Savannah Philharmonic kicks off 15th season early with The Genius of Mozart
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Savannah Philharmonic is celebrating its 15th anniversary with a new season of wonderful music that is sure to make this the SavPhil’s most successful year yet. You can practically hear the conductor tapping his baton on the music stand in anticipation.
Last season was a return to form for Savannah Philharmonic’s Music & Artistic Director, Keitaro Harada, whose debut with the orchestra the previous year was “kind of a flop” as he puts it because of performance limitations caused by the pandemic.
“Last season was a great season,” said Harada. “It was the first season back at the concert hall at the Lucas. It was a good year to challenge a few different things. We finally were able to get our feet wet doing different concerts and trying out different things that we had envisioned.”
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SavPhil takes it to the streets
One big take away from last season was the success of the neighborhood concert series, which will continue this fall in several locations around Savannah. Harada believes the free and family-friendly weekend concerts contributed to building the Savannah Philharmonic’s audience and ultimately attracting 20,000 attendees to Phil the Park in Forsyth Park.
“That was a great way to see how the community's interest in orchestral music was still such a vibrant thing,” said Harada.
Thanks to the SavPhil’s community outreach and Savannah’s vibrant interest in orchestral music, subscriptions for the 2023-2024 season are almost completely sold out.
“We actually had to stop our subscription sales because over 80 percent of our capacity has been sold out by subscription, which is a marvel no orchestra ever sees in this country,” said Harada. “It’s great. It means we are now at the place where we need to start thinking about maybe performing doubles, because there is that much of a demand from people that want to come to the concert.”
Season opens early with Mozart
The new season is launching earlier than usual with a program dedicated to the Genius of Mozart, featuring imaginative guest conductor Kellen Gray of the Charleston Symphony and Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
“We haven’t ever had a concert for the Philharmonic in August, so this is very new,” said Harada. “I wanted our community and orchestra to have an opportunity to make music with [Gray].”
Gray will be conducting Mozart’s delightful Gran Partina (for 13 Winds) and energetic Symphony No. 36. The program also includes Overture in D by Brazilian composer Jose Mauricio Nunes-Garcia, which Harada says is “an exciting way to open the orchestra.”
Since joining the SavPhil three years ago, Harada and Executive Director Amy Williams have endeavored to include more living composers and guest artists of color in the programs, including such works as Eligia Andina by Gabriela Lena Frank in September and Soul Force by Jessie Montgomery in February.
The upcoming season also offers some eclectic and unique performances, such as The Beatles Classic Mystery Tour in January to mark the 60th anniversary of the Beatles arriving in the United States and appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show.
“I love the Beatles, it’s music that I grew up with, so I’m happy I get to perform that with the orchestra,” said Harada.
In June 2024, the Phil will perform George Gershwin’ s Rhapsody In Blue with the Fabulous Equinox Orchestra the way it was meant to be heard.
“We’re doing Rhapsody in Blue, but we’re doing the original version, the version that was conceived with the orchestra AND jazz band performing together,” said Harada. “This is the original version which never gets performed that way. I really wanted to focus on the celebration aspect of this piece and play the original version of it.”
Another element Harada has brought to the Phil since joining has been the inclusion of world-class superstar guest performers. This past season featured pianist Stephen Hough playing two Rachmaninoff piano concertos. Hough is one of the best living pianists in the world and was just knighted a few weeks ago for his contributions to the music.
This year Harada has invited violinist Julian Rachlin to both conduct and perform Astor Piazolla’s Four Seasons and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in November.
“I think it’s a great balance of guest conductors and artists,” Harada said of the upcoming season. “I’m personally excited that one of the greatest violinists of our time today is coming. Julian Rachlin is such a superstar. He performs everywhere around the world and is highest in demand, and he is coming to Savannah Philharmonic to play and conduct, which is great.”
Although season subscriptions are sold out, tickets are still available for individual concerts, but don’t wait too long to snatch some up as remaining seats are limited. Of course, there will be plenty of other opportunities to catch the SavPhil throughout the year including the free neighborhood concerts and Phil the Park.
“We hope to see everyone at Forsyth Park in October for the biggest musical event in town,” said Harada.
If You Go >>
What: Savannah Philharmonic: The Genius of Mozart
When: 7:30 p.m. August 26
Where: The Lucas Theatre of the Arts, 32 Abercorn St.
Cost: $25-69
Info: savannahphilharmonic.org
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah Philharmonic kicks off 15th season with The Genius of Mozart
