Sinfonia gets back to classics as it opens season in the pink
For Sinfonia of the Gulf Coast and its followers, the season is looking on the pink side. However, in the eyes of the orchestra’s maestro, Demetrius Fuller, that’s a good thing.
The season opens Nov. 15 and will build up to the gala event and grand finale, “An Evening in Vintage Hollywood Featuring Pink Martini” on March 23.
Soprano Katherine Jolly opens Nov. 15 with “Let the Music Surround You” at 3 p.m., at Grace Lutheran Church in Destin. She will be accompanied by Robin Horne on flute, Will Wise on oboe, and Brian Buerkle on trumpet. The foursome will present “Adagio for Strings,” “Capricorn Concerto,” and “Knoxville Summer of 1915” by Samuel Barber, and “Suite from Pulcinella” by Igor Stravinsky. This performance will be the first of two Classical Collection events presented by Sinfonia this season.
The second Classical Connection performance will take place Jan. 16 at 7:30 p.m., at Grace Lutheran Church, featuring Nicholas Kendall on violin.
Fuller said the return to the classics comes as the result of polling last year’s audience as to what they wanted to hear at a symphony.
- “They said they wanted more Mozart,” said Fuller, “and that’s why we redefined our offering and created Classical Connections.”
In between the two Classical Connections will be An Orchestral Holiday presented Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at Grace Lutheran. It will feature the music of Mannheim Steamroller.
Rising star violinist Caroline Goulding will return Jan. 3 to perform pieces from her first international CD release on the Telarc label. Included will be “Suite From Porgy & Bess” by George Gershwin, and caprices from the movie “The Red Violin” by John Corigliano. The 17 year old’s new CD debuted in the top 15 on Billboard classical charts.
Fuller brings Sinfonia to South Walton on Feb. 28 with a 3 p.m. performance by Manhattan Piano Trio. Fuller will join the trio on clarinet to perform “Quartet for Piano Trio & Clarinet” by Peter Schickele.
Pink Martini’s March 23 performance at Emerald Coast Conference Center will be a gala. Attendees will walk up the red carpet into the ballroom and a glamorous backdrop of vintage Hollywood. Directed by Fuller, Sinfonia’s full orchestra will join the performers on stage.
Fuller describes Portland, Ore.-based Pink Martini as a cross between Gershwin meets Ellington meets Ricky Ricardo. The big band Hollywood-style production will be the season’s main event.
Bravo! season ticket holders will also enjoy several events outside the music realm during the season.
•A wine reception during Silver Sands’ Evening of Giving Nov. 22 will benefit Sinfonia.
•Dec. 1-24 will be the Charity Gift Wrap: Sinfonia Wraps for the Season at Silver Sands.
•Carrabba’s Italian Grill will host an Amici Wine Dinner Dec. 8.
•Fleming’s Prime Steak House will host an Italy vs. Argentina wine dinner on Jan. 12 in honor of Vivaldi and Piazzolla.
•Just in time for Valentine’s Day, on Feb. 11, Pish Posh Patchouli will go pink at Café 30A with a three-course wine dinner.
•Fuller will don his chef’s hat on Feb. 13 for a Valentine’s brunch at Kitchenique.
•Carrabba’s hosts a second Amici wine dinner May 10.
In its fourth season, Fuller said Sinfonia’s contributions were up in 2008 over 2007 and his concerts are 98 percent full.
“We’re giving people what they want and they come back,” he said.
Sinfonia has recently launched its new Bravo! Beat magazine as a format where the maestro can discuss upcoming concerts and the music.
In more good news, Fuller moved Sinfonia’s headquarters into Regus office space at Grand Boulevard in September. He will host an open house there after the first of the year.
