ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCES ITS 2001 SUMMER SERIES - ASO Maestros Robert Spano and Donald Runnicles To Lead Seven Concerts Inspired by Spirits, Mania, Movies, & More From July 27 to August 11

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) has announced its summer series of classical concerts, which will feature seven concerts of six thematic programs enhanced by multi-media and special effects designed to heighten the concert experience. The six themes - Mania, Sex, Angels, Spirits, Movies and New York (New York will be performed twice) - will be led by Music Director designate Robert Spano and Principal Guest Conductor designate Donald Runnicles over a two-week period from July 27 to August 11. All concerts will take place at Atlanta Symphony Hall at 8:00 p.m.
"What does Messiaen have to do with gospel? A lot," said Mr. Spano in speaking about the Music and Angels concert of the series. "The fun we will have this summer is to discover unlikely musical connections between selected composers - Copland and Ellington, Wagner and Ravel, Ligeti and Strauss. This will be an exploration of what a concert can be."
Collaborating with the Orchestra this summer will be a host of Atlanta guests including actor/director Thomas Shaw, Atlanta Opera Music Director William Fred Scott, the All-Atlanta Chorus with Director Sallie Parrish, and the Women of the ASO Chorus.

Program Highlights
Music and Mania, Friday, July 27 - Donald Runnicles will conduct the opening series concert in a program of music inspired by characters obsessed and possessed, including Mussorgsky's vision of a witch's Sabbath in A Night on Bald Mountain, and Barber's version of Medea's murderous rage in the Ballet Suite from Medea. The program will also include Dukas' Sorcerer's Apprentice, Liszt's Mephisto Waltz No. 1, and Ravel's La Valse.

Music and Sex, Saturday, July 28 - Soprano Elizabeth Bishop will join Mr. Runnicles on this program for a performance of Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder, comprised of songs motivated by the composer's illicit love affair with his friend's wife. The program will also include the composer's Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde, and Ravel's Suite No. 2 from Daphnis et Chloé.

Music and Spirits, Friday, August 3 - Robert Spano will be joined by actor/director Thomas Shaw as narrator, soprano Arietha Lockhart, mezzo-soprano Nanette Soles and the women of the ASO Chorus in a performance of Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream, based on William Shakespeare's comedy of mistaken appearances, misdirected love, and mischievous fairies. Mr. Shaw is the son of the late Music Director Emeritus and ASO Conductor Laureate, Robert Shaw.

Music and Angels, Saturday, August 4 - Robert Spano and Charles Floyd will conduct a program combining both traditional and gospel music in praise of a higher power. The ASO Women's Chorus and All-Atlanta Chorus will be featured with the Orchestra in works ranging from Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring and a gospel arrangement of Handel's Messiah to Messiaen's Trois petities liturgies de la présence divine and Coley's I Can't Tell it All.

Music and Movies, Thursday, August 9 - Robert Spano will conduct music written or adapted for the silver screen in this performance of selections from such film scores as Altered States (Corigliano), Psycho (Herrmann), Platoon (Barber), and Apocalypse Now (Wagner).

Music and New York, Friday and Saturday, August 10-11 - The final concerts in the series will present Atlanta Opera Music Director William Fred Scott conducting the original version of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with Robert Spano at the piano. Other works on the program celebrating the Big Apple will include selections from Bernstein's On the Town, Ellington's Harlem, and Copland's Music for a Great City all led by Mr. Spano.

Ticket Information
The ASO is pleased to once again offer its "Five for Four" program where patrons may subscribe to five concerts for the price of four. Single tickets are $29 and can be ordered by calling (404) 733-5000, or patrons may visit the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's website at www.atlantasymphony.org for secure online ticketing. For Group Sales, please call (404) 733-4848 or email [email protected].