Season Announcement: WSO Celebrates 75 Years!

May 11, 2022

WSO Celebrates 75 Years!

Windsor, ON – The WSO’s 75^th season is being called the Celebration Season for so many reasons! Maestro Robert Franz says, “This year… we celebrate! We celebrate coming together again, we celebrate a fresh start, a global awakening, and we celebrate our 75^th Anniversary and the 100^th Anniversary of the Capitol Theatre, the theatre we call home! We are ready to re-connect; it’s just been way too long!”

The WSO brings back Beethoven’s 5^th Symphony, which was performed at its inaugural concert on November 16, 1947. Along with classical repertoire, this celebratory season will bring patrons all the glitz and glamour specially curated for a 75^th jubilee!

“It’s going to be a real thrill to see our patrons again! We thank everyone for their support over the last 2 years.” Said Sheila Wisdom, WSO Executive Director. “We look forward to seeing everyone in person!”

The WSO opens the season with the Bill & Rochelle Tepperman Masterworks “Beethoven’s 5^th Symphony”, one of the best-known compositions in classical music full of compelling energy. A world premiere performance by composer Farhad Poupel; a celebration of music from Oscar Peterson – considered to be one of the greatest Canadian pianists of all time! Conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser visitsfor Mendelssohn’s Italy, an evocative musical trip to Italy! Local soloist Jarrett McCourt wraps up the Masterworks concert series with a performance along side music by the great romantic composer, Johannes Brahms.

The Toldo Pops concert series is sure to inspire the music lover in us all! Kicking off the 75^th year with a Birthday Bash featuring Quartetto Gelato and to keep the celebration going, Randy Roberts joins Maestro on stage for Cabaret Night, featuring Randy’s uncanny impersonations of Cher and Carol Channing! Holiday Pops is a crowd favourite and this year the WSO celebrates it in a “Grinchy” way with baritone Reggie Smith Jr., and the WSO Chorus. Charlotte Knight, who played Rosalia in West Side Story a few years back, returns to the WSO to Sing Broadwayalong side St. Clair College Music Theatre students. Pianist Mark Payne joins the WSO to celebrate and wrap up the 75^th season, a season for everyone!

Handel’s Messiah is on the program again, for 3 evenings, within the Windsor Essex County region. or all the 60-70’s babies, WSO Rocks! The Ultimate Symphonic Rock Show featuring music of Moody Blues, ELO and more performance at the Chrysler Theatre will rock your socks off! This will be the debut for our new Assistant Conductor.

New for the 2022-2023 Season:

• NEW: The WSO performed a trial run in Fall 2021 by adding in Sunday matinees of our Masterworks concerts and our patrons really enjoyed the afternoon performances! This season the WSO adds in 5 Sunday matinee Masterworks concerts! These performances will be at 2:30pm for our patrons that love WSO music during the day!

• NEW: Our Intimate Classics Series has been reinvented! The best of Intimate Classics combined with the popular elements of our Onstage concerts. 2 series of concerts – Café Concert Series and OnStage Concert Series! Share the stage with Maestro Franz and the WSO at the Capitol Theatre for coffee & pastries at the Café Concert Series, or an adult beverage and tasty bites at the OnStage Series.

75^th Anniversary Season Highlights:

• New: Exciting concert for our LGBTQ2S+ community – Randy Roberts joins us!
• World premieres by Iranian composer Farhad Poupel and Canadian Nicole Lizée
• Music from the greatest Canadian jazz pianist of all time, Oscar Peterson
• Local celebrities come back to Windsor – Jarrett McCourt from Tecumseh and Charlotte Knight who had previously performed with the WSO,along with St. Clair College Music Theatre students
• Timeless classical programing
• Special guest conductor – Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser
• New: WSO welcomes new Assistant Conductor for our Family Concert Series and WSO Rocks!

Tickets

• Renewals are now open for subscribers. Series packages for new subscribers go on sale June 7^th, 2022
• Singles Tickets go on sale August 9, 2022

Visit www.windsorsymphony.com/events for tickets and concert details.

For additional information please contact:

Monica Bunde, Manager, Marketing, Communications and Sales
Windsor Symphony Orchestra
Office: 519-973-1238 ext. 23 | mbunde@windsorsymphony.com