Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Launches Digital Concert Hall Series

    KALAMAZOO, MI, January 28, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- A symphonic music series reimagined for in-home viewing launches this month from the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. New concerts premiere on the final Friday of each month from January through May, providing five months of engaging musical experiences as part of the symphony's 100th anniversary season.

Each of the Final Fridays Digital Concert Hall performances will be streamed on its opening night and remain available for 30 days on demand to give ticket holders flexibility to watch and re-watch concerts at times that fit their schedules. Viewers may choose between two subscription packages and single-concert ticket options.

Series Premiere is Friday, Jan. 29
The first Final Friday Digital Concert Hall performance airs online at 7 p.m. on Friday, January 29. Viewers will enjoy one hour of performances from the KSO string, woodwinds, and brass musicians, conducted by KSO Music Director Julian Kuerti. The concert begins with George Frideric Handel's festive and triumphant Royal Fireworks Music. Richard Strauss's short and charming Serenade in E-flat Major will bridge listeners to the final piece on the program, Ludwig van Beethoven's String Quartet No. 11 in F minor, Op. 95 "Serioso," arranged for string orchestra by Gustav Mahler. Beethoven wrote that this quartet was not meant for public performance, making it perfect for a year when we cannot gather in large, public groups. It is a daring and intense piece of music written by a boundary-breaking composer at the height of his powers. This first concert will remain available on demand to subscribers for two months to allow time for subscribing and viewing.

Discover the details about the remaining Final Fridays Digital Concert Hall events at the KSO website. The concerts, which first air at 7 p.m., include:

• Friday, Feb. 26 – Miniature Masterworks | Bach, Debussy, & More | Soloist Rachel Miller, harp
• Friday, Mar. 26 – A Little Night Music | Mozart, Weill, & Gulda | Soloist Igor Cetkovic, cello
• Friday, Apr. 30 – A New Concerto for Piano | Brown, Bartók, & Schubert | Guest Artist Michael Brown, piano
• Friday, May 28 – Peter and the Wolf | Prokofiev & Ravel | Collaboration with Ballet Arts Ensemble of Kalamazoo

Subscription and Single-Concert Options
Subscriptions and single-concert orders now are open for the Final Fridays Digital Concert Hall series. Each concert purchase includes one month of on-demand access so viewers may watch – and re-watch – the concert at their convenience. Subscribe any time through the end of February for full concert access.
• A $100 Centennial Subscription is an all-access pass to the 5-concert Digital Concert Hall performances with up to one month of unlimited digital streaming, 2 encore Sample the Symphony 2020 concerts, special events, behind-the-scenes access to conductors and guest musicians, and special encore content.
• The Basic Subscription is available for $85, which is a $15 savings from the single-ticket price and opens your access to our 5 Digital Concert Hall performances.
• Register for individual concerts with an option to upgrade to a subscription through the end of February. Individual concert prices range from $10-$30 and are available online at https://boxoffice.kalamazoosymphony.com/events.

Artists, repertoire, and performance times are subject to change. Stay tuned for additional concert announcements by signing up for our newsletter!

About the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Making symphonic music a part of everyday life for 100 years, the KSO (kalamazoosymphony.com) shares lifelong musical experiences and learning throughout our community. We are on the stage – and online – actively collaborating with other Kalamazoo-area organizations to inspire, care for, educate, and connect people through the arts. The symphony is Southwest Michigan's premiere musical organization and the state's third largest orchestra. The KSO has won numerous recognitions, awards, and grants, including a major Ford Foundation grant to establish its innovative Artists in Residence program, and recognition from Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute.

The KSO receives major support from the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, and the Stryker Johnston Foundation. The KSO also is supported by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. The KSO also receives generous support from other local, state, and national foundations, as well as private and corporate support.

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