“Thank you, TFO, for keeping the music alive.”
– Ginger
Ever since the coronavirus disrupted our season, we have been truly moved by all the messages of love and support from our community – and impressed by listeners making the most of our live recordings on WSMR radio:
“Loved the concert last night. Managed to get our wireless speaker fixed up and listened to it under the stars with a glass (or two) of wine.” – Chris and John
But people have been so disappointed about this weekend’s canceled concert: Vivaldi’s ever-popular The Four Seasons with Concertmaster Jeffrey Multer as leader and violin soloist. We all long for those cheerful, hopeful notes of “Spring,” especially now.
We’ve heard you. We dipped into TFO’s archives for a live recording of The Four Seasons – also with Multer – that will air at 7 pm Thursday (April 2) on WSMR 89.1 and 103.9 FM radio and stream online at WSMR.org, part of our series of weekly broadcasts in partnership with the station. The performance was recorded at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater in 2012.
The broadcast also will include live TFO recordings of the other two works on the program: Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings (recorded at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg in 2000) and Golijov’s Last Round (recorded at Ruth Eckerd Hall in 2010).
TFO has canceled concerts through at least April 5 to reduce the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), but live recordings of 13 full concerts will keep the music going through June 11 and beyond. For the first time, broadcasts will be available on-demand at WSMR.org for 45 days after the airdate.
The rest of the broadcasts will be a mix of live recordings from this season and TFO’s archives — a gift of hope and joy to our community in conjunction with WUSF Public Media and Classical WSMR radio. The broadcasts also are made possible by the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay and Jay’s Fabric Center. Special thank you to the Florida Orchestra Musicians Association and to the American Federation of Musicians Local 427-721 for making these recordings possible.
Here is the full schedule, subject to change. All broadcasts begin at 7 pm unless noted otherwise:
March 26: Opening Night: Gershwin’s Cuban Overture, Grieg’s Piano Concerto, Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3, Mason Bates’ Mothership, Ravel’s Bolero.
April 2: Archive performance of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, Jeffrey Multer, violin/leader
April 9: Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony
April 12: Handel’s Messiah (special broadcast for Easter beginning at 2 pm)
April 16: Winter Dreams: Tchaikovsky & Sibelius
April 23: Mozart & Tchaikovsky
April 30: Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3
May 7: American Masters featuring Rascher Saxophone Quartet
May 14: Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3
May 21: Deep Field: A Cosmic Experience
May 28: Beethoven’s Violin Concerto
June 4: Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony
June 11: Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4
As you listen to the music, please remember that in these challenging times The Florida Orchestra needs your support more than ever. If you have already made a gift to TFO, you have our heartfelt gratitude. If you are in a position to help further, please consider the role extraordinary live music plays in your life and support your Florida Orchestra with a gift of any amount today. Thank you.
