In a few weeks, the Venice Symphony will be announcing its next musical leader, the culmination of three-year search process. In the meantime, Leif Bjaland, the former artistic director of the Sarasota Orchestra, worked with the symphony to plan its 2018-2019 season—the organization’s 45th. Executive director Christine Kasten says Bjaland’s extensive experience with the region’s musicians and audiences has resulted in a “dynamic and exciting season.”

The season, which runs from November through April, will feature seven concerts, ranging from masterworks by Beethoven, Mozart and Mahler to a concert of George Gershwin music, a season finale of great American composers, and featuring several Venice Symphony musicians as concert soloists.

Season subscriptions start at $156 and online sales begin Sept. 1. Info: (941) 207-8822; thevenicesymphony.org

 

 

The 2018-19 Season

 

Fri, Nov. 16, 2018 at 7:30 pm and Sat., Nov. 17 at 3:30 pm

Festa Italia!

Festive Overture, op.96, Dimitri Shostakovich - Fountains of Rome and Pines of Rome, Ottorino Respighi

Carnival of Venice – Soloist Aaron Romm, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, op. 28., Camille Saint-Saëns – Soloist Marcus Ratzenboeck

 

Fri, Dec. 14 at 7:30 pm, Sat, Dec. 15 at 3:30 and 7:30 pm

Holiday Pops

Brazilian Sleigh Bells, Feliz Navidad, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, The Festive Sounds of Hanukah, music from The Nutcracker, barbershop quartet, traditional sing-a-long and more.

 

Fri, Jan. 11 at 7:30 pm and Sat., Jan. 12 at 3:30 pm

Strauss, Schumann and Mendelssohn

Nocturne, Wedding March from a Midsummer’s Night’s Dream, Felix Mendelssohn - Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks, Richard Strauss - Piano Concerto, Op. 54, Robert Schumann – Guest soloist, Andrew Tyson

 

Fri, Feb. 1 at 7:30 pm and Sat, Feb. 2 at 3:30 and 7:30 pm

Rhapsody in Blue

The music of George Gershwin, including Cuban Overture, An American in Paris, I’ve Got Rhythm and Rhapsody in Blue.

Guest Soloist – Dr. Joseph Holt

 

Fri, Feb. 22 at 7:30 pm and Sat, Feb 23 at 3:30 pm

European Masters

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 - Overture to L’Italiana in Algeri, Gioacchino Rossini - Concerto for Cello No. 1., op. 33, Camille Saint-Saëns – Soloist Scott Crowley

 

Fri, March 22 at 7:30 pm and Sat, March 23 at 3:30 pm

Mozart and Mahler

Mozart’s Symphony no. 41, (Jupiter) and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony no. 1, D Major (Titan)

Fri, April 26 at 7:30 pm and Sat, April 27 at 3:30 pm

American Roots

Music of Duke Ellington, Aaron Copland, John Williams, John Philip Sousa and many others.

Ashokan Farewell and Sweet Georgia Brown – Soloist Marcus Ratzenboeck