2012-2013 SEASON

Electrifying performances, fearless interpretations and musical depth have established violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg as one of the leading violinists of our time. Now she returns to Hattiesburg to kick off the season in high style.

Her exceptional artistry is paired with great musical intelligence which, along with her unique personality, have served her well in numerous environments from recording to television and film. She has hosted a Backstage/Live from Lincoln Center program for PBS, appeared in the PBS/BBC series The Mind, and with everyone from Johnny Carson to Big Bird. Interviewed and profiled on CBS; 60 Minutes, CNN, NBC, A & E, Bravo and more, she was the subject of the 2000 Academy Award-nominated film, Speaking In Strings, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

Don’t miss another dazzling performance by this musical sensation right here in Hattiesburg!

A Night at the Opera
Die Fledermaus
October 16 & 19*, 7:30 p.m.
Parkway Heights United Methodist Church

Experience the joy and glory of Old Vienna with the Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company’s new production of Johann Strauss’s Die Fledermaus (“The Bat”). This musical tale has been the treat of both operatic and Broadway stages for over a century. Now, be immersed in a special production that literally intertwines audience and cast!

As tuneful as a Viennese ball, the opera sparkles with musical gems and period charm. In the story, both maid and mistress attend a gala one night, and the husband, Eisenstein, is caught dallying with both of them—even though Eisenstein is supposed to be in jail at the time. All of these shenanigans are stage-managed by the scheming Dr. Falke, who believes Eisenstein deserves his come-upance. Strauss’ lively and witty Die Fledermaus promises a sparkling evening in the theatre for both operatic fans and newcomers alike.

Musica Classica is an exciting program of classical and classical-style pieces.  

Light, graceful, elegant and fiery, Mozart’s “Haffner” Symphony is truly Mozart at his symphonic best! Carl Philipp Stamitz, one of the most important representatives of the Manheim School, wrote more than 60 concertos. His viola concerto, one of the most exciting written for the instrument, is a favorite of violists around the world.

Johann Christian Bach’s music is known for being more melodic and less contrapuntal than his father’s, J. S. Bach. However, it was actually composed in 1911 by Henri Casadesus. Thus, this concerto is called “The J.C. Bach/Casadesus Concerto.” It is a wonderful 20th tribute to the classical style.

A Musical Valentine

Erin Hannigan, oboe

February 14, 2013, 7:30 p.m.

Bennett Auditorium

The program for our Valentine program was chosen because both of these works had their premieres in February.

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 was composed in 1812. Beethoven called it “my little symphony in F.” It is a serious work that contains many light passages that some think to be musical jokes. Beethoven conducted its premiere in February 1814.

Written in 1945, near the end of his life, this oboe concerto is one of Richard Strauss’ last works. Its world premiere was in Switzerland in February 1946, but anyone who watched American television in the 1960s will be delighted to know that the U.S. premiere was given by Mitch Miler, a then young oboist who eventually became vice president of CBS Television and had his own show called Sing Along with Mitch.

Erin Hannigan is principal oboe of the Dallas Symphony. She has also served as guest principal oboist with the Chicago Symphony, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, Atlanta Symphony and the Los Angeles Symphony. As soloist, she has also performed with numerous orchestras, and can be heard on her solo CD “From Hafiz to Firewing (and Beyond)” on Crystal Records.

She is a faculty member at the Southern Methodist University School of Music and the Festival Institute at Round Top, Texas. She also gives annual master classes for the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado. She is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory and the Eastman School of Music.

Broadway in the 'Burg

Sweeney Todd

Feb. 28 - Mar. 2, 2013, 7:30 p.m.

Mar. 3, 2013, 2:00 p.m.

Grand Re-opening of Mannoni Performing Arts Center

A chilling, suspenseful, heart-pounding masterpiece of murderous barber-ism and culinary crime, Sweeney Todd tells the infamous tale of the unjustly exiled barber who returns to 19th century London seeking revenge against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. His thirst for blood soon expands to include his unfortunate customers, and the resourceful proprietress of the pie shop downstairs soon has the people of London lining up in droves with her mysterious new meat pie recipe!

Sophisticated, macabre, visceral and uncompromising, Sweeney Todd nevertheless has a great sense of fun, mixing intense drama with howlingly funny moments of dark humor. Audiences find themselves laughing hysterically one moment and gasping in surprise the next.

Directed by Mike Lopinto with Michael Miles, music director; Jennifer Hart, chorus master; Stephen Judd, set designer; Kelly James-Penot, costume designer; and Tammy Mansfield, production manager, this production is a tour de force for the School of Music and Department of Theatre.

Tickets available only as part of symphony season package. Individual tickets to this event on sale Halloween - October 31.

Maestro's Favorite

Mahler Symphony No. 5

March 28, 2013, 7:30 p.m.

Bennett Auditorium

Written in the first years of the 20th century, Mahler’s fifth symphony represents the composer at his most innovative and creative period. Mahler was fascinated by marches, and the fifth symphony abounds in them. Accordingly, the first three movements are brassy and loud—Frau Mahler thought them excessively so, but her husband wisely changed nothing in the score. By contrast, the fourth movement is a delicate adagietto, best known to audiences today as a central theme in Luchino Visconti’s acclaimed film Death in Venice. The last movement is a boisterous cheer triumphing over the funereal darkness of the opening movement. Because of the difficulty of his music, Mahler’s works are seldom heard outside of large cities in America.

Don’t miss this chance to hear Mahler’s great middle-period masterpiece.

Silver Season Double-Header Finale

Future Stars &

Belshazzar's Feast

May 2, 2013, 7:30 p.m.

Main Street Baptist Church

The evening opens with one of our most popular events – Future Stars. Students in the Southern Miss School of Music annually compete in the William T. Gower Competition. The winners appear as soloists with the orchestra in one of our most popular evenings of music. This year, winners will be selected from the piano, string and voice divisions.

Walton’s much-loved Belshazzar’s Feast is one of the composer’s most acclaimed pieces, telling of the Jews’ miraculous regaining of their freedom following the fall of the Babylonian King Belshazzar.  A superbly crafted oratorio, the work is brilliantly colored by the orchestral forces, including two brass bands.

A magical evening of outstanding students soloists, gifted singers, wonderful music and the incomparable Symphony Orchestra, the SilverSeason Finale makes for a spectacular close to the season.