Mark Gresham | 6 MAY 2021
At noon today the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra announced its 2021-22 season, including the orchestra’s return to concerts with live audiences in Symphony Hall.
Robert Spano (photo: © Michael Brands)
Robert Spano, who steps down from his post as music director on August 31, will assume the title of music director laureate. He will continue sharing the role of artistic adviser with principal guest conductor Sir Donald Runnicles has renewed his ASO contract through the 2022/23 season.
Sir Donald Runnicles (image: donaldrunnicles.org)
Together Spano and Runnicles have programmed an imaginative 2021/22 season that ramps up the orchestra’s programming diversity and its championship of new music while maintaining a solid dedication to the core classical repertoire. Spano will conduct seven programs and Runnicles will conduct six in the new season.
Twelve guest conductors will join the ASO this season. Returning are Gemma New, James Gaffigan, Carlos Kalmar, Nathalie Stutzmann and Nicola Luisotti. Making the ASO conducting debuts are Kazuki Yamada, Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, Dmitry Sinkovsky, Shiyeon Sung, Juanjo Mena, Alexander Soddy and Jonathon Heyward.
Spano takes the podium to launch the new season on Sept. 9, 10 and 11, 2021, with an all-Beethoven program featuring the composer’s Symphony No. 5 and Piano Concerto No. 5 (“Emperor”) with pianist Garrick Ohlsson as soloist.
Four one-night special concerts will take place across the season feature top soloists:
- Nov 19: A Celebration of American Composers conducted by Robert Spano will feature pianist Marc-André Hamelin
- April 13: Cellist Yo-Yo Ma will perform Dvořák’s Cello Concerto
- May 8: A recital featuring British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason and his sister, pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason
- May 21: Atlanta Symphony Gala performance featuring legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman
Other esteemed returning guest soloists include pianists Stephen Hough, Saleem Ashkar and Michelle Cann, violinists Stefan Jackiw and Midori, cellist Alisa Weilerstein, double bassist Xavier Foley, guitarist Miloš Karadaglić, mandolinist Avi Avital, soprano Georgia Jarman, mezzo-sopranos Kelley O’Connor and Denyce Graves, tenor Clay Hilley, baritones Reginald Smith and Stephen Powell, and bass Burak Bilgili.
Nine more guest artists will make their ASO debuts in the 2021/22 season: soprano Jacquelyn Stucker, mezzo-soprano Tichina Vaughn, soprano Jasmine Habersham, violinist Peter Herresthal, soprano Michaela Martens, soprano Martina Jankovà, mezzo-soprano Sara Mingardo, tenor Kenneth Tarver and soprano Michelle Bradley.
In addition, six ASO musicians will also be featured as soloists in the new season: principal bass Joseph McFadden and principal viola Zhenwei Shi each make their subscription debuts. Concertmaster David Coucheron, principal harp Elisabeth Remy Johnson, principal cello Rainer Eudeikis and principal oboe Elizabeth Koch Tiscione.
The ASO will introduce 18 new works into their repertoire during the 2021/22 season, including four world premieres commissioned by the ASO: Michael Gandolfi’s Piano Concerto, Mark Buller’s The Parallactic Transits; Krists Auznieks’ Sub Rosa as well as a new concerto for double bass written and performed by Talent Development Program alumnus Xavier Foley. A fifth world premiere will be a new Violin Concerto by Conrad Tao. Te ASO’s new music programming will also include three U.S. premieres and 10 first -time performances by the orchestra.
The mighty Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus will return to the stage for the first time in 2022, two years after the pandemic first inhibited choral performances. They are scheduled to sing the Requiems of Mozart (March 17 & 18) and Duruflé (April 28 & 30). The Women of the ASO Chorus, along with eh Gwinnett Young Singers, will help close out the season with Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 with Robert Spano conducting and mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Connor (June 9, 11 & 12) – a work that was originally intended to close the 2020-21 season.
Safety measures for live ASO concerts will be based on latest information from the CDC and other health officials, including mandatory mask wearing, social distancing and capacity. Another helpful safety factor is that over the past year, significant improvements have been made to the airflow system in Atlanta Symphony Hall. More information about safety, seating and security in Symphony Hall will be released in advance of opening night.
As a complement to live performances in the 2021/22 season, the ASO will continue to offer its Behind the Curtain Virtual Concert Series. Subscribers to the Delta Classical Series automatically receive complimentary virtual access. Virtual memberships only may also be purchased. More information can be found at aso.org.
However, not all plans for the season are firm just yet. The new season’s Coca-Cola Holiday Concerts will be announced in the coming months as will the Family Concert Series. All Family Concerts will be led by ASO associate conductor and Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra music director Jerry Hou.
The most up-to-date listings and announcements for the 2021/22 Atlanta Symphony Hall LIVE concerts, which are not included in the classical subscription series, can be found at aso.org/LIVE. ■
ASO 2021/22 SEASON
Delta Classical Series Concerts
- September 9, 10, 11, 2021 Thu/Sat: 8pm
Robert Spano, music director laureate
Garrick Ohlsson, piano
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 5
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 5 - September 17, 18, 2021 Fri/Sat: 8pm
Robert Spano, music director laureate
Stefan Jackiw, violin
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
R. STRAUSS: Don Juan
CONRAD TAO: Violin Concerto †
ALVIN SINGLETON: Different River
R. STRAUSS: Till Eulenspiegel - September 23, 25, 2021 Thu/Sat: 8pm
Shi-Yeon Sung, conductor*
Joseph McFadden, ASO principal bass**
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
HAYDN: Symphony No. 102
VANHAL: Double Bass Concerto‡
BRAHMS: Serenade No. 2 - October 13 and 14, 2021 Wed/Thu: 8pm
Nathalie Stutzmann, conductor
Peter Herresthal, violin*
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
VERDI: Overture to La forza del destino
MISSY MAZZOLI: Dark with Excessive Bright ±
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 5 - October 21, 23, 24, 2021 Thu/Sat: 8pm, Sun: 3pm
Juanjo Mena, conductor*
Midori, violin
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
JAMES LEE III: Sukkot Through Orion’s Nebula
TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin Concerto
SCHUMANN: Symphony No. 4 - November 4, 6, 2021 Thu/Sat: 8pm
James Gaffigan, conductor
Alisa Weilerstein, cello
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
RAMEAU: Suite from Les indes galantes
OSVALDO GOLIJOV: Azul
JOHN ADAMS: The Chairman Dances
RAVEL: Mother Goose - November 18, 20, 2021 Thu/Sat: 8pm
Robert Spano, music director laureate
Marc-André Hamelin, piano
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
COPLAND: Fanfare for the Common Man
MICHAEL GANDOLFI: Piano Concerto (ASO Commission) †
COPLAND: Symphony No. 3 - November 19, 2021 Fri: 8pm
Robert Spano, music director laureate
Marc-André Hamelin, piano
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
BRIAN RAPHAEL NABORS: Onward
KRISTS AUZNIEKS: Sub Rosa (ASO Commission) †
MICHAEL GANDOLFI: Piano Concerto (ASO Commission) †
ADAM SCHOENBERG: Luna Azul‡
MICHAEL KURTH: Everything Lasts Forever - December 2, 4, 2021 Thu/Sat: 8pm
Donald Runnicles, principal guest conductor
Jacquelyn Stucker, soprano *
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
MELODY EÖTVÖS: The Deciding Machine ‡
STRAUSS: Four Last Songs
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 1 - December 5, 8, 2021 Sun: 3pm, Wed: 8pm
Donald Runnicles, principal guest conductor
Kelley O’Connor, Hansel
Jacquelyn Stucker, Gretel
Tichina Vaughn, Witch
Stephen Powell, Father
Michaela Martens, Mother*
TBA, Sandman/Dew Fairy
Gwinnett Young Singers
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
HUMPERDINCK: Hansel and Gretel - January 13, 15, 2022 Thu/Sat: 8pm
Kazuki Yamada, conductor*
Stephen Hough, piano
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
MOZART: Overture to Idomeneo
SAINT-SAËNS: Piano Concerto No. 4
TAKEMITSU: Requiem
SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 5 - January 20, 22, 2022 Thu/Sat: 8pm
Gemma New, conductor
Miloš Karadaglić, guitar
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
SARAH GIBSON: warp & weft ‡
JOBY TALBOT: Ink Dark Moon ±
RACHMANINOV: Vocalise
SIBELIUS: Symphony No. 5 - January 27, 29, 2022 Thu/Sat: 8pm
Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, conductor
Saleem Ashkar, piano
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
BOULANGER: Of a Spring Morning
GRIEG: Piano Concerto
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 6, “Pathétique” - February 3, 5, 2022 Thu/Sat: 8pm
Carlos Kalmar, conductor
Ksenija Sidorova, accordion
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
JESSIE MONTGOMERY: Records from a Vanishing City ‡
PIAZZOLLA: Aconcagua
SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 8, “Unfinished”
JOSEF STRAUSS: Music of the Spheres - Feb 10, 12, 13 Thu/Sat: 8pm, Sun: 3pm
Dmitry Sinkovsky, conductor, violin and countertenor *
Georgia Jarman, soprano
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
VIVALDI: Violin concerto, Il favorito, RV 277 ‡
HANDEL: “Io t’abbraccio” from Rodelinda ‡
HANDEL: “Caro! Bella!” from Giulio Cesare ‡
MOZART: “Dove sono?” from The Marriage of Figaro
MOZART: Symphony No. 41, “Jupiter” - February 24 and 26, 2022 Thu/Sat: 8pm
Donald Runnicles, principal guest conductor
Zhenwei Shi, Principal Viola**
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
JAMES WILSON: The Green Fuse ±
WALTON: Viola Concerto
MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No. 3, “Scottish” - March 3, 5, 2022 Thu/Sat: 8pm
Donald Runnicles, principal guest conductor
Michelle Cann, piano
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
PRICE: Piano Concerto in One Movement ‡
MAHLER: Symphony No. 1 - March 17, 18 Thu/Fri: 8pm
Nathalie Stutzmann, conductor
Martina Jankovà, soprano*
Sara Mingardo, mezzo-soprano*
Kenneth Tarver, tenor*
Burak Bilgili, bass
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
STRAUSS: Death and Transfiguration
MOZART: Requiem - March 24, 26 Thu/Sat: 8pm
Jonathon Heyward, conductor
Xavier Foley, double bass
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
BEETHOVEN: Leonore Overture No. 3
XAVIER FOLEY: Double Bass Concerto (ASO Commission) †
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 9 - March 31, April 2, 3, 2022 Thu/Sat: 8pm, Sun: 3pm
Robert Spano, music director laureate
Avi Avital, mandolin
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
MARK BULLER: The Parallactic Transits (ASO Commission) †
JENNIFER HIGDON: Mandolin Concerto ‡
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Scheherazade - April 13, 2022 Wed: 8pm
Robert Spano, music director laureate
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
DVOŘÁK: Symphony No. 9, “From the New World”
DVOŘÁK: Cello Concerto - April 21, 23, 2022 Thu/Sat: 8pm
Donald Runnicles, principal guest conductor
David Coucheron, ASO concertmaster
Elisabeth Remy Johnson, ASO principal harp
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
BRUCH: Scottish Fantasy
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3, “Eroica” - April 28, 30, 2022 Thu/Sat: 8pm
Donald Runnicles, principal guest conductor
TBA, mezzo-soprano
TBA, baritone
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
DEBUSSY: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
DEBUSSY: Nocturnes
DURUFLÉ: Requiem - May 8, 2022 Sun: 3pm
Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello
Isata Kanneh-Mason, piano
BEETHOVEN: Cello Sonata No. 4
SHOSTAKOVICH: Cello Sonata
BRIDGE: Cello Sonata
BRITTEN: Cello Sonata - May 12, 14, 2022 Thu/Sat: 8pm
Alexander Soddy, conductor *
Rainer Eudeikis, ASO principal cello
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
ANNA CLYNE: Sound and Fury
SHOSTAKOVICH: Cello Concerto No. 1
ELGAR: Enigma Variations - May 19, 20, 2022 Thu/Sat: 8pm
Nicola Luisotti, conductor
Michelle Bradley, soprano*
Denyce Graves, mezzo-soprano
Clay Hilley, tenor
Reginald Smith, baritone
TBA, bass
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
VERDI: Aida, Act III - May 21, 2022 Thu/Sat: 8pm
Nicola Luisotti, conductor
Itzhak Perlman, violin
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 4
VERDI: Overture to I vespri Siciliani
BRUCH: Violin Concerto - May 26, 28 Thu/Sat: 8pm
Nicola Luisotti, conductor
Elizabeth Koch Tiscione, ASO principal oboe
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
MARCELLO: Oboe Concerto
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 4 - June 9, 11, 12, 2022 Thu/Sat: 8pm, Sun: 3pm
Robert Spano, music director laureate
Kelley O’Connor, mezzo-soprano
Gwinnett Young Singers
Women of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
MAHLER: Symphony No. 3
* denotes Atlanta Symphony Orchestra debut
** denotes Atlanta Symphony Orchestra subscription debut
† denotes world premiere
± denotes U.S. premiere
‡ denotes Atlanta Symphony Orchestra premieres
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