CONTRIBUTED BY ALABAMA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
BIRMINGHAM —
The Alabama Symphony Orchestra (ASO) invites all to amazing performances to start off 2023.
Whether you’re interested in experiencing exciting guest soloists like Joyce Yang and Anthony McGill, or seeing the orchestra accompany a rock band live for “The Music of Queen,” January has something for everybody. Tickets are available at alabamasymphony.org or by calling 205-975-2787.
McGill, principal clarinet of the New York Philharmonic, will be the featured soloist on Jan. 13 and 14 at 7 p.m. at the beautiful Alys Stephens Center. McGill will be performing two works — Haitian composer Julio Racine’s “Concertino for Clarinet and Orchestra” and the world premiere of a clarinet concerto by ASO Music Director Carlos Izcaray.
“We are thrilled to have Anthony McGill join us again to showcase his talent in two virtuosic works,” Izcaray said. “Anthony is a longtime friend of mine, and I’m so glad to have another opportunity to share that friendship and amazing artistry with our musicians and audiences.”
In addition to these works, the ASO will perform Prokofiev’s heroic “Symphony No. 5” and Izcaray’s “Geometric Unity.”
Bridging the gulf between rock ‘n’ roll and classical music, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra will also present “The Music of Queen,” a program scored to extend the listening experience of Queen’s iconic tunes. With an amplified rock band and vocals, the evening will capture Queen’s distinct sound while presenting some familiar tunes and lots of new musical colors. The show is set for Jan. 21 at 8 p.m. at the BJCC concert hall, offering a chance to experience this exciting blend of orchestra and rock band.
Finally, see the triumphant return of Yang performing alongside the Alabama Symphony Orchestra Jan. 27 and 28 at UAB’s Alys Stephens Center. Yang, “an astonishing virtuoso with tremendous suggestive power and imagination,” will perform Edvard Grieg’s masterful “Piano Concerto.” The orchestra will also perform Jean Sibelius’ lushly romantic “Symphony No. 1” and Robert Schumann’s “Overture from Genoveva.”
January with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra is full of opportunities to see classic favorites and exciting new sounds. Visit alsymphony.org/events for tickets and information, or contact the box office at 205-975-2787.
ABOUT THE ALABAMA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The formation of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra (ASO) began with the first performance by a group of volunteer musicians in 1921. That group would evolve from a volunteer ensemble to the state’s only full-time professional orchestra. Today, the ASO is continuing to make music and provide vital services to the residents of the state, serving nearly 100,000 individuals a year through concert series, youth programs and educational and community engagement efforts to fulfill its mission to change lives through music.
We proudly work to produce creative, dynamic programming and to be recognized as an artistically innovative leader in the field — winning ASCAP Awards in 2010 and 2011 for Adventurous Programming and Dedication to New American Music and receiving an invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall in May 2012 as a part of the competitive Spring For Music Festival, which is underwritten by a $1 million grant from the Mellon Foundation.
The Alabama Symphony Orchestra has entertained and enriched audiences for over 100 years, playing a variety of classical and popular music and hosting performances by some of the finest guest artists in the world. The 53 talented musicians of the ASO bring to life some of the world’s most treasured musical masterpieces and introduce listeners to exciting new works and composers, performing 100 concerts annually.