The Florida Orchestra musicians will play more than 130 concerts in the 2018/19 season, but which ones are they looking forward to the most? As the season gets ready to launch at the end of September, we asked musicians for their concert picks. Here are English horn/oboe Jeffrey Stephenson’s two. Click on each title for more information on the concert.
The Planets
(Feb. 15-17)
One of the many exciting programs that I am especially looking forward to is Holst’s The Planets Masterworks concert, which also includes a new commission by USF’s Baljinder Sekhon called STARS and Debussy’s Nocturnes. Debussy is one of my favorite composers, and I love Nocturnes not only because it has a wonderful English horn part, but because it is a gorgeous piece filled with evocative melodies and beautiful tone colors. The piece pairs very well with the mystical and ethereal ending to The Planets. To top it all off, TFO and our audiences are treated to a special world premiere by a living composer, which is so essential for the orchestral community.
Disney in Concert: Tale as Old as Time
(Nov 2-4)
I’m very excited for this Pops program. I’m a huge Disney fan, and who doesn’t love tapping into their childhood?! It’s a big plus to live only 90 minutes from Disney World, and I was actually just there on a mini-vacation in May. Alan Menken’s music is so fun, and I’ll probably sing along during the concert, but I’ll try not to distract my colleagues too much!
