July 11, 2019
2019-2020 Season Preview
Beginning his 19th season as Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, conductor Robert Spano returns to Carnegie Hall in spring 2020 with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, performing Beethoven’s magnificent Missa Solemnis with soprano Susanna Phillips, mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, tenor Benjamin Bliss, and bass Matthew Rose, in celebration of Beethoven’s 250th year.  This performance takes place on April 4, 2020 and marks Maestro Spano’s 15th Carnegie Hall engagement in 16 years; the work will also be performed by the Orchestra and outstanding vocalists in Atlanta on March 26 and 27, 2020. “Missa solemnis is one of the most profound works in the choral literature,” said Spano. “I can’t think of a more appropriate celebration of this major milestone in the life of the Orchestra than a return to Carnegie Hall with our beloved Chorus.”
 
Additionally, as the newly appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Fort Worth Symphony, Spano appears on the orchestra’s Symphonic Series, conducting two of the ten scheduled concert weekends.

Saturday, April 4, 2020, 8:00 p.m.
Robert Spano leads Missa solemnis at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall, New York

Robert Spano, conductor
Susanna Phillips, soprano
Sasha Cooke, mezzo-soprano
Benjamin Bliss, tenor
Matthew Rose, bass
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

BEETHOVEN: Missa solemnis

Spano’s regular conducting duties with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra are a reflection of his musical vision and programming genius.  His ardent commitment to presenting a diverse, thoughtful range of orchestral works is the pillar upon which he builds an engaged musical community of artists and audiences as they experience timeless music of the classical canon alongside compelling new commissions, cohesively and brilliantly woven together. 

This season, Spano opens the ASO’s season with violinist Joshua Bell, performing works by Wagner, Jennifer Higdon, Wienawski and Sarasate.  Further highlights include Mahler’s “Symphony of a Thousand” featuring a spectacular roster of vocalists, including sopranos Evelina Dobračeva, Erin Wall and Nicole Cabell, mezzos Michelle DeYoung and Kelley O’Connor, tenor Toby Spence, baritone Russell Braun, and bass Morris Robinson.  Additionally, Emanuel Ax performs Brahms’s first piano concerto in a performance which also features ASO-commissioned works by Brian Nabors and Richard Prior. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra inaugurates the Tristan und Isolde Festival by performing the complete Wagner opera in a three-night presentation. Each evening will feature one act of the colossal work, paired with a selection which reflects Wagner’s influence on future composers and whose influence helped shape the opera.   

Also highly coveted as a guest conductor, Spano leads the Dallas Symphony, BBC, Singapore, and NHK Symphony Orchestras, and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, 3:00 p.m.

Violin Sensation Joshua Bell Returns
Atlanta Symphony Hall, Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center

Robert Spano, conductor
Joshua Bell, violin
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

WAGNER Prelude to Act I of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
JENNIFER HIGDON Concerto for Orchestra
WIENIAWSKI Violin Concerto No. 2
SARASATE Zigeunerweisen

October 25, 26, 27, 2019
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

TSONTAKIS Violin Concerto (World Premiere)
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Symphony No. 1 (A Sea Symphony)  

Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
An All-Star Cast Sings Mahler’s “Symphony of a Thousand”
Atlanta Symphony Hall, Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center

Robert Spano, conductor
Evelina Dobračeva, soprano
Erin Wall, soprano*
Nicole Cabell, soprano
Michelle DeYoung, mezzo-sporano
Kelley O’Connor, mezzo-soprano
Toby Spence, tenor*
Russell Braun, baritone
Morris Robinson, bass

Morehouse College Glee Club
Spelman College Glee Club
Gwinnett Young Singers
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

MAHLER Symphony No. 8, “Symphony of a Thousand”

Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, 8:00 p.m.*
Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
Emanuel Ax Plays Brahms
Atlanta Symphony Hall, Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center

Robert Spano, conductor
Emanuel Ax, piano
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

BRIAN NABORS (Rapido! Winner) TBA (ASO Commission)
RICHARD PRIOR
 Symphony No. 4 (ASO Commission)
BRAHMS 
Piano Concerto No. 1

*Thursday evening includes a pre-concert chamber music recital at 6:45 p.m. in Atlanta Symphony Hall. Free for all ticket holders of the Nov. 21 and 23, 2019 concerts.

Sunday, November 24, 2019, 3:00 p.m.
Emanuel Ax Plays Brahms at UGA
Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall, University of Georgia – Athens, GA

Robert Spano, conductor
Emanuel Ax, piano
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

RICHARD PRIOR Symphony No. 4 (ASO Commission)
BRAHMS 
Piano Concerto No. 1

January 29, 2020
BBC Symphony Orchestra

SKYLLAS (world premiere)
PÄRT Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten
RACHMANINOV Concerto for Piano No. 3 in D minor, Op.30      

February 29, 2020
Singapore Symphony Orchestra

KNUSSEN The Way to Castle Yonder
TAN DUN The Tears of Nature, Percussion Concerto (2012)
RACHMANINOV Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op.44       

March 5, 2020
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra

HIGDON Cityscape, “River Sings a Song to Trees” (middle movement)
MOZART Concerto for Flute and Harp in C major, K. 299
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Symphony No. 2 in G major (“A London Symphony”)

April 29, 2019
NHK Symphony Orchestra

RODRIGO Concierto de Aranjuez
BERLIOZ Sinfonie Fantastique

May 4, 2020
NHK Symphony Orchestra
Music Tomorrow Series

NHK Commission  TBD
Otaka Prize winner TBD

JONATHAN LESHNOFF: Chamber Concerto for Violin
SALONEN: Nyx

Thursday, June 11, 2020, 8:00 p.m. Act I
Saturday, June 13, 2020, 8:00 p.m. Act II
Sunday, June 14, 2020, 3:00 p.m. Act III
Atlanta Symphony Hall, Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center

Robert Spano, conductor
Tamara Wilson/Isolde*
Simon O’Neill/Tristan*
Jamie Barton/Brangäne
Ryan McKinny/Kurwenal*
Andrea Mastroni/King Marke
Ric Furman/Melot
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Wagner: Tristan und Isolde (Atlanta Premiere)

Thursday, June 11, 2020, 8:00 p.m
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus (June 11 only)

BACH Cantata No. 12, “Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen”
WAGNER Tristan und Isolde Act I

Saturday, June 13, 2020, 8:00 p.m.

SCHOENBERG Verklärte Nacht
WAGNER Tristan und Isolde Act II

Sunday, June 14, 2020, 3:00 p.m.

PURCELL Selections from Dido and Aeneas 
WAGNER Tristan und Isolde Act II

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