March 14, 2008

Symphony Silicon Valley announces 2008-2009- season

By Andrew Bales
Special to the Times

Symphony Silicon Valley's seventh season will include eight programs performed from September 2008 to June 2009. The season will open with dance music from three continents — South America, North America and Europe — including Duke Ellington's The River. A season highlight is the first concerto to be commissioned for pianist and local icon Jon Nakamatsu, composed by David Amram and scheduled for January 2009. Jon Kimura Parker will perform Shostako-vich's First Piano Concerto in May and Jonas Nordwall will showcase the Califor-nia Theatre organ in late March, performing Guil-mant's first Organ Symphony.

The season also features two Beethoven symphonies and two major concertos for violin: Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto performed by Associate Concertmaster Christina Mok in October, and Brahms' Violin Con-certo with returning powerhouse Ju-Young Baek in March, 2009. Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony features in December as Symphony Silicon Valley's second presentation in the innovative 'Beyond the Score' format, pioneered by the Chicago Symphony. Four conductors will return for the season, including George Cleve and Paul Polivnick with two programs apiece, while two new conductors will join the Symphony's roster.

2008-09 season ticket renewals began in early March, with new subscriptions on sale in April. Season ticket prices range from $568 for an 8-concert package in the Dress Circle or Grand Tier, to $132 for a 4-concert package in the Side Orchestra or Side Mezzanine.