musicians who made this growth possible. two SEASON PACKAGE / CONCERT 3 SEASON PACKAGE / CONCERT 4

March 3, 2018 • 7:30 p.m. Mardi Gras in New Orleans Special guest Byron Stripling

elebrate the spirit of Mardi Gras with a night of steamy New Orleans jazz! The good times C roll with music from street parades in the

PHOTOGRAPH BY STEPHANE COLBERT French Quarter to late night jams in the city’s famed clubs. Byron Stripling’s engaging personality, and his infectious charm on and off the stage, makes him a returning favorite of our audience. “I want to keep improving my ability to communicate musically to an audience, putting all of my influences and interests together while having the results be natural. There are always infinite three possibilities in music.” — Byron Stripling February 3, 2018 • 7:30 p.m. Modern American Legends Special guest Chris Brubeck Michael Daugherty • Route 66

Chris Brubeck • Fanfare to a Remarkable Friend Chris Brubeck • Prague Concerto for Bass and Orchestra • The Chairman Dances; Foxtrot for Orchestra

Aaron Copland • Billy the Kid: Suite

rom Daugherty to Copland, this concert highlights American composing legends. We F are delighted to welcome back to our stage composer, musician, and true friend Chris Brubeck. “His enthusiasm for life fills all that he writes. One of his great gifts is his ability to span multiple styles of music in his compositions. One of his greatest strengths is the way he truly values each of those diverse styles.” — Brian Groner, FVSO “A composer with a real flair for lyrical melody–a 21st Century Lenny Bernstein.” — John von Rhein, music critic for The Chicago Tribune four SEASON PACKAGE / CONCERT 5 five

Co-presented with PHOTOGRAPH BY SHERVIN LAINEZ

GRAND FINALE he Overture to Roman Carnival is the piece May 2, 2018 • 7:30 p.m. that ended Brian Groner’s first program T with our orchestra, and will start the final Joshua Bell concert of his tenure. Maestro Groner also welcomes back to Hector Berlioz • Roman Carnival our stage the incredible, global talent Joshua Camille Saint-Saens Bell. Many years have passed since his first • Introduction & Rondo capriccioso performance with our orchestra, and it is a great

Nigel Hess • Ladies in Lavender honor to have him return. “Bell led the listener into a still place where time Pablo de Sarasate seemed to trail off. Bell seemed to be at one with • Ziguenerweisen, Op. 20 (Gypsy Airs) the orchestra.” — Review of Bell with Los Angeles Jean Sibelius • Symphony No. 2, Op. 43, D major Philharmonic, October 2016 ADD ON • PLEASE ORDER SEPARATELY

December 16 & 17, 2017 Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Concertmaster Join us at Riverview Gardens atch in awe as talented local dancers tell for our Concertmaster this classic holiday tale, accompanied with Series, showcasingSeries- our W live music by the Fox Valley Symphony musicians performing music Orchestra and the Appleton Boychoir. they love including complex chamber pieces. You will Tickets sold separately! Please visit or call the Fox Cities enjoy the warm, relaxed P.A.C. Ticket Office,(920) 730-3760. setting where we can all get closer to the music. ADD ON • PLEASE ORDER SEPARATELY Our 2017-18 Concertmaster series schedule will be released this summer. Look for details on our website at foxvalleysymphony.com.

April 28, 2018 • 7:30 p.m. newVoices with the FVSO at Lawrence Chapel The music of John Rutter: Requiem and selected sacred anthems

Tickets sold separately! Please call newVoices at (920) 832-9700 or visit newvoiceschoir.org 2017/18 • 5-CONCERT PACKAGE • ORDER FORM

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Pay by credit card: ❏ VISA ❏ MasterCard ❏ Discover ❏ AMEX Saturday, July 1, 2017 • 7:30 p.m. ❏ Optional payment plan (CREDIT CARD ONLY) Doors open at 6:30 p.m. • Tailgating encouraged! 50% charged now and 50% charged the week of May 15, 2017

Card # rats, Beer & Beethoven is a FREE, family-

friendly, community event featuring a Exp. Date Security Code Bconcert by the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra and a huge fireworks celebration at Name as it appears on card Fox Cities Stadium. The concert is scheduled for Saturday, July 1, 2017. The first concert, held in July of 2015, drew more than 3,000 people, and we’re going to knock Signature it out of the park again this year! The popular ❏ Check enclosed. (Make payable to ) music, fireworks, and free admission give this Fox Cities Peforming Arts Center event mass appeal. Bring your friends and family to enjoy this spectacular event! Order Today! Call or visit the P.A.C. Ticket Office 920.730.3760 400 W. College Ave. Appleton, WI 2017/18 • 5-CONCERT PACKAGE • ORDER FORM SEASON AT A GLANCE

For New Season Ticket Holders: AS A SEASON Seating Preference: Saturday ❏ Best Available TICKET July 1, 2017 7:30 p.m. SEATING AREAS No. of HOLDER, Brats, Beer (choose one) SUBSCRIPTIONS TOTAL ENJOY THESE & Beethoven SECTION A $264 5 EXCLUSIVE CONCERT SECTION B $218 PACKAGE SECTION C $143 BENEFITS: OPENING NIGHT ORDER SUBTOTAL October 7, 2017 Your tax deductible SAVE on full  7:30 p.m. contribution supports CONTRIBUTION season package the Fox Valley Symphony Special guest Orchestra. Thank you! Wen Lei Gu GRAND TOTAL Lock in your SEATS for the The Nutcracker can be purchased separately by visiting or November 18, 2017 season calling the Fox Cities P.A.C. Ticket Office,(920) 730-3760. 7:30 p.m. Special guest Tickets for newVoices with the FVSO can be purchased First  chance Katy Harth by calling newVoices at (920) 832-9700 or online at at RENEWING newvoiceschoir.org YOUR SEATS for the next Tchaikovsky’s Grand Tier season Nutcracker Suite Dec. 16 & 17, 2017

Dress Circle FREE  premium  ADD ON • PLEASE ORDER SEPARATELY parking February 3, 2018 C Your  choice 7:30 p.m. Rear Orchestra  Special guest of 2 VALET Chris Brubeck B VOUCHERS Front Orchestra or 2 DRINK March 3, 2018 A TICKETS 7:30 p.m. Special guest ADA Special  Pre- and Byron Stripling Post-Concert There are three pricing levels: Premium A, B and C sections, assigned to ACTIVITIES the three levels as follows. April 28, 2018 Section A: Orchestra D-U, Dress Circle A-C and Orchestra Right and Left Boxes 7:30 p.m. 10%  OFF Section B: Orchestra V-Z, Dress Circle D-F and Dress Right and Left Boxes  newVoices additional ticket at the Chapel Section C: Grand Tier A-F, Orchestra A-C and Grand Tier boxes purchases John Rutter: Requiem ADA Seating: Available upon request ADD ON • PLEASE ORDER SEPARATELY Subscriber-only  Please mail your form to: NEWSLETTER GRAND FINALE FOX VALLEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA May 2, 2018 sent out each 111 West College Avenue, Suite 550 7:30 p.m. Appleton, WI 54911 quarter Joshua Bell 111 West College Avenue, Suite 550 Appleton, WI 54911

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