Concert Companion

Episode Overview: Last summer, the Chicago Classical Review dubbed Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero a "gifted and idiomatic Mahlerian, insightful yet individual and willing to take risks." That term "Mahlerian" was a new word for host Sara Stovall, and their conversation in this episode reveals more about why it fits Giancarlo to a tee. As Sarasota Orchestra prepares for the grand finale of the 2025-2026 Masterworks season, Giancarlo reveals why he feels it necessary to conduct Gustav Mahler’s music every concert season, exploring the chaotic, grief-stricken, and creatively brilliant life of a composer who truly composed autobiographically. But this isn't just a Mahler episode. Giancarlo has paired Mahler with the American genius who saved his legacy: Leonard Bernstein. Giancarlo and Sara discuss in depth why their two voices naturally belong together on the same stage, and imagine what would happen if Bernstein and Mahler grabbed cocktails together (perhaps there would be a lot of complaining about their conducting "day jobs")!  About the Concert: Sarasota Orchestra performs Masterworks: Bernstein and Mahler on April 17-19 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Violin superstar Chee-Yun performs Bernstein's Serenade (after Plato's Symposium), then the Orchestra sends off the Masterworks season with Mahler's Symphony No. 5. Tickets are available at SarasotaOrchestra.org Music in This Episode: Symphony No. 5 by Gustav Mahler Anu Tali, conductor Sarasota Orchestra Recorded live at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, November 12, 2017 Serenade (after Plato's Symposium) by Leonard Bernstein Midori, violin Michael Balke, conductor Sarasota Orchestra Recorded live at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, February 25, 2018

Episode Overview: It’s been sixteen seasons since Sarasota Orchestra last tackled Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, and according to Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero, it's high time for the Orchestra's marvelous musicians to perform the Rite again. In this episode of the Concert Companion, your "happy host" Sara Stovall sits down with Giancarlo to discuss why this piece remains the ultimate test for an orchestra. They dive into the work’s scandalous history—including the infamous 1913 Parisian riot that might have been a clever marketing ploy. Beyond the Stravinsky behemoth, Giancarlo discusses the profound significance of Joan Tower’s 1920/2019, a work that bridges the centennial of women’s suffrage with the modern #MeToo movement. They also celebrate the return of violin superstar Benjamin Beilman, with Giancarlo offering a glowing look at their international collaborations and the unique imagination Ben will bring to Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5. About the Concert: Sarasota Orchestra performs Masterworks: Rite of Spring on February 27-March 1 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Experience a program featuring Joan Tower's profound 1920/2019, The Rite of Spring, and Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5 featuring soloist Benjamin Beilman. Tickets are available at SarasotaOrchestra.org Music in This Episode: The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky Leif Bjaland, conductor Sarasota Orchestra Recorded live at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, January 31, 2010

Episode Overview: In this episode of Sarasota Orchestra's Concert Companion, we're joined by a very special guest: Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero (fresh off his appearance at Bad Bunny's Super Bowl LX Halftime Show)! Giancarlo and host Sara Stovall preview the program of Masterworks: Variations on America, a cornerstone of the 2025-2026 "Sound of Change" season that celebrates the vast, breathtaking landscape of American orchestral music. As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary (the "Semiquincentennial"—try saying that three times fast!), Giancarlo dives into the American voice in orchestral music. From the "rock star" energy of George Gershwin and oceanside sounds from living composer Adolphus Hailstork—to the groundbreaking brilliance of William L. Dawson and Charles Ives, this episode explores how these composers were often decades ahead of their time. Join Giancarlo and Sara for a "musical road trip" that explores what an American sound truly means. About the Concert: Sarasota Orchestra performs Masterworks: Variations on America on February 12 at the Neel Performing Arts Center (Bradenton) and February 13–15 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall (Sarasota). Experience a program featuring Adolphus Hailstork's An American Port of Call, Charles Ives' witty Variations on America, the transformational Negro Folk Symphony by William L. Dawson, and Gershwin's iconic Concerto in F featuring soloist Clayton Stephenson. Tickets are available at SarasotaOrchestra.org Music in This Episode: Piano Concerto in F by George Gershwin Kevin Cole, piano David Alan Miller, conductor Sarasota Orchestra Recorded live at the Sarasota Opera House, October 5, 2024

Episode Overview: In Sarasota Orchestra's Concert Companion to the 2025-2026 season's Movie Pops concert, we're joined by Joshua Horne, Co-principal horn and self-proclaimed "biggest Star Wars fan in the world" for a deep dive into the music, magic, and memories woven into experiencing Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back live in concert. As Sarasota Orchestra prepares for this highly anticipated symphonic screening at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall (October 24 & 25), join Josh and the Concert Companion's happy host, Sara Stovall, to explore classical music influences on John Williams' legendary score and the unforgettable impact of live orchestral performance. About the Concert:  Don’t miss Sarasota Orchestra performing the music of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back live to film on October 24 & 25 at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Lightsabers and costumes encouraged! Music in This Episode: The Planets by Gustav Holst Anu Tali, conductor Sarasota Orchestra Recorded live at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, March 2018 Violin Concerto by Erich Korngold Elena Urioste, violin Jeffrey Kahane, conductor Sarasota Music Festival Orchestra Recorded live at the Sarasota Opera House, June 21, 2025  

In Sarasota Orchestra's Concert Companion to Masterworks: Grand Treasures (April 4-6, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall), we dig into a deep question about orchestral music: Art museum or living art form? Well, what if it's both?! Principal Keyboardist Jonathan Spivey masterfully guides us through Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3, to be performed by Jon Kimura Parker in this concert. In highlighting Sarasota Orchestra’s co-commission of Horizons by Peter Boyer, we learn how orchestras become active participants in presenting contemporary compositions and whether an orchestra leaves fingerprints when new works are born. On the flip side of the coin, we ponder what makes a canonical composition a “masterwork” and discuss the orchestra’s vital importance in keeping these treasures from getting buried in the sands of time. How do orchestras and conductors make centuries-old music feel vital, relevant, and timeless, inspiring generations of repeat listens? Tickets available at SarasotaOrchestra.org! Music in this episode: Symphony No. 4 by Johannes Brahms Czech National Symphony Orchestra Piano Concerto No. 3 by Ludwig van Beethoven Drew Petersen, piano Marcelo Lehninger, conductor Sarasota Orchestra Recorded live at the Sarasota Opera House, September 28, 2019

In Sarasota Orchestra's Concert Companion to Masterworks: The Planets (March6-9, Neel Performing Arts Center and Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall), the conversation blasts off to a whole other level as we journey with Holst’s "The Planets" beyond the physical realm, exploring how music transports us into the domain of pure imagination. We ask Phoebe Powell, Principal harpist for Sarasota Orchestra, what she thinks it would sound like if Holst had written a movement for planet Earth. Then, she gives us a peek inside the rehearsal process, explaining how an orchestra collaborates with guest artists and strikes a balance between orchestra and soloist. Tickets available at SarasotaOrchestra.org! Music in this episode: "The Planets" by Gustav Holst Anu Tali, conductor Sarasota Orchestra Recorded live at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, March 2018 "Tzigane" by Maurice Ravel Isaac Stern, violin Eugene Ormandy, conductor The Philadelphia Orchestra Recorded in 1957

In Sarasota Orchestra's Concert Companion to Masterworks: Melting Pot of Music (February 21-23, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall), we examine music’s ability to carry us across the globe and immerse ourselves in the sound worlds of different cultures. Works such as Billy Childs’ Concerto for Saxophone, Jimmy López's "Fiesta!" and Richard Strauss' Suite from "Der Rosenkavalier" embark on journeys across continents to help listeners broaden their horizons and grow as citizens of the world. Sarasota Orchestra violist Nathan Frantz serves as our guide on this cosmopolitan concert program. Music in this episode: "Fiesta!" by Jimmy López (published by Filarmonika Music Publishing) Miguel Harth-Bedoya, conductor Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra From the album Inti: Three Centuries of Peruvian Music, released 2009 (FWSO Live) Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra by Billy Childs Steven Banks, saxophone Ruth Reinhardt, conductor Minnesota Orchestra Recorded live at Orchestra Hall, February 9, 2024 Suite from "Der Rosenkavalier" by Richard Strauss Ward Stare, conductor Sarasota Orchestra Recorded live at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, December 2018 "La valse" by Maurice Ravel This is an archival recording from Seattle Symphony Media's 2018 album Berio / Boulez / Ravel of Ravel’s La valse, which was recorded live in concert on February 5, 7 and 8, 2015, at Benaroya Hall, where Conductor Emeritus Ludovic Morlot conducted the Seattle Symphony. This is not intended to represent a definitive artistic statement. Property of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. This material is subject to copyright law. Any unauthorized use is a federal offense. The performances of Ravel’s La valse was presented as part of the Delta Air Lines Masterworks Season. Additional support for La valse was provided by the Nesholm Family Foundation.

In Sarasota Orchestra's Concert Companion to Masterworks: Heroic Spirit (January 30, Neel Performing Arts Center; January 31 - February 2, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall), we hear from Nicholas Arbolino, who has played oboe and English horn with Sarasota Orchestra since 2014. Every professional orchestra musician may not live in the spotlight; however, they all pour astonishing amounts of time, energy, sweat, and soul into their position. We talk with Nick about the athleticism and performance psychology inherent to being a musician and invite him to tell us about his music heroes. Nick's preview of the Heroic Spirit concert program explores other acts of musical heroics in Beethoven's Coriolan Overture and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5, as well as Anne Akiko Meyers' performance of Fandango for violin and orchestra, a Latin GRAMMY®-winning work she recently commissioned from Arturo Márquez. Tickets are available online at SarasotaOrchestra.org! Music in this episode: Fandango by Arturo Márquez Anne Akiko Meyers, violin Gustavo Dudamel, conductor Los Angeles Philharmonic From the album Fandango, released September 15, 2023 (Platoon) Symphony No. 5 by Dmitri Shostakovich Kenneth Schermerhorn, conductor Sarasota Orchestra Recorded live at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, January 2005 Coriolan Overture by Ludwig van Beethoven Case Scaglione, conductor Sarasota Orchestra Recorded live at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, January 7, 2017

In Sarasota Orchestra's Concert Companion to Masterworks: Ravel's Bolero (January 10, Neel Performing Arts Center; January 11-12, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall), Principal Percussionist Marcelina Suchocka generously shares her professional insights into the mystique surrounding Ravel's infamous hit. With the hypnotic Bolero as a reference point, Marcelina shares how she develops and exercises extraordinary powers of focus. We also learn about the practice of active listening and get tips for audience members on how to really lean into a concert experience.  Tickets are available online at SarasotaOrchestra.org!  Music in this episode: Piano Concerto in G Major by Maurice Ravel Jeffrey Kahane, conductor/piano Sarasota Music Festival Orchestra Recorded live at the Sarasota Opera House, June 22, 2024 Symphony No. 6 by Antonín Dvořák  Gerard Schwarz, conductor Sarasota Orchestra Recorded live at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, November 9, 2019 D’un matin de printemps by Lili Boulanger Michelle Merrill, conductor Sarasota Orchestra Recorded live at Holley Hall, April 2023 Bolero by Maurice Ravel Anu Tali, conductor Sarasota Orchestra Recorded live at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, February 23, 2019

In Sarasota Orchestra’s Concert Companion to our first Masterworks concert of the season (Going Places, November 7-9, 2024, at the Sarasota Opera House), Principal Flutist Betsy Hudson Traba joins us to talk about how she and her colleagues are feeling in one of the most exciting and joyous moments a symphony orchestra can have: the appointment of a new music director! Betsy visualizes the bold direction Sarasota Orchestra is heading with six-time GRAMMY® winning conductor Giancarlo Guerrero as the Orchestra’s chief baton. Learn more about the program that features the return of phenomenal violinist Vadim Gluzman with Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. Tickets are available online at SarasotaOrchestra.org! Music in this episode: Violin Concerto by Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Vadim Gluzman, violin Leif Bjaland, conductor Sarasota Orchestra Recorded live at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, December 2001 *Note to Listeners: The interview portion of this episode was recorded prior to programming changes due to Hurricane Milton's impact on Sarasota, Florida.

Check out Sarasota Orchestra’s Concert Companion to our second Masterworks concert of the season (Beethoven's Seventh, December 6-7, 2024, at Church of the Palms)! In this must-listen episode, cellist Chizuko "Cheeko" Matsusaka takes listeners on a fascinating journey, linking Carlos Simon, Brahms, Beethoven, Homer's Iliad, and symbols of human perseverance through some of history's darkest times. Cheeko also details her musical history with guest conductor Peter Oundjian and eavesdropping on Yefim Bronfman in the practice room at the Aspen Music Festival. Learn more about the robust concert program that features the GRAMMY® Award-winning pianist making his Sarasota Orchestra debut as soloist in Brahms' monumental Piano Concerto No. 1. Tickets are available online at SarasotaOrchestra.org! Music in this episode: "The Kiss of the Earth: Introduction" from The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky (arrangement for piano four hands) Marc-André Hamelin and Leif Ove Andsnes, piano From the album The Rite of Spring & other works for two pianos four hands, released February 2018 (Hyperion) Symphony No. 7 by Ludwig van Beethoven Bramwell Tovey, conductor Sarasota Orchestra Recorded live at the Sarasota Opera House, October 30, 2021 Fate Now Conquers by Carlos Simon Carter Brey, cello Jaap van Zweden, conductor New York Philharmonic Recorded live at the Bravo! Vail Music Festival, July 23, 2021 Piano Concerto No. 1 by Johannes Brahms Roman Rabinovich, piano Anu Tali, conductor Sarasota Orchestra Recorded live at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, January 2018