October is a good month for classical music in north Texas. At the end of the month, The Dallas Opera opens its season with a highly anticipated world premiere by composer Jake Heggie. Starring superstar mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato and a contemporary plot that involves an NFL football team, Great Scott is a must-see. But before we get to opera, both the Dallas and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestras have some intriguing programs this month and nearly every chamber organization in the region opens its season with strong programming over the next few weeks. Let’s get to it!
Symphonic Music
October 1-4, 8-11, 15-16, 18: Jaap van Zweden and the Dallas Symphony Play Mahler, Brahms, and Bruckner
The first three concerts of the Dallas Symphony’s 2015/2016 season explore important Romantic symphonies by Mahler, Brahms, and Bruckner. With Music Director Jaap van Zweden at the podium and soloists Hélène Grimaud (piano) and Midori (violin) tackling concertos by Ravel and Sibelius, all three of these concerts are definitely worth hearing.
October 2-4, 23-25: Vadym Kholodenko Plays Prokofiev with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
On October 23-25, Cliburn Gold Medalist Vadym Kholodenko returns to the FWSO to continue his march through Prokofiev’s Piano Concertos (he’ll play the First and Fourth on this program). First up, though, is the FWSO and conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya’s version of Ravel’s always-riveting Bolero on a program that also includes the music of Lutoslawski and Berlioz (Oct. 2-4).
Chamber Music
October 3: The Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth Presents the Atrium Quartet
It’s always fun to hear music performed in an art museum, and the stunning Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth offers a particularly lovely setting for chamber music. For its season opener, CMSFW presents the Atrium Quartet in a program that explores the music of Shostakovich, Ligeti and Grieg.
October 5: Dallas Chamber Music Society Presents The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble
This year the Dallas Chamber Music Society’s season opening gala concert features one of the world’s most important and acclaimed chamber ensembles performing works by Schubert, Strauss, and Mozart. In addition to the concert, the evening’s champagne reception and post-concert dinner offer the opportunity to spice up your Monday night as well as support an important local chamber music institution.
October 6: The Cliburn Presents Pianist Marc-André Hamelin
In addition to music by Mozart, Debussy and Schubert, Marc-André Hamelin will perform his own variations on Paganini’s famous theme at this Bass Hall recital. With technical prowess and artistic creativity, Hamelin promises to be a stunning season opening guest for the Cliburn Foundation.
October 6: The Escher String Quartet at SMU
The Escher String Quartet begins its 2015/2016 residency at SMU with a concert featuring works by Mendelssohn and Zemlinsky. This is a great opportunity to hear a world-class quartet at no cost (admission is free!).
October 11: Chamber Music International at Dallas City Performance Hall
This concert features music by French masters (Ravel, Debussy and Chausson) performed by the New Oxford String Quartet, pianist Orion Weiss and violinist Cho-Liang Lin.
October 13: Dallas Chamber Symphony Presents Metropolis
In one of their most ambitious and exciting collaborative projects to date, the Dallas Chamber Symphony presents Fritz Lang’s iconic sci-fi movie Metropolis with a brand new score by composer Brian Satterwhite. As you watch the film and absorb the sounds of the live orchestral accompaniment, dancers will surround the screen with original choreography by SMU’s Christopher Dolder. This multi-faceted movie screening/classical concert/dance performance event is likely to be one of the most interesting and innovative artistic collaborations you’ll see this fall.
October 21 and 22: The Nasher’s Soundings Series Brings the Music to You
Yellow Barn’s Music Haul is, quite literally, hauling music to a neighborhood near you on a traveling “stage” coming all the way from Baltimore. These community performances will culminate on Thursday, Oct. 22 with a ticketed concert on Flora Street in front of the Nasher Sculpture Center. This series always offers a unique perspective on contemporary art music, and this mobile musical experience will not disappoint.
October 23 and 24: The Dallas Bach Society Presents Ava Pine
The Dallas Bach Society invites you into the private home of a local host for a night of Lieder singing by Ava Pine. Ms. Pine’s charming, clear soprano voice is stunning on the opera stage and this is a great opportunity to hear her in a more intimate, personal setting.
October 25: Voices of Change Presents New Music at SMU
This ensemble is dedicated to presenting new, contemporary art music. This concert features the Rapido! Contest Semi-Finalists as well as music by Andrew Thomas, Libby Larsen and Prokofiev.
Opera
October 22: The Cliburn Presents Rising Stars of the Met
Head to the Kimbell Art Museum for an evening of truly exceptional singing and hear performances by some of the world’s most exciting up and coming opera stars. Presented by the Cliburn Foundation, this performance features vocalists who have either won the Metropolitan Opera’s national auditions or are part of the Met’s prestigious young artists program. Either way, they’re on their way to the top of the opera world and you can hear them here first.
October 30 and 31: Great Scott at The Dallas Opera
This much-anticipated world premiere by composer Jake Heggie (Dead Man Walking, Moby Dick) and librettist Terrence McNally features an all-star cast and a truly contemporary plot. The story follows the fictional opera star Arden Scott (Joyce DiDonato) as she returns to her hometown to aid a struggling opera company. Trouble arises when the company’s big premiere falls on the same day as the local professional football team’s first national championship. It’s a perfect opera for Dallas to premiere, and one you don’t want to miss.
