Abacoa & Alton Neighbors - August 2021

A u g u s t 2 0 2 1 | Abacoa &Alton N E I G H B O R S 13 Palm Beach Symphony Makes Triumphant Return to Live Performances By Savannah Whaley Senior Vice President Pierson Grant Public Relations CHARITY SPOTLIGHT Palm Beach Symphony is preparing to launch its 48th season with a return to performing to full houses at the Kravis Center following a successful 2020-21 season. That season was highlighted by the Symphony’s first televised concert and four concerts livestreamed from the Kravis Center to thrilled virtual audiences in Florida and 18 other states as well as Canada, Italy and Colombia. Hailed by Newsmax as being in “the ranks of leading American regional orchestras,” the non-profit organization founded in 1974 continues its mission of engaging, educating, and entertaining the greater community of the Palm Beaches through live performances of inspiring orchestral music. Music Director Gerard Schwarz has designed five captivating programs to welcome live audiences back to the concert hall. In addition to being the first American named Conductor of the Year by Musical America, Maestro Schwartz’s hundreds of honors and accolades include seven Emmy Awards, 14 GRAMMY nominations and eight ASCAP Awards. “The Palm Beach Symphony is a remarkable organization,” Jerry said. “Not only is Palm Beach one of the most beautiful cities in the world, it is also home to a wonderful concert hall and, most importantly, home to great musicians. They are second to none. Every time I conduct them, I’m amazed at how beautifully they play, how musical they are and how committed they are. This is an exciting season with some of the greatest artists appearing before the public today.” Palm Beach Symphony’s 48th season begins on November 7 with virtuoso pianist Hélène Grimaud performing Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor, a work she will also perform later in the season with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and San Francisco Symphony. Clarinetist Jon Manasse , one of the nation’s most highly sought-after wind players, joins the Symphony on December 2 for a program entitled Mozart’s Last Year in which he will perform Clarinet Concerto in A Major. Hailed by the Wall Street Journal as “a fearless pianist for whom no score is too demanding,” guest pianist Yefim Bronfman performs what has been called one the most challenging pieces for a pianist: Rachmaninov’s Piano Concert No. 3 when he appears with the Symphony on January 10. Maria João Geissberger Pires, one of the most revered pianists of Beethoven and Mozart, joins the Symphony on March 7 to perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, performed initially by the composer as the first work written for the latest piano technology of the time. The season finale on April 10 features recent Kennedy Center Honors awardee Midori as one of today’s preeminent violinists performs Korngold’s Violin Concerto in D Major. “I’ve always believed that the first thing you have to accomplish to have an important future is artistic excellence,” Jerry said. “Our job is to make sure we do great concerts, and I think we’re succeeding. After that, the sky’s the limit on what we can do.” Five-concert Masterworks Series subscription packages begin at $100 and are available online at PalmBeachSymphony.org or by phone at (561) 281-0145. Midori Photo Credit Timothy Greenfield-Sanders Helene Grimaud Photo credit Mat Hennek Gerard Schwarz Photo credit VanHouten Photography