Musical Phenomena
SASO’s 2023-24 season explores the phenomena of music with an amazing array of selections from around the world. Maestro Linus Lerner brings our vibrant community of musicians together with soloists ranging from brilliant young players at the beginning of their careers to a Grammy award-winning cellist.
This season emphasizes American music, including a concert featuring African-American composers, a newly composed “Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue” for piano and orchestra, and music from Linus Lerner’s native Brazil. Also in the repertoire are some of the most powerful classics by Tchaikovsky, Dvořák and Sibelius.
2023–2024 performances
Saturday performances (Oro Valley): 7:30 pm at DesertView Performing Arts Center, 39900 S. Clubhouse Drive, SaddleBrooke
Sunday performances (Tucson Series): 3:00 pm at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, SW Sanctuary, 7575 N Paseo del Norte, Tucson
Gershwin, Boyer, and Rosauro
October 7 & 8, 2023
- Gershwin: Overture to Funny face
- Boyer: Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue, with pianist Jeffrey Biegel
- Rosauro: Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra, with Dorothy Vanek Youth Concerto winner, Campbell Stewart(marimba)
- Gershwin: Porgy and Bess “A Symphonic Picture” arranged by Robert Russell Bennett
Lalo, Strauss, and Tchaikovsky
November 11 & 12, 2023
- Lalo: Le roi d’Ys Overture
- Various: Arias and duets from various operas, with Renata Vari, Diana Peralta and Alonso Sicairos
- Strauss: Serenade in Eb Major, Op. 7
- Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet Overture-fantasy
Fernandez, Coleridge-Taylor, Walker, Stravinsky, and Still
February 10 & 11, 2024
- Fernandez: Batuque Reisado do Pastoreio
- Coleridge-Taylor: Violin Concerto in G minor, Opus 80, with violinist Carissa Powe
- Walker: Lyric for Strings
- Stravinsky: Violin Concerto in D Major (I mov), with Dorothy Vanek Youth Concerto winner Rachel Gardner(violin)
- Still: Symphony No. 1 (Afro-American Symphony)
Asia and Dvorak
March 16 & 17, 2024
- Asia: Gateways
- Dvorak: Cello Concerto Op. 104 in B minor, with cellist Zuill Bailey
- Dvorak: Symphony No. 7 Op. 70 in D minor
Verdi, Kalman, Rósza, and Sibelius
April 27 & 28, 2024
- Guest conductor Giovanni Pompeo
- Verdi: Overture to I Vespri Siciliani
- Kalman: Hudson Concerto, with pianist Alexander Frey
- Rósza: Spellbound Concerto, with pianist Alexander Frey
- Sibelius: Symphony No. 5, Op. 72 E-Flat Major