Oregon Symphony’s 2019/20 Season inspires with an extended season of world-class artists, visually stunning productions, and beautiful music.

February 8, 2019

PORTLAND, OR – Oregon Symphony President Scott Showalter and Music Director Carlos Kalmar announced the Oregon Symphony’s 2019/20 Season yesterday at a preview event for Symphony subscribers and donors sponsored by NW Natural.

“Among this season’s many highlights, we are delighted to reveal the expansion of our classical season to 18 weeks, and our total season to 40 weeks,” announced Showalter. “At a time when most symphonies are scaling back programming, we’re bringing Oregonians a season with more of their favorite music, the world’s most in-demand artists, and the kind of innovative collaborations that have brought the Oregon Symphony national recognition.”

This season the Symphony brings back its popular SoundSights Series with three visually stunning commissions incorporating a rich tapestry of artistic elements. Portland-based designer Michael Curry will bring Revueltas’ Night of the Mayas to life with his awe-inspiring large-scale puppetry. Award-winning media artist Rose Bond will create breathtaking animation to illuminate the entire theater inspired by Berio’s Sinfonia. This production also features the remarkable vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth.  Finally, audiences will be swept away by Sibelius’ The Tempest, incorporating a live cast of actors to bring a dramatic visual element to Shakespeare’s tale.

More highlights of the season include:

• Blockbusters of the classical repertoire with Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, Stravinsky’s Firebird, Mahler’s Sixth, Beethoven’s Fifth, and Smetana’s The Moldau.
• Portland premieres of more than 25 compositions and a rich mix of the most exciting contemporary composers including Andy Akiho, John Adams, Gabriella Smith, Oscar Bettison, and George Walker among others.
• World-class artists including the return of reigning violin virtuosos Itzhak Perlman performing Beethoven, and Joshua Bell performing Dvořák. The incomparable Garrick Ohlsson will perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 25, and Oregon Symphony’s Artist-in-Residence, Johannes Moser, will premiere Lutosławski’s Cello Concerto to Portland audiences.
• Major choral works from Berio’s Sinfonia sung by Grammy-winning vocal project Roomful of Teeth, to Vaughn Williams’ masterful Sea Symphony and Beethoven’s glorious Ninth. 
• Another installment of the wildly popular Popcorn Package. This season brings Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Batman in Concert, Ghostbusters, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™. All four films are projected in their entirety on a high-definition screen while the Oregon Symphony performs their dramatic soundtracks.
• Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik has curated a delightful 5-concert Pops Series. From the Roaring Twenties to the music of Motown, this Series offers a rich variety of entertainment and music. 

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2019/20 SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE ON SALE NOW

6-concert Classical Series subscriptions start at $132. (12 and 18 concert packages available with deeper discounts)
5-concert Pops Series subscriptions start at $110.
4-concert Popcorn Package subscriptions start at $128.
8-voucher Choose Your Own packages start at $216.

TICKET OFFICE INFORMATION

Subscriptions can be purchased online at orsymphony.org; or in person at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office located at 909 SW Washington St., Portland, OR 97205.

Ticket Office Hours

July–August: (Mon–Fri, 10 am–6 pm); by phone at 503-228-1353 (Mon–Fri, 10 am–9 pm).

September–June (Mon–Sat, 10 am–6 pm); by phone at 503-228-1353 (Mon–Fri, 10 am–9 pm, Sat 10 am–6pm); and at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall starting two hours before every performance.

ABOUT THE OREGON SYMPHONY

The multi-Grammy-nominated Oregon Symphony ranks as one of America’s major orchestras. Led by Music Director Carlos Kalmar, it serves over 300,000 people annually through more than 110 performances and award-winning education and community engagement programs. Now in its 123rd year, the Oregon Symphony is the oldest orchestra west of the Mississippi.

The Symphony’s ground-breaking 2017/18 Season set box office and fundraising records and was marked by an initiative to connect more deeply with the Portland community. The organization embarked on the year-long Sounds of Home series, which revolutionized the role of the arts in addressing three of the most critical social issues of the day: immigration, the environment, and homelessness. This series made a powerful impact in the community through innovative art, cross-sector partnerships with 37 organizations, and civic leadership. Sounds of Home community concerts hosted in venues across the city reached nearly 3,000 attendees and were viewed by thousands more through live streaming on social media.

The Symphony reached over 15 million radio broadcast listeners in the 2017/18 Season via All Classical Portland as well as American Public Media’s SymphonyCast and Performance Today. The season additionally featured three world premieres, including the first-ever play commissioned by an American orchestra.

Photos for media use are available at orsymphony.org/newsroom.

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