Celebrate the Holiday Season with Your Rochester Philharmonic

ROCHESTER, NY – The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) begins the holiday season with Holiday Classics: Pachelbel’s Canon and More! in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre on Thursday, December 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 10 at 8 p.m. The following week, Rochester’s favorite holiday tradition—Gala Holiday Pops with Jeff Tyzik—December 14 through 18, also in Kodak Hall.

On December 8 and 10, guest conductor Kazem Abdullah leads the RPO in musical delights of the holiday season including Pachelbel’s adored Canon, Corelli’s “Christmas Concerto,” and Bach’s sparkling Suite No. 2, featuring Principal Flutist Rebecca Gilbert. The program concludes with Tchaikovsky’s “Winter Dreams” Symphony. Abdullah is quickly becoming one of the most watched young American conductors on the scene today. Abdullah, originally trained as a clarinetist, recently made debuts with the Mexico City Philharmonic, Oregon Symphony, and Indianapolis Symphony. He has also served as an Assistant and Cover Conductor at the Metropolitan Opera.

Then, Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik leads the RPO in Gala Holiday Pops which features traditional holiday favorites for the whole family! The program highlights Concertmaster Juliana Athayde and Principal Oboe Erik Behr, a married couple, with Vivaldi’s beautiful Concerto for Violin and Oboe, in addition to the traditional sounds of Sleigh Ride, White Christmas, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and the Hallelujah Chorus. The Festival High School Chorale, led by co-directors Amy Story and Harold McAulliffe, will be on hand to lend their voices. Narrator Thomas Paul will also join the RPO for The Night Before Christmas.

To purchase tickets (PHILS: $15 – $90; student tickets $10 POPS: $10 – $77) to these or other RPO events, visit the Eastman Theatre Box Office, call 454.2100, go online to www.rpo.org, or visit area Wegmans locations. 

The RPO Philharmonics Series is sponsored by Dawn and Jacques Lipson. Canandaigua National Bank & Trust and Fibertech Networks sponsor the Pops Series.

Editors Please Note:
Thursday, December 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 10 at 8:00 p.m.
Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre

Holiday Classics: Pachelbel’s Canon and More!

The pre-concert chat begins one hour prior to the performance for all ticket holders.

Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Kazem Abdullah, conductor
Rebecca Gilbert, flute
    The Charlotte Whitney Allen Chair
 
CORELLI  “Christmas Concerto”
PACHELBEL  Canon
BACH  Suite No. 2
TCHAIKOVSKY  Symphony No. 1, “Winter Dreams”

Wednesday, December 14 at 7:30 p.m.*
Thursday, December 15 at 7:30 p.m.**
Friday, December 16 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, December 17 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sunday, December 18 at 2 p.m.

Gala Holiday Pops

Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Jeff Tyzik, conductor
Festival High School Chorale, Amy Story and Harold McAulliffe, co-directors
Juliana Athayde, violin
    The Caroline W. Gannett & Clayla Ward Chair
Erik Behr, oboe
    The Dr. Jacques M. Lipson Chair
Thomas Paul, narrator
Herbert Smith, trumpet
RPO Rhythm Section:
  John Nyerges, piano
  David Mancini, drums
  Jeff Campbell, bass

Program to include:
ANDERSON  Sleigh Ride
BASS  The Night Before Christmas
BERLIN  White Christmas
SCHUBERT  Ave Maria
HANDEL  ”Hallelujah Chorus” from Messiah

*Benefits Monroe Community Hospital Foundation
**Benefits Rochester Rotary Charitable programs of the Rotary Sunshine Campus and Rochester City Roberto Clemente School #8.

# # #