2015/2016 Season Features Sixteen Iconic Productions
Celebrating Timothy Hankewich’s tenth Season with Orchestra Iowa
Cedar Rapids, IA – March 2015 – Orchestra Iowa will bring the world of exhilarating, live performing arts to Eastern Iowa through sixteen symphonic, ballet, chamber music, opera and special presentations in its 2015/2016 season. Iowa’s premier orchestra will be joined during its 94rd season by Ballet Quad Cities, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, Simpson College and an extensive roster of international guest artists including Broadway sensation Bernadette Peters.
The Creative Corridor’s cultural season opens once again with Brucemorchestra! on September 12 with an outdoor concert featuring Orchestra Iowa School’s Discovery Chorus, a men’s chorus and a program of triumphal pieces including Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. Symphonic highlights include Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major, Piazzola’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, Stravinsky’s Petrushka and Firebird, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis featuring the Simpson College Choir and Richard Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben. Solo guest artists include pianist Anna Polonsky, violinist Lara St. John, bassoonist Matthew Ransom and vocalists Mary Wilson, Renée Rapier, Eric Barry and Sumner Thompson.
Orchestra Iowa will present a Gala performance and pre-performance event featuring celebrity Bernadette Peters on October 3, 2015. A winner of multiple Tony, Drama Desk and Golden Globe awards, she brings her incomparable voice, wit and charm to Eastern Iowa for one performance only. The Broadway performer is known for her interpretations of Stephen Sondheim’s musicals including roles in Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park with George, Gypsy and A Little Night Music. Gala tickets can be purchased as an add-on to a subscription, and tickets to the general public go on sale July 31, 2015 at 10 AM.
“I am so thrilled to be celebrating my 10th Season with Orchestra Iowa,” said Maestro Timothy Hankewich. “Like all families, we’ve faced many ups and downs together – floods, economic downturns, cutbacks and staff shortages – just to name a few. Through it all, we’ve persevered and achieved staggering accomplishments including the Paramount restoration, statewide concert expansion, a robust chamber series, more programming and a professional recording. Here’s to another fantastic ten years together”.
Orchestra Iowa and Ballet Quad Cities will present two ballets during 2015/2016: Tchaikovsky’s classic tale, The Nutcracker and Stravinsky’s Petrushka and Firebird, both performed at Russian Fairytales. The Orchestra will partner once again with the Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre in their January 2016 production of Verdi’s La Traviata. Three Pops at the Paramount performances will be offered by Orchestra Iowa during the season: Holiday Spectacular, Disney in Concert: Tale as Old as Time and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Musicians from the Orchestra will once again be featured in three performances as part of the Showcase Chamber Series.
Venues include the Paramount Theatre, Opus Concert Café and Brucemore Estate in Cedar Rapids; West High School in Iowa City; the Adler Theatre in Davenport, the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts in Coralville; Simpson College’s Pote Theatre in Indianola and the High School Auditorium in Independence. Performances in Davenport, Indianola and Independence are part of the Orchestra Iowa On the Road Series. Performances will also be broadcast statewide on Iowa Public Radio and Iowa Public Television.
Renewing subscriptions must be received by April 15 to guarantee seat selection and new subscriptions will be available beginning May 1. Single ticket sales begin in August 2015. Packages include the three-concert Showcase Chamber Series, four-concert or more “Compose-Your-Own”, three-concert Pops at the Paramount and nine-concert Masterworks subscriptions. Patrons will again have the option to select all thirteen main stage performances with guaranteed seating, special benefits and a twenty percent discount for a low monthly price starting at $17 per month as part of the Passport to the Arts subscription package. Gala event tickets can only be purchased at this time as an add-on to a subscription package.
ORCHESTRA IOWA
Orchestra Iowa is recognized as the state’s premier symphony orchestra, under the direction Timothy Hankewich and now celebrates his tenth year as Music Director.
Founded in 1921, the mission of Orchestra Iowa is “to foster enjoyment of, and support for fine symphonic music through quality performances, education, and community involvement” Its 68 professional musicians perform more than 175 public performances throughout the year, many of which can be heard on Iowa Public Radio and seen on Iowa Public Television. Orchestra Iowa showcases its artistic excellence each season through an accomplished array of classical, ballet, opera, popular and chamber performances, in addition to extensive community education and involvement.