annual Gala Opening concert. In both the classical and pops series, 2017-18 will feature an A-list roster of debuting and returning guest artists.
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Renee Fleming will grace the Opening Night Gala concert in her ISO debut. |
But Fleming moved closer to that exalted status when she sang the national anthem at the 2014 Super Bowl. In her principal claim to fame on the opera stage, Fleming established her reputation a few decades ago with acclaimed performances, dramatically and vocally acute, embracing a range from Handel to Strauss. She has also recorded popular music in a voice suitable to the genre.
Two special events have been announced, representing the ISO's wide range. "La La Land" may have been a wrong-envelope victim at last night's Academy Awards, but it is still a movie with a huge amount of buzz. It will be featured, with composer Justin Hurwitz joining principal pops conductor Jack Everly onstage, as the ISO accompanies a showing of the film Sept. 13.
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Justin Hurwitz, "La La Land" composer |
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Alisa Weilerstein will be part of ISO's D.C. mini-residency. |
Besides Ax and Weilerstein, returning guest artists include baritone Thomas Hampson, mezzo-soprano Kelly O'Connor, violinists Joshua Bell, Karen Gomyo, Augustin Hadelich, and Vadim Gluzman; pianists Yefim Bronfman, Kirill Gerstein, Garrick Ohlsson, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and Anna Vinnitskaya. Along with debut pianist Alon Goldstein, Ohlsson and Vinnitskaya will be featured in a one-weekend traversal of all five Prokofiev piano concertos (Nov. 17 and 18).
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Gustavo Gimeno will be among first-time ISO guest conductors. |
ISO principals in the spotlight will be concertmaster Zach DePue and cellist Austin Huntington as soloists in Brahms' Double Concerto (Nov. 9-11), under Urbanski's baton.
Notable new and modern music will be represented by an ISO co-commission, Andrew Norman's Violin Concerto (with Jennifer Koh the soloist), and also James Macmillan's "Sinfonietta" and Wojciech Kilar's "Orawa."
On the Pops side, Everly has programmed a return guest appearance by Broadway star Audra McDonald (Feb. 9 and 10), Tony Award-winner Kelli O'Hara in a Rodgers and Hammerstein program, an accompanied showing of the film "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial," a pops series debut (though he hosted the 2016 Yuletide Celebration) by Indianapolis' "The Voice" champ Josh Kaufman, and a Simon & Garfunkel tribute concert, among other events.
A full schedule, with all dates and repertoire, can be obtained by visiting the ISO website. Patrons can renew subscriptions before April 28 by phone [(317) 639-4300], by mail or in person at the Hilbert Circle Theatre box office.
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