Music

Our season continues at the Bandshell with the second movement of Shostakovich’s monumental and emotional 10th symphony, an original work written by a collective of artists from Nu Deco Ensemble, the U.S. premiere of Valgeir Sigurðsson’s “Past Tundra,” and a symphonic exploration of the music of Pink Floyd. Special guest artist for this performance will feature Madison Cunningham, whose music was referred to by Rolling Stone as “a new spin on West Coast folk-rock; with classical tendencies, electric guitars, jazz-school chord changes, and alt-rock strut all living beneath the same roof.”

We’ll kick off the new year back at the Bandshell with GRAMMY® nominated artist, JP Saxe. Pushed to explore his artistry by his world renowned grandfather Janos Starker, who is regarded as one the greatest cellists of the 20th century, the program also includes music from Starker’s friend and musical collaborator, the towering 20th-century composer Bela Bartok as well as trailblazing composer Erich Korngold. The concert will feature Nu Deco’s second reimagination and deep dive into the music of the influential band, Radiohead.

Presented in Partnership with YoungArts, join Nu Deco for a unique night of new and reimagined music featuring rising mezzo-soprano superstar, J’Nai Bridges, on the world-premiere of Chris Rogerson’s multimedia work “Sacred Earth,” which also features original video by the Emmy-nominated director and National Geographic photographer Keith Ladzinski. This program will also debut a symphonic reimagination of the iconic artist Ray Charles, while ringing in the holiday spirit with a Nu Deco original, Nu Nutcracker. We also welcome to the stage a dynamic collaboration with singer, songwriter, rapper, DJ, and multi-instrumentalist, Masego.

Nu Deco Ensemble makes our return to live, in-person performances at the North Beach Bandshell! Featuring a special new collaboration with 17-time GRAMMY nominated singer, songwriter and producer Anthony Hamilton, this concert will also include “Tessellations” by Gabriella Smith, Carlos Simon’s powerful and searing “Portrait of a Queen,” and a symphonic reimagination of the music of The Isley Brothers.

Join us in the first of our series of interactive live stream performances this season for K-12 students! This performance will be broadcast live from the North Beach Bandshell and provide students an opportunity to continue engaging with the orchestra. This performance is all about celebrating African American composers and their contributions to all forms of music. Featuring Anthony Hamilton plus the music of Carlos Simon and the symphonic reimaginations of the music by Curtis Mayfield, Bill Withers, and the Isley Brothers, we’ll explore how the activism, creativity, and courage of these artists have transformed the musical landscape. There will also be an opportunity to ask the orchestra questions during a Q&A session at the end! A digital program and concert quiz will be emailed prior to the concert. Please note that this concert and accompanying resources are intended for and available only to K-12 educators. An email affiliated with an educational institution will be required to access this performance.

Associate Conductor James K. Bass leads the men of Seraphic Fire in a rousing concert of sea shanties, German partsongs, and the centerpiece of Franz Biebl’s iconic Ave Maria. Biebl wrote Ave Maria for an all-male Bavarian Firemen’s Chorus in the summer of 1959. Seraphic Fire now performs the Biebl and explores the tradition of music for men’s choirs that inspired this singular work. This stirring concert showcases the men of Seraphic Fire in a presentation of favorites as well as new compositions from Ileana Velazquez and Seraphic Fire University of Miami Student Composer-in-Residence, Melissa D’Albora.

Associate Conductor James K. Bass leads the men of Seraphic Fire in a rousing concert of sea shanties, German partsongs, and the centerpiece of Franz Biebl’s iconic Ave Maria. Biebl wrote Ave Maria for an all-male Bavarian Firemen’s Chorus in the summer of 1959. Seraphic Fire now performs the Biebl and explores the tradition of music for men’s choirs that inspired this singular work. This stirring concert showcases the men of Seraphic Fire in a presentation of favorites as well as new compositions from Ileana Velazquez and Seraphic Fire University of Miami Student Composer-in-Residence, Melissa D’Albora.

The Enlightenment Festival continues with two of Johann Sebastian Bach’s great cantatas. Cantata 147, Hertz und Mund und Tat und Leben, contains one of the most memorable melodies in all of music, known in English as Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring. Cantata 62, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, features arresting choruses and luxurious arias sung by members of Seraphic Fire. Additionally, Bach’s seldomly performed Mass in g minor features the entire ensemble in ravishing counterpoint.

Henry Purcell’s charming and intimate love songs take center stage for this concert featuring soprano Margot Rood and the Seraphic Fire chorus. “If music be the food of love,” the Seraphic Fire ensemble will “sing on” with playful English madrigals in a delightful concert for the love minded in the audience. Thomas Moore’s Irish Melodies round out this program. Bring your special Valentine for this serenade!

Seraphic Fire celebrates the release of its newest recording, Hildegard von Bingen: Ordo virtutum, with a performance of the work in a new production by lauded opera and Broadway stage director Francesca Zambello. The women of Seraphic Fire portray the struggle of the sweet-voiced Virtues against the songless, shouting Devil. Written in 1141, the Ordo virtutum has survived nearly 900 years through plagues, wars, schisms, reformations, and the dissolution of Hildegard’s convent. Celebrate as the women of Seraphic Fire bring this nearly millennia-old masterpiece back to life.