Speakeysie News Desk – March 6, 2022

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) continues its Delta Classical Series on March 3 and 5 as Principal Guest Conductor Sir Donald Runnicles leads the ASO in performances of Mahler’s Symphony No. 1. Pianist Michelle Cann makes her debut with the ASO performing Florence B. Price’s Piano Concerto in One Movement, a riveting piece that borrows from Romantic and African-American improvisational traditions. The program will also be performed at University of Georgia Performing Arts Center on March 4. 

On March 17, 18 and 20, incoming Music Director Nathalie Stutzmann leads the ASO and Chorus in Mozart’s powerful and poignant Requiem mass. Also on the program is Richard Strauss’ Death and Transfiguration. The March 20 concert will feature an event for the ASO’s new LGBTQ+ group, InUnison. Event tickets and more information at aso.org/InUnison.

On March 24 and 26, Talent Development Program alumnus Xavier Foley will premiere his brand-new double bass concerto, Soul Bass, with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The gifted conductor and winner of the 2020 Sir George Solti Career Assistant Award, Jonathon Heyward, leads the program which also features Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9 and Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3. 

The March 24 concert is also available as an UpTempo Teen Night for middle and high school students, featuring a pre-concert event with host Okorie “OKCello” Johnson and special guests. Registration and more information at aso.org/UpTempo.

The March 26 concert will feature an event for the ASO’s young professionals group BRAVO. Members receive access to special events, ticket discounts and more. Membership information at aso.org/BRAVO.

On March 31 and April 2, Grammy®-nominated mandolinist Avi Avital returns to play Jennifer Higdon’s new Mandolin Concerto. Robert Spano also conducts Rimsky-Korsakov’s classic Scheherazade and the world premiere of Mark Buller’s The Parallactic Transits, commissioned by the ASO. The March 31 evening includes a complimentary pre-concert chamber performance from ASO musicians at 6:30pm, open to all weekend ticketholders. 

During the month of March, the Delta Atlanta Symphony Hall LIVE Series welcomes Irish vocal group Celtic Thunder on March 1, Little Feat: Waiting for Columbus Tour on March 22, and more. Visit aso.org/LIVE to view a full list of concerts. 

Family Concerts return on March 6 with Peter and the Wolf, presented by the ASO in partnership with the Alliance Theatre, the Center for Puppetry Arts and Madcap Puppets. Associate Conductor and ASYO Music Director Jerry Hou will lead the ASO in performances of the family favorite by Sergei Prokofiev and Erich Korngold’s Much Ado About Nothing.

Additional March concert details: 

Celtic Thunder 
Atlanta Symphony Hall LIVE
Atlanta Symphony Hall, Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center
Tuesday, March 1, 2022, 8:00 p.m.

Michelle Cann Plays Florence Price
Delta Classical Series
Atlanta Symphony Hall, Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center
Thursday, March 3, 2022, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 5, 2022, 8:00 p.m.

Donald Runnicles, conductor
Michelle Cann, piano
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

PRICE: Piano Concerto in One Movement
MAHLER: Symphony No. 1

Family Concert: Peter and the Wolf (sold out)
Atlanta Symphony Hall, Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center
Sunday, March 6, 2022, 3:00 p.m.
Jerry Hou, conductor
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram: 662 Juke Joint Live with special guest Rissi Palmer
Atlanta Symphony Hall LIVE
Atlanta Symphony Hall, Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center
Friday, March 11, 2022, 7:30 p.m.

Stutzmann and the ASO Chorus
Delta Classical Series
Atlanta Symphony Hall, Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center
Thursday, March 17, 2022, 8:00 p.m.
Friday, March 18, 2022, 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 20, 2022, 3:00 p.m.

Nathalie Stutzmann, conductor
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

R. STRAUSS: Death and Transfiguration
MOZART: Requiem

Little Feat Waiting for Columbus Tour with special guest Amy Helm
Atlanta Symphony Hall LIVE
Atlanta Symphony Hall, Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center
Tuesday, March 22, 2022, 8:00 p.m.

Xavier Foley’s Double Bass Concerto
Delta Classical Series
Atlanta Symphony Hall, Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center
Thursday, March 24, 2022, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 26, 2022, 8:00 p.m.

Jonathon Heyward, conductor
Xavier Foley, composer and double bass
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

BEETHOVEN: Leonore, Overture no. 3
XAVIER DUBOIS FOLEY: Soul Bass ‡
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 9 

Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox
Atlanta Symphony Hall LIVE
Atlanta Symphony Hall, Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center
Wednesday, March 30, 2022, 7:30 p.m.

Scheherazade and Mandolinist Avi Avital Returns
Delta Classical Series
Atlanta Symphony Hall, Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center
Thursday, March 31, 2022, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 2, 2022, 8:00 p.m.

Robert Spano, conductor
Avi Avital, mandolin
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

MARK BULLER: The Parallactic Transits
JENNIFER HIGDON: Mandolin Concerto
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Scheherazade

About the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Celebrating its 77th season, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra continues to affirm its position as one of America’s leading orchestras with excellent live performances, renowned guest artist features and engaging education initiatives. As a cornerstone for artistic development in the Southeast, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performs a full schedule of more than 150 concerts, including educational and community concerts, each year for a combined audience of more than a quarter-million people.