09-17-2023 Fall Arts Guide - Flipbook - Page 3
The Baltimore Sun | Sunday, September 17, 2023
YOUR BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA:
Jonathon Heyward,
the Baltimore
Symphony Orchestra’s
BRAND-NEW Music
Director, is taking the
classical music world
by storm. He’s the
Orchestra’s youngest
and first ever Black
conductor to hold
that coveted position
at the BSO, and he
is just as likely to be
spotted wearing a
pair of sneakers as
he is dress shoes —
as a point of fact, he
is known by many
as the “Converse
Conductor.”
It will be exhilarating
to see such a fresh
and energetic
maestro breathe
new life into familiar
classics like Dvořák’s
Symphony No. 9
(“From the New
World”), Stravinsky’s
The Firebird, and
Brahms’s Piano
Concerto No.
1, featuring the
legendary pianist
Emanuel Ax. The
2023-24 BSO season
boasts a long roster of
revered performers
like soprano Christine
Goerke (this season’s
incredible Artist
in Residence) and
conductors such as
Sir Andrew Davis.
(they don’t just give
that title to anyone!)
And in addition to
a healthy dose of
pops, film music, and
contemporary music,
there will be plenty of
familiar characters
you meet along the
way: Mozart, Sibelius,
Tchaikovsky, the list
goes on!
Mozart not your
thing? No problem.
How about the Music
of Billy Joel and Elton
John? Or perhaps
you’d prefer the
sparkling allure of
Broadway Legends?
If, like me, you’re
looking for an ‘all of
the above’ option,
look no further than
the BSO Fusion
series, where you
can hear the likes of
Shostakovich, Adele,
and Drake melded
together in the same
musical numbers.
Bottom line: there’s
something at the
BSO for everybody.
One of my favorite
aspects of seeing a
show at the Meyerhoff
is its “come-as-youare” vibe – you can
show up as dressed
up or dressed down
as you’d like, hang
out with your friends
in the concert hall
lobby, and bring
your drinks right to
your seats to enjoy
during the show. The
BSO also offers the
ultimate flexibility
for everyone, ranging
from a 4-concert
Choose Your Own
package (with tickets
starting at just $15 per
concert) to a season
Passport that’s just
$120 for the entire
year - that’s still
waaaayyy cheaper
than even a single
seat at a Taylor Swift
concert. (no shade
towards Taylor)
And that’s just what’s
happening on stage.
Ever wanted a peek
behind the curtain?
Attend backstage
tours and pre-concert
lectures, learn
about orchestral
instruments from
members of the
Orchestra, enjoy
open rehearsals, or
even have a virtual
tea with Jonathon
Heyward as part of
the BSO’s Ovation
Series. It’s a great
way to enhance your
already jam-packed
BSO experience.
Explore all of this
and much, much more
at BSOMusic.org.
See you at the
Symphony!
-The Baltimore Arts Insider
3