Music director Rossen Milanov is set to conduct the Princeton Symphony Orchestra in its season-opening Classical Series Concert, Romantic Imaginings, Sept. 28.
The concert features guest violinist Bella Hristova, who is slated to perform Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor. The second portion of the program includes Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 4 in E-flat Major, “Romantic.”
Romantic Imaginings is a fitting start to a season focusing on works influenced by the emotional expressionism and melodic styles of the Romantic Period.
The Washington Post described violinist Hristova as “a player of impressive power and control.” A young, Bulgarian-born musician, she has a growing international career as a soloist and recording artist. She is the recipient of several awards including the 2013 Avery Fisher Career Grant and First Prize in the 2009 Young Concert Artists International Auditions.
Hand-selected by Milanov, the artists to appear with the PSO this coming season, in addition to Hristova, are pianist Natasha Paremski, classical guitarist Robert BeliniÄ, cellist Zuill Bailey, and singers Michelle Johnson, Margaret Mezzacappa, Zach Borichevsky and Hugh Russell. Guest conductor Daniel Boico and composer Sebastian Currier, Artist-in-Residence at the Institute for Advanced Study, will also be featured.
Romantic Imaginings is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Princeton University’s Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall. PSO concerts are preceded by a concert talk, scheduled for 3 pm.
Tickets are set to go on sale Sept. 1; prices ranges from $30 to $75.
The classical series is set to continue Nov. 2 with the Edward T. Cone Concert, Classically Russian, which includes pianist Natasha Paremski performing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Major. The program also features Stravinsky’s Petrushka and a piece by contemporary American composer William Bolcom, Commedia for “Almost” 18th Century Orchestra.
The third concert of the series, Scenic Rhythms, is scheduled for Jan. 18. The concert features guitarist Robert BeliniÄ performing Joaquín Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez. Also on the program is Ottorino Respighi’s Trittico Botticelliano which pays homage to three iconic paintings by the Italian artist Sandro Botticelli, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A Major.
A concert titled Soulful Reflections is scheduled for March 14. Cellist Zuill Bailey is set to play Schumann’s Cello Concerto in A minor. Later, he will perform Massenet’s Meditation” from Thais, a solo normally associated with the violin, as an encore.
The series is set to conclude with Viva Verdi! May 17 with excerpted scenes from three Giuseppe Verdi operas: Il Trovatore, La Traviata, and Aida.
More information is online at princetonsymphony.org.
Princeton Symphony Orchestra plays at Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall. (Photo by Kevin Birch).,
