The Bellevue Philharmonic will introduce a new look, new programming and a new vision for the 2008-2009 season.
“We want to open the doors of the exciting world of classical music to new audiences,” says Bellevue Philharmonic CEO Jennifer McCausland. “Knowing that once you hear the music, you will love it and want to be part of the Bellevue Philharmonic experience.”
The Philharmonic’s “opening doors” strategy not only includes attracting new audiences but also creating new artistic relationships with partners, the Bellevue Arts Museum, Ballet Bellevue, and Bellevue Opera.
“There is such synergy between visual art and classical music, that a perfect venue for a Friday night ‘Art Meets Music’ series is the Bellevue Arts Museum,” McCausland said.
The series titled A Little Night Music, is sponsored by Kemper Freeman and will feature music and wine with a variety of artists ranging from the Seattle Baroque Orchestra to violinist Marié Rossano. It also will include a Steinway Piano Series showcasing Steinway artists.
Beethoven’s Triple Concerto will launch the new season at Meany Hall on October 3, featuring cellist Matt Haimovitz, violinist Andy Simionescu, and pianist Claude Frank.
Haimovitz then will play Dvorak’s Cello Concerto on October 4 and 5 as part of the opening Masterworks@Meydenbauer concerts. Other highlights of the Masterworks concerts include American contemporary music composer Aaron Jay Kernis guest conducting the November concerts, which will include one of his own compositions.
In addition to the traditional Masterworks series, the BPO will present a Pops Series with a Family Holiday Concert as well as a Valentine’s Day Concert featuring Bernstein’s West Side Story and Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet.
The Philharmonic is “opening doors” to young audiences as well. A new concert series for children and families opened on April 12 to a sold out house: The Little Maestro Series is presented in partnership with Lisa and Linda of Music Shine Media and is designed for young children ages birth to six. A companion series, Young Maestros, will entertain the six to eleven-year-old concert goers with such favorites as Peter and the Wolf, The Pink Panther and the Carnival of the Animals in venues throughout East King County.
The next Little and Young Maestro concerts will take place at the Bellevue Arts Museum on May 10, with a free craft class and free family admission to the museum.
To celebrate the diversity of the Eastside, the Philharmonic will close the season in May with a Music of Asia concert and dinner party – complete with a smorgasbord of dishes from throughout East Asia. The concert will be an introduction to the BPO’s 2009-2010 series showcasing music of Japan, China, Vietnam and Korea.
For a complete list of programs, visit www.bellevuephil.org.
A variety of subscription packages are available on the Philharmonic’s web site and are also available through Brown Paper Tickets on-line (www.brownpapertickets.com) and by phone, 800-838-3006.
