Eugene Symphony Returns to the Hult Center on Sept. 23, 2021
Posted on September 14, 2021
Following the pandemic-induced interruption in performances, the orchestra’s 57th season includes multi-season projects and two world premieres
EUGENE, OR (September 14, 2021)— After performing arts venues across Oregon have been shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic for more than a year-and-a-half, Eugene Symphony and Music Director & Conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong are thrilled to embark on its 2021/22 season, which began with a return of the annual outdoor summer concert series in July and includes a homecoming to the Hult Center for the Performing Arts this month.
With multi-season projects and two world premieres, the Symphony’s 57th season includes nine Symphonic series concerts, a Family Concert, and a Special Concert featuring a new work by Portland-based composer David Schiff celebrating the life and legacy of track legend Steve Prefontaine. The three-concert series, “C3: Creativity, Connection, Community” that was put on hold during the 2019/20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic will highlight the season with interactive opportunities and partnerships with other local arts groups. Additionally, the orchestra launches a three-year exploration of Richard Wagner’s opera Tristan und Isolde, with one act performed each year through the 2023/24 season.
“This season is jam-packed with spectacular projects, complete with many talented artists, commissions, and collaborations,” says Music Director & Conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong. “Every program is full of stories and ideas, some that we’ve been waiting for more than two years to bring to life. Most importantly, this season celebrates all of us being back in the concert hall together – the full orchestra and audience reunited to celebrate what it means to share and experience live music in person.”
“We are positively overjoyed to share this remarkable lineup of music and artists as we resume our mainstage programs at the Hult Center,” says Executive Director Scott Freck. “This season is bursting with compelling ideas that showcase what is so special about orchestral music: the power of many acting as one, and the incomparable energy of a shared experience among audience and musicians. We can’t wait to celebrate the return of live performing arts with this extraordinary community.”
Dates and programming details below. For more information, interviews are available as well as this video from Lecce-Chong: https://bit.ly/21-22seasonprev...
Tickets: Full- and partial-season subscriptions, as well as single tickets, are available now. Virtual tickets starting at $20 are available for September, October, and November. Ticketed dress rehearsals with limited capacity and physically-distanced seating is available for September, November, and December. All ticket options available at eugenesymphony.org or the Hult Center Ticket Office 541-682-5000
September 23, 2021 – OPENING NIGHT & WELCOME BACK!
Francesco Lecce-Chong, conductor
Michelle Cann, piano
Libby Larsen: Deep Summer Music
Price: Piano Concerto
Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances
October 21, 2021 – ORCHESTRA DANCE REMIX
Francesco Lecce-Chong, conductor
Alexi Kenney, violin
Andrea Reinkemeyer: Water Sings Fire *Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor John Adams: The Chairman Dances
Arturo Marquez: Danzon No. 7
Ravel: La Valse
November 18, 2021 – BRAHMS AND BARTÓK
Francesco Lecce-Chong, conductor
Joyce Yang, piano
Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1
Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra
December 9, 2021 – WINTER DREAMS
Erina Yashima, conductor
Paul Huang, violin
Walker: Lyric for Strings
Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 4
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 1, “Winter Dreams”
January 20, 2022 - C3: CREATIVITY/RACHMANINOV’S SECOND
Francesco Lecce-Chong, conductor
Daniel Hsu, piano
Tan Dun: Secret of Winds and Birds
Matthew Browne: Symphony No. 1 (NW Premiere, Eugene Symphony Co-Commission)
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2
February 17, 2022- C3: CONNECTION/BEETHOVEN’S FIFTH
Francesco Lecce-Chong, conductor
Roberto Diaz, viola
In partnership with Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art and #Instaballet
Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes of Weber
Jennifer Higdon: Viola Concerto
Fauré: Pavane
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5
March 17, 2022 – NEW WORLD SYMPHONY
Carlos Izcaray, conductor
Soyeon Kate Lee, piano
Carlos Izcaray: New Work (World Premiere)
Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2
Dvořák: Symphony No. 9, “From the New World”
April 21, 2022 – TRISTAN UND ISOLDE, ACT I Francesco Lecce-Chong, conductor
Nina Warren, Isolde | Roy C. Smith, Tristan
Ola Rafalo, Brangäne | Eugene Villanueva, Kurwenal
Men of the Eugene Symphony Chorus
Mahler: Blumine
Wagner: Act I from Tristan und Isolde
May 19, 2022 – C3: COMMUNITY/BOLERO
Francesco Lecce-Chong, conductor
Joshua Roman, cello
R. Strauss: Don Quixote
Elgar: “Enigma” Variations
Ravel: Bolero
SPECIAL CONCERTS
April 24, 2022 – Family Concert: Peter & the Wolf
Francesco Lecce-Chong, conductor
June 4, 2022 – PREFONTAINE
Francesco Lecce-Chong, conductor
*in partnership with Oregon Contemporary Theatre and Linda Prefontaine, Creative Consultant
Opening works TBD
*David Schiff: Prefontaine (World Premiere)
Interview & Media Opportunities: High-resolution photos are available upon request. For interviews, contact Associate Executive Director Lindsey McCarthy at 928-231-4706 or lindsey.mccarthy@eugenesymphony.org.
About Eugene Symphony
Now in its 57th season, the Eugene Symphony is a nonprofit and 83-member part-time orchestra based in Eugene, Oregon led by Music Director & Conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong with a mission of enriching lives through the power of music. While away from the concert hall since March 1, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Eugene Symphony offered digital content through its virtual hub at eugenesymphony.org, including its Soundwaves virtual concerts, radio broadcasts, music education content, live chats with Maestro Lecce-Chong, and musician performances. In all, these virtual engagement activities reached more than 60,000 people in Oregon, across the country, and around the world. More at eugenesymphony.org
