LEGEND OF ZELDA KICKS OFF RPO MONTH OF FANTASY

For Immediate Release:  Oct. 17, 2016
Media Contacts:  Sally Cohen, 585-749-1795, sally@sallycohenpr.com
RPO Info:  rpo.org, facebook.com/RochesterPhilharmonic, twitter.com/RochesterPhil, rochesterphilharmonic.blogspot.com, instagram.com/rochesterphilharmonic

LEGEND OF ZELDA KICKS OFF RPO MONTH OF FANTASY
Also: Wands & Wizards, Cirque de la Symphonie & Nutcracker

Rochester, NY – November is a month of fantasy-themed concerts for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), starting with The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses on Friday, November 11 at 8 p.m. in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. Led by Zelda conductor Amy Andersson, the multimedia spectacle features 28 years of music from Nintendo’s video game series performed live by the RPO while favorite Zelda scenes are projected in HD on the big screen. Rochester chorus Madrigalia (Cary Ratcliff, artistic director) joins in the fun, and a discussion panel led by the concert’s promotional partner, The Strong’s International Center for the History of Electronic Games, will immediately follow. Zelda is also sponsored in part by the Upstate Region Interactive Technologies Hub, Rochester Institute of Technology, and MAGIC Spell Studios, which will be represented on the panel as well. Cosplay (costume play) is encouraged!

Next up, on Sunday, November 13 at 2 p.m. at the Performance Hall at Hochstein is Wands & Wizards: The Magical Music of Harry Potter. This second concert in the 2016/17 OrKIDStra series features music from John Williams’ beloved Harry Potter score and other family favorites, led by guest conductor Vinay Parameswaran. Be sure to take advantage of the free, hands-on, themed activities for kids starting at 1 p.m. Tickets are $17/$13 for children.

Then, Music Director Ward Stare conducts his only Pops concert of the season: Cirque de la Symphonie, returning to Rochester with a new show that’s fun for the whole family on Friday and Saturday, November 18 & 19 at 8 p.m. in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. See some of the world’s greatest circus artists “fly through the air with the greatest of ease” and perform death-defying stunts and magical illusions with the full force of a live symphony orchestra. An extra dose of fantasy will be provided by Rochester City Ballet dancers in Nutcracker costumes prior to performances and during intermissions. High Falls Advisors is a concert sponsor.

Finally, let the holiday magic begin with six performances of The Nutcracker, opening in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre on Wednesday, November 23 at 7:30 p.m.; continuing Friday and Saturday, November 25 & 26 at 2 & 7 p.m.; and ending on Sunday, November 27at 2 p.m. This enchanting holiday favorite is brought to life by the Rochester City Ballet (David Palmer, artistic director), the Bach Children’s Chorus (Karla Krogstad, director) and the world-class RPO itself. Principal Conductor for Education and Community Engagement Michael Butterman (The Louise and Henry Epstein Family Chair) conducts Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score. Sit back in the beauty of Eastman Theatre and make holiday memories that will last a lifetime. Sponsored in part by Caldwell.

Tickets for the concerts above, except where noted, start at $23, and are available online at rpo.org, by phone at (585) 454-2100, or in person at the RPO’s new Patron Services Center (108 East Avenue) and at all Wegmans That’s T.H.E. Ticket! locations.

The 2016/17 Season is presented by Dawn & Jacques Lipson, The Philharmonics Series is sponsored by M&T Bank, the RPO Pops Series is sponsored by Canandaigua National Bank & Trust and Wegmans, and the OrKIDStra media sponsor is KidsOutandAbout.com. RPO performances are also made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Additional support is provided by Monroe County, the City of Rochester, the Alfred Davis and Brunhilde Knapp Artists Performance Fund, the Mozart Performance Fund: Sarah D. Atkinson, M.D. and Steven Hess, and the Katherine T. and Jon L. Schumacher Orchestra Musician Soloist Fund.

The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) has been committed to enriching and inspiring our community through the art of music since its founding in 1922. The RPO presents approximately 150 concerts and broadcasts a year, serving up to 170,000 people through ticketed events, education and community engagement activities, and concerts in schools and community centers throughout the region. 12th Music Director Ward Stare joins the ranks of former notable RPO music directors, including Eugene Goossens, José Iturbi, Erich Leinsdorf, David Zinman and Conductor Laureate Christopher Seaman. Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik has earned a national reputation for excellence in pops programming during his 22-year tenure with the RPO. With Michael Butterman as Principal Conductor for Education and Community Engagement (The Louise and Henry Epstein Family Chair) – the first endowed position of its kind in the country – the RPO reaches more than 12,000 children through its specific programs for school-aged children.

Media please note: High-resolution images and a complete listing of 2016/17 concerts are available at http://ow.ly/XTOa6, and interviews and photo/footage opportunities can be arranged.

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