Classics 14 (Applause 7)
May 31 & June 1, 2013 at 8 p.m., Majestic Theatre

Sebastian Lang-Lessing, conductor
Dana Beth Miller, mezzo-soprano
San Antonio Symphony Mastersingers Women, John Silantien, director
The Children’s Chorus of San Antonio, Marguerite McCormick, director

Mahler Symphony No. 3

Inspired by his love of nature, Mahler said his Third Symphony was one great hymn to the glory of every aspect of creation.

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Classics 13 (Ovation 7)
May 17 & 18, 2013 at 8 p.m., Majestic Theatre
Sebastian Lang-Lessing, conductor
Michel Dalberto, piano

Mozart Piano Concerto No. 22
Shostakovich Symphony No. 8

Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-Flat Major was written mainly as opportunity to show off the composer’s own skills as a pianist. Composed at a time when his health had begun to deteriorate due to overwork, in this concerto Mozart overcomes the physical and financial ailments that plagued him to create a graceful and majestic work way that critics have referred to as “the queen of Mozart concertos.” Written shortly after the defeat of the German army at Stalingrad in 1943, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 8 is the composer’s response to the bloody human toll of World War II. He called this massive and somber work “an attempt to reflect the terrible tragedy of war.” Although Russian audiences enjoyed the work, the work was censored by Soviet officials and not performed in the Soviet Union for years.

Plan to arrive early for our pre-concert conversations with Assistant Conductor Akiko Fujimoto beginning at 7:00 p.m.

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Classics 12 (Applause 6)
May 3 & 4, 2013 at 8 p.m., Majestic Theatre
Sebastian Lang-Lessing, conductor
Andreas Bach, piano

Verdi Overture from Nabucco
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4
Sibelius Symphony No. 5

Sibelius’ Fifth Symphony was inspired by the idyllic sight of sixteen swans taking flight, but it ends with six stunning and hammer-like blows.

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Soprano Ana Maria Martinez

Classics 11 (Ovation 6)
April 12 & 13, 2013 at 8 p.m., Majestic Theatre
Sebastian Lang-Lessing, conductor
San Antonio Symphony Mastersingers, John Silantien, director
University of Texas at San Antonio Concert Choir, John Silantien, director
Trinity University Choir, Gary Seighman, director
Ana María Martínez, soprano 
Géraldine Chauvet, mezzo
Dimitri Pittas, tenor
Lester Lynch, baritone

Verdi Messa da requiem

From the terrifying Dies Irae to moments of great tenderness, Verdi’s Requiem explores experiences from loss and sorrow to forgiveness and mercy.

Concert sponsored by the Catherine and Francis Burzik Foundation.

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Photo by Paul Body

Classics 10 (Applause 5)
March 22 & 23, 2013 at 8 p.m., Majestic Theatre
Cho-Liang Lin, conductor and violin

Vivaldi The Four Seasons
Schubert Polonaise
Schubert Konzertstück
Schubert Symphony No. 6, “Little C major”

After enjoying these four groundbreaking violin concertos describing Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, you’ll never experience the great outdoors the same way again.

Concert sponsored by Frost Bank.
The annual Russell Hill Rogers Strings Masterclass will be led by Mr. Lin.

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ORCHESTRAS FEEDING AMERICA
The San Antonio Symphony will collect non-perishable food items and monetary donations to benefit the San Antonio Food Bank as part of the League of American Orchestras celebrating their 5th anniversary of Orchestras Feeding America. Receive a voucher for two tickets to select Symphony concerts when you bring food items or a monetary donation.  For additional information call Emily Brandesky at (210) 554-1052.

Violinist Alexandre Da Costa, photo by Bo Huang

Classics 9 (Ovation 5)
March 8 & 9, 2013 at 8 p.m., Majestic Theatre
Sebastian Lang-Lessing, conductor
Alexandre Da Costa, violin

Daugherty Fire and Blood
Wagner Orchestral highlights from The Ring

This hot new violin concerto, inspired by a Diego Rivera mural depicting the Detroit auto industry, is paired with the sonically spectacular orchestral highlights of Wagner’s Ring Cycle.

Wagner conceived of an artistic ideal that would eventually evolve into the four operas that comprise The Ring of the Nibelung.  These four magnificent works have inspired and influenced countless composers, writers and artists and were a major influence on J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.

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Concert sponsored by the Friends of the San Antonio Symphony.

ORCHESTRAS FEEDING AMERICA
The San Antonio Symphony will collect non-perishable food items and monetary donations to benefit the San Antonio Food Bank as part of the League of American Orchestras celebrating their 5th anniversary of Orchestras Feeding America. Receive a voucher for two tickets to select Symphony concerts when you bring food items or a monetary donation.  For additional information call Emily Brandesky at (210) 554-1052.

CLUB CODA – Saturday, March 9

Vodka Tasting | Post-concert from 10:00 p.m. – midnight
Bromley Communications building located at 401 E. Houston Street

Join Music Director Sebastian Lang-Lessing, Alexandre Da Costa, and other musicians from the San Antonio Symphony at a salon-style event immediately following the concert. Enjoy vodka cocktails provided by Cinco Vodka and appetizers provided by Bohanan’s Prime Steak and Seafood.  The event is generously hosted by Bromley Communications.

Tickets: $50 per person which includes a ticket for the concert on March 9th and the Vodka Tasting ($90 value)

For more information visit: sasymphony.org/clubcoda

Classics 8B (Applause 4b)
Saturday, February 16, 2013 at 8 p.m., Majestic Theatre
Sebastian Lang-Lessing, conductor
Vadim Gluzman, violin and Jian Wang, cello

Brahms Double Concerto for Violin and Cello
Brahms Symphony No. 4

With his final symphony, Brahms demonstrates the heights of his genius and his complete mastery of the symphonic form.

The Brahms Festival is sponsored by The Russell Hill Rogers Fund for the Arts.

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Classics 8A (Applause 4a)
Friday, February 15, 2013 at 8 p.m., Majestic Theatre
Sebastian Lang-Lessing, conductor
Vadim Gluzman, violin

Brahms Violin Concerto
Brahms Symphony No. 3

Written for his close friend, the renowned violinist Joseph Joachim, the Violin Concerto is one of the most technically challenging and beautiful works in the repertoire.

The Brahms Festival is sponsored by The Russell Hill Rogers Fund for the Arts.

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Classics 7B (Ovation 4b)
Saturday, February 9, 2013
8 p.m., Majestic Theatre
Sebastian Lang-Lessing, conductor
Kirill Gerstein, piano

Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2
Brahms Symphony No. 2

Composed largely during his visits to the Austrian Alps, Brahms’s beloved Symphony No. 2 is a bucolic celebration of nature.

The Brahms Festival is sponsored by The Russell Hill Rogers Fund for the Arts.

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Classics 7A (Ovation 4a)
Friday, February 8, 2013
8 p.m., Majestic Theatre
Sebastian Lang-Lessing, conductor
Kirill Gerstein, piano

Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1
Brahms Symphony No. 1

It took Brahms more than fifteen years to compose his first symphony, referred to by the conductor Hans von Bülow as “Beethoven’s Tenth”.

The Brahms Festival is sponsored by The Russell Hill Rogers Fund for the Arts.

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