Feb 28 & Mar 2
Greensboro Symphony Orchestra: Three Meditations
Dmitry Sitkovetsky, conductor; Andres Diaz, cello

Saint-Saens: The Swan from Carnival of the Animals
Bernstein: Three Meditations from Mass
Dvorak: Symphony No. 6 in D

The Palmetto Mastersingers
Lillian Quackenbush, Artistic Director

Souls of Love – a varied concert of sacred, popular and
classical selections

Music for the mind and the heart is presented on this edition of the program.  We begin with a concert titled Three Meditations by the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra.  The title refers to music by Leonard Bernstein – Three Meditations from Mass – and the evening’s music includes the lovely The Swan by Camille Saint-Saens and Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 6 in D.  We then feature highlights from the concert Souls of Love from The Palmetto Mastersingers, a wonderful ensemble known as “South Carolina’s Musical Ambassadors.”  They offer music from a variety of composers including Rachmaninoff, John Dowland, Alex North and Billy Joel.

Mar 7 & 9Rutherford Chamber Consort: Vessels of Song
Sharon Lawrence,  Artistic Director

Paganini: Cantabile
H.H.A. Beach: Romance
Galay: Klezmer Tunes with a Classical Touch
Kogan: Klezmer Dance Suite
Schubert: String Quintet in C

Greensboro Symphony Orchestra: Keys of BeethovenDmitry Sitkovetsky, Music Director; Lukas Geniusas, piano

Barber: Adagio for Strings
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C-minor

This edition of the program begins with a concert by the Rutherford Chamber Consort titled Vessels of Song.  Some of those vessels are captained by familiar composers such as Paganini and Schubert, but a main part of the concert blends the distinctive sound of klezmer music with classical in a set titled “Klezmer in the Mountains.”  The second part of Carolina Live has highlights from a concert by the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra—Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C-minor.

Mar 14 & 16Greenville Symphony Chamber Orchestra: Shall We Dance
Edvard Tchivzhel, conductor

Weber: Invitation to the Dance
Glinka: Three Polish Dances
De Falla: The Three-Cornered Hat Suite No. 1
Dvorak: Three Slavonic Dances
Brahms: Two Hungarian Dances

An invitation to dance can be an exciting thing, but in this program we also have music that can make it seem rather harrowing.  In a concert titled Shall We Dance the Greenville Symphony Chamber Orchestra brings you music from five wonderful composers, with the music ranging from Glinka’s Three Polish Dances to De Falla’s dances from The Three-Cornered Hat.  There are Three Slavonic Dances by Dvorak and a pair of Hungarian Dances by Brahms, plus more.  Put on your dancing shoes and join us.

Mar 21 & 23Winston-Salem Symphony & Chorus: Mozart’s Requiem
Jessica Morel, conductor; Christopher Gilliam, Chorus conductor

Mozart: Requiem in D-minor

Greenville Symphony: Arabian NightsEdvard Tchivzhel, conductor; Laura Colgate, violin

Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade    

Two strong orchestras and two spectacular musical works are found on this edition of Carolina Live.  The Winston-Salem Symphony and Chorus present the Requiem in D-minor by Mozartfrom a March 2019 concert at Wait Chapel of Wake Forest University.  Then the Greenville Symphony plays Nikolai Rimsky-Korsavov’s oh-so-romantic Scheherazade in a January 2019 concert.  It’s an intriguing pairing of musical masterworks, so make sure to join us.

Mar 28 & 30
South Carolina Philharmonic: Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto
Morihiko Nakahara, conductor; Philip Bush, piano

Fitz Rogers: The Passing Sun
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major
Dvorak: Symphony No. 7 in d-minor

Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto is the title of the concert featured on this edition of Carolina Live, and that important work is given the expected excellent performance by the South Carolina Philharmonic and pianist Philip Bush.  Also on the program is The Passing Sun by John Fitz Rogers, a work commissioned by the orchestra, and the delightful Symphony No. 7 in d-minor by Antonin Dvorak.  There’s interesting variety from the orchestra and conductor Morihiko Nakahara, so join us and enjoy.

Apr 4 & 6

Greensboro Symphony Orchestra: Italian Inspirations
Dmitry Sitkovetsky, conductor; Xavier Foley, double bass

Respighi: The Birds
Bottesini: Double Bass Concerto No. 2 in b-minor
Schubert: Symphony No. 4 in c-minor

So many great classical composers have come from Italy, and many more have been inspired by visits there or by its music. The Greensboro Symphony presents a concert titled Italian Inspirations, and those include Ottorino Respighi’s delightful suite The Birds, and an intriguing Double Bass Concerto in b-minor by Giovanni Bottesini.  You’ll also hear Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 4 in c-minor, so join us for some inspiration of your own.

Apr 11 & 13

South Carolina Philharmonic: Springtime & Shaw
Morihiko Nakahara, conductor; Tessa Lark, violin

Mozart: Symphony No. 36 in C, “Linz”
Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D

The marvelous South Carolina Philharmonic has a concert from its Masterworks series for us.  It’s Springtime & Shaw, featuring Mozart’s Symphony No. 36 in C, “Linz,” as well as one of the most respected of all works for violin—Beethoven’s  Violin Concerto in D, with Tessa Lark in the solo violin spot.  The orchestra also has two shorter works for you to enjoy, so please make sure to join us for this edition of Carolina Live.

Apr 18 & 20

Western Piedmont Symphony: Full Circle
John Gordon Ross, conductor; Hickory Choral Society; Lenoir Rhyne A Capella Choir; Catawba Valley Community College Chamber Ensemble; Carolina Whisnant, soprano; Janice Wilson, mezzo-soprano; Benjamin Werley, tenor; Adrian Smith, ball-baritone

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in d-minor “Choral”

The Chamber Project: 88 Keys and a Reed
Matthew Hanna, clarinet; Christopher Tavernier, piano

Debussy: Girl With the Flaxen Hair
Clair de Lune
Premiere rhapsodie
Poulenc: Sonata
Ravel: Piece en forme de Habanera
Chopin: Ballade No. 1
Jeanjean: Guisganderie

The longtime, highly-respected former conductor of Hickory, North Carolina’s Western Piedmont Symphony, John Gordon Ross, began his 27-year tenure with the orchestra with a performance of Beethoven’s “Choral” Symphony No. 9.For his final performance with the orchestra he once again featured that towering work, with help from the Hickory Choral Society, Lenoir Rhyne A Capella Choir, gifted soloists and more.  You’ll hear that, then enjoy highlights from a virtual concert presented by clarinetist Matthew Hanna and pianist Christopher Tavernier.  It’s a French-inspired group of works by Debussy, Ravel, Poulenc and more, so join them for 88 Keys and a Reed.

Apr 25 & 27

Greenville Symphony Orchestra: Strauss Squared
Edvard Tchivzhel, conductor

R. Strauss: Ein Heldenleben
J. Strauss Jr.: Overture to Die Fledermaus
Set of Waltzes and Polkas

 Two supremely talented Strausses provide the music for this edition of the program.  Richard Strauss’ heroic music is front and center with his major work Ein Heldenleben, and Johann Strauss Jr.’s rich treasure trove of music provides the Overture to Die Fledermaus and the Emperor, Voices of Spring and Blue Danube Waltzes, plus shorter delights such as the Pizzacato and Hunt Polkas.  Two quite different Strausses, but a consistent musical delight for you…

May 2 & 4
Broyhill Chamber Ensemble

Beethoven: Sonata No. 8 in G
Brahms: Piano Quintet in f-minor

Western Piedmont Symphony: Masterworks IV
John Gordon Ross: conductor

Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 in a-minor

The annual Appalachian Summer Festival in Boone, NC, is famous for the quality of its chamber music offerings. The Festival’s resident chamber music group is the Broyhill Chamber Ensemble, who begin this week’s edition of Carolina Live with Beethoven’s Sonata No. 8 in G and also play Beethoven’s Piano Quintet in f-minor. You’ll then hear Felix Mendelssohn’s delightful Symphony No. 3 in a-minor, his “Scottish” symphony, played by the Western Piedmont Symphony. Enjoy the variety on this show.

May 9 & 11
Winston-Salem Symphony: Rachmaninoff’s First Piano Concerto
Martin West, conductor; Alexander Kobrin, piano

Mendelssohn: Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in c-minor
Tchaikovsky: Sleeping Beauty Suite

Colour of Music
Lee Pringle, Artistic Director
Bruch: Violin Concerto – finale

Grimbert-Barre: Tribal Triple Concerto for String Trio &
Orchestra

Martin West is guest conductor as the Winston-Salem Symphony presents music by three legendary composers. There’s Felix Mendelssohn’s Overture to a Midsummer Night’s Dream, Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty Suite and Sergei Rachminonoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in c-minor. The latter features guest pianist Alexander Kobrin. Then there’s music from Charleston’s Colour of Music Festival, with a movement from Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto and Paris-based composer Johnathan Grimbert-Barre’s Tribal Triple Concerto for String Trio and Orchestra.

May 16 & 18
Greenville Symphony Orchestra: Tcheers for Tchaikovsky
Edvard Tchivzhel, conductor; Do-Hyun Kim, piano

Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor
Symphony No. 5 in F-minor

Two major works by Tchaikovsky fill a stirring concert by the Greenville Symphony Orchestra. Conductor Edvard Tchivzhel has chosen the Russian great’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor with guest pianist Do-Hyun Kim, then follows that with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 in F-minor. Both are well-known and popular works, and they’re yours to enjoy on Carolina Live.

May 23 & 25
Rutherford Chamber Consort: …and the Daffodils Bloomed o’er the Lea
Sharon Lawrence, Artistic Director

Mozart: Quintet in Eb
Dvorak: Bagatelles
Brahms: Sextet in G Major

The always-dependable ensemble the Rutherford Chamber Consort provides the music for this Carolina Live. From a concert titled …and the Daffodils Bloomed o’er the Lea we’ll hear a Quintet in Eb by Mozart, the delightful set of five Bagatelles by Antonin Dvorak and the masterful Sextet in G Major by Johannes Brahms. It’s a chamber music treat for you, so don’t miss it.

May 30 & June 1
Winston-Salem Symphony: The Rite of Spring
Timothy Redmond, conductor; Brian French, trombone; David Wulfeck, trombone; Erik Salzwedel, Bass trombone; Matt Ransom, Tuba

Mozart: Symphony No. 35 in D Major
Higdon: Low Brass Concerto
Haydn: The Representation of Chaos from The Creation
Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring

Timothy Redmond made his debut as Conductor of the Winston-Salem Symphony in a richly diverse concert. You’ll hear Mozart’s Symphony No. 35, Jennifer Higdon’s intriguing Low Brass Concerto, The Representation of Chaos from Haydn’s The Creation and Igor Stravinsky’s groundbreaking The Rite of Spring. It’s a fascinating blend for you to enjoy on Carolina Live.