The Big Orchestra

2010-2011 Season Brochure (PDF)

Boldly Beautiful

Karen Lynne Deal, conductor
Soovin Kim, violin

The boldly beautiful sounds of Tchaikovsky open the season with his lyrical Swan Lake Suite, glorious Violin Concerto with award-winning violinist Soovin Kim, and his explosive 1812 Overture.

Tchaikovsky
Tchaikovsky
Tchaikovsky

Swan Lake Suite
Violin Concerto
1812 Overture

Friday, September 24, 2010 | 8pm
Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts

Saturday, September 25, 2010 | 8pm
Sangamon Auditorium UIS

Fiery Fun

Karen Lynne Deal, conductor
Lidia Kaminska, bandoneon
Jason Vieaux, guitar

An evening that is sure to raise your temperature a few degrees with the Latin American sounds of Ginastera and Piazzolla, Stravinsky's famous Firebird Suite, and two fiery young soloists that will have you wanting more.

Ginastera
Piazzolla
Piazzolla
Gade
Stravinksky

Estancia Ballet Suite
Double Concerto for Guitar and Bandoneon
Oblivion
Jealousy Tango
Firebird Suite

Friday, November 12, 2010 | 8pm
Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts

Saturday, November 13, 2010 | 8pm
Sangamon Auditorium UIS

Rhythmically Rousing

Karen Lynne Deal, conductor
Jade Simmons, piano

Get a rousing start to your Valentine's Day celebration with pianist and former Miss Illinois, Jade Simmons, in Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm" Variations. Bernstein's beloved Symphonic Dances from West Side Story and the sultry sounds of Ravel's Bolero round out this rhythmically rousing experience.

Bernstein
Rachmaninov Gershwin
Ravel

Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
"I Got Rhythm" Variations
Bolero

Saturday, February 12, 2011 | 8pm
Sangamon Auditorium UIS

Sunday, February 13, 2011 | 3pm
Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts

Richly Romantic

Karen Lynne Deal, conductor
Roberto Plano, piano

The return of Roberto Plano in the powerful First Piano Concerto of Johannes Brahms, Wagner's highly expressive Tannhauser Overture, and Barber's lyrical First Symphony are the perfect ingredients for this richly romantic tour-de-force!

Brahms
Wagner
Barber

Piano Concerto No.1
Tannhauser Overture
Symphony No. 1

Friday, March 11, 2011 | 8pm
Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts

Sunday, March 13, 2011 | 3pm
Sangamon Auditorium UIS

Earthly Encounters

Karen Lynne Deal, conductor
Marietta Simpson, mezzo-soprano

An evening of earthly encounters closes the season with music inspired by our great planet Earth, featuring Michael Abels' Global Warming, Elgar's enchanting Sea Pictures with world-renowned mezzo-soprano Marietta Simpson, Hovhaness's fascinating And God Created Great Whales, and Debussy's masterful depiction of the sea, La Mer.

Abels
Elgar
Hovhaness
Debussy

Global Warming
Sea Pictures
And God Created Great Whales
La Mer

Friday, May 6, 2011 | 8pm
Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts

Saturday, May 7, 2011 | 8pm
Sangamon Auditorium UIS