Symphony Orchestra Announces Season Lineup

BERLIN — The Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Julien Benichou, has announced the schedule for the 2013-14 “Season of Discovery”.  There will be a series of five concerts beginning in October and ending next May.
The season opens the weekend of Oct. 12 with two “Great Masterworks”, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major Op. 35 and Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 in C Major, D. 944.  The concert will showcase multi-faceted and compelling French artist, violinist Arnaud Sussmann who has performed throughout the United States and worldwide, earning the highest praise from both critics and audiences alike.
The MSO will usher in the holiday season the weekend of Dec. 7 with an exciting program of orchestral and vocal music, including traditional seasonal favorites.  A frequent guest artist at the Metropolitan Opera and other prestigious opera houses around the world, bass-baritone Kevin Short will be joined by the wonderful soprano Esther Jane Hardenbergh and University of Miami Frost School of Music Vocalists for what promises to be one of the most memorable “Holiday Joy” programs ever.
For the mid-season concert in March, the MSO presents “Seven Seasons”, an enticing all-strings program, featuring the MSO’s own violinists, Concertmaster Nicholas Currie and Associate Concertmistress Dana Weiderhold.  Benichou will premiere his newest composition, “Three Seasons of Chicago”, in addition to conducting Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires and Tchaikovsky’s famed Serenade for Strings.
For the spring concert, over the second weekend in April, Norwegian-born Tine Thing Helseth, one of the leading trumpet soloists of her generation, will join the MSO to “Sound the Trumpet” in Hummel’s Trumpet Concerto.  This is preceded by Mozart’s deeply moving Symphony Number 40 in G Minor and the concert ends with Bach and Vivaldi’s Concerto in D Major, BWV 972.
The season finale takes place the weekend of May 17. Titled “An Organ Sensation” featuring Handel’s exciting Water Music, Suite No. 2 followed by Poulenc’s enthralling Organ Concerto in G Minor, FP 93, performed by phenomenal German concert organist Felix Hell, on his amazingly powerful instrument that will be transported to each venue.  The concert concludes with Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73.
Season subscriptions are $145.  Single concert tickets are $35 ($40 for the December concert). Each concert series is performed in Easton on Thursday evening, Ocean View, Del. on Saturday evening and Ocean Pines on Sunday afternoon.  For more information or to order concert tickets, please call 1-888-846-8600 or visit www.midatlanticsymphony.org.