Media contact: Jan Goodheart, Broward Center, 954-765-5814
The dynamic young violin virtuoso David Garrett completely sold out his South Florida debut show at Broward Center for the Performing Arts, after the public television affiliate WPBT2 aired his exciting “Live in Berlin” concert. Now, WPBT2 will be replaying this popular concert in response to requests from the public, and the Broward Center has added a second concert date on October 9 to meet the demand.
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts announced a slate of concerts for its 2009-2010 season which include violin superstar Joshua Bell, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, European violin sensation David Garrett , the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, a tribute to Luciano Pavarotti with Michael Amante and a 22-piece orchestra, the highly anticipated tour of The Houston Symphony presents The Planets - An HD Odyssey, the South Florida return of maestro James Judd leading the South Florida Master Chorale and a hallmark of past classical seasons in the region, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. In addition to these concerts, other classical performances next season at the Broward Center and its affiliate venues include much anticipated presentations by Florida Grand Opera, Symphony of the Americas, Miami International Piano Festival, Gold Coast Opera, Florida Sunshine Pops and other regional presenters.
"Our scheduled concerts highlight the vibrant nature of classical music with masterworks, extraordinary artists who create a vivid connection with the music and performances that extend bridges to new audiences," explains Broward Center President and CEO Kelley Shanley. "With concerts, planned special educational events and the launch of a new membership society for classical enthusiasts, the Broward Center is committed to supporting and nurturing classical music in South Florida."
The Broward Center plans to add master classes, lectures and other educational events to several of the concerts. Among the first to receive notice of the events and the opportunity to participate will be donors in a new philanthropic group, the Classical Society. Memberships start at $1,000 with benefits which include exclusive private pre-show receptions, opportunities to meet the artists, priority seating and the ability to purchase tickets before they go on sale to the general public. Founding members of the society at $1,500 will receive two lower orchestra tickets to all eight concerts in the series and realize a savings of more than $500. For more information on the Classical Society contact Nicole Gauthier at 954/468-2691 or email inquiries to ngauthier@browardcenter.org.
The season begins on Thursday, October 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center with the man known in Britain as "the David Beckham of the violin." With the first show a sell out, a second evening has been added on Friday, October 9 at 7:30 pm in the Amaturo Theater. Young German virtuoso David Garrett makes his South Florida debut after setting PBS phone banks ablaze with his Live in Berlin special. Presented by PBS Television and the Broward Center, Garrett weaves classical standards with rock and pop favorites into thrilling performances that topped the charts in Europe and sold out London's Royal Albert Hall for a week of concerts. Tickets are $25. The Master Chorale of South Florida and the Broward Center present Handel's "Messiah" on Sunday, December 6 at 2:30 p.m. in the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center. Maestro James Judd leads the Master Chorale in a special holiday performance of one of the most popular works in Western choral literature which contains the "Hallelujah Chorus." Formed to ensure that world-class performances of major works written for chorus and orchestra remain part of South Florida’s cultural fabric, the ensemble is now in its sixth season. Tickets are $15, $35, $45, $55 and $75.
On its national tour which includes the Classics Series at Carnegie Hall, the Houston Symphony presents The Planets – An HD Odyssey on Sunday, January 31 at 7 p.m. in the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center. In a collaboration with NASA and celebrated producer/director Duncan Copp, Houston Symphony under the baton of Hans Graf presents a powerful and spectacular new presentation of Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” incorporating state-of-the-art images from NASA’s exploration of the solar system. Narration for the performance, including interviews with the greatest scientific experts on each of the planets, will be integrated into the concert which also features Stravinsky's "Scherzo fantastique, Op. 3" and Dutilleux's "Timbres, espace, movement." Tickets are $35, $55 and $75.
A perennial favorite of past classical music seasons returns with Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo on Thursday, February 4 at 8 p.m. at the Parker Playhouse. Parodying classical works from Swan Lake to Giselle and the choreography of Isadora Duncan, George Balanchine and Martha Graham, the Trockaderos offer an irresistible evening for dance aficionados and complete novices. Since its inception in 1974, this all-male ensemble has established itself as a major dance phenomenon by combining a loving knowledge of dance with a wicked comedic sensibility to create buoyant and hilarious performances. Tickets are $35, $45 and $55.
Called the greatest American violinist active today by the Boston Herald, Joshua Bell will appear in recital accompanied by Jeremy Denk in the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center on Monday, February 15 at 8 p.m. Known for his breadth and daring choices of repertoire, Bell has created a richly varied catalogue of recordings. The Washington Post wrote, "The American violinist with movie-star good looks has emerged as one of the finest musicians of his generation, whose interpretations can be seriously set beside and favorably compared to players twice his age. Dead players too." Tickets are $35, $45, $55, $65 and $75.
The Broward Center plays tribute to the superstar who brought new audiences to opera when Michael Amante and a 22-piece orchestra perform A Tribute to Luciano Pavarotti on Sunday, February 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Amaturo Theater. Hailed by the New York Times as a "swashbuckling Italian tenor [who] exhibits both the voice and charisma of a crossover star," Amante's career has taken him into the opera house and the musical theater where he has sung leading roles in La Boheme and Madama Butterfly as well as West Side Story, Grease and Jesus Christ Superstar. Tickets are $49.50.
One of classical music's greatest superstars Dame Kiri Te Kanawa performs in the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center on Tuesday, March 9 at 8 p.m. After gaining legendary status almost overnight for her sensational debut as the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, she moved rapidly into the front rank of international opera and has become one of the most famous sopranos in the world. Tickets are $35, $55, $75, $95 and $115.
The series culminates with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra at the Parker Playhouse on Friday, March 12 at 8 p.m. JoAnn Falletta conducts the ensemble which has toured widely across the United States and Canada including concerts at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Boston's Symphony Hall, San Francisco's Davies Hall, Montreal's Place des Arts and nearly two dozen appearances in Carnegie Hall. Tickets are $45, $55 and $65.
Single tickets are on sale for the David Garrett concert and will be followed by single ticket sales for the remaining events in the season on October 8. Flexible subscription packages offering any four concerts in the series at a 10 percent discount, any six events at a 15 percent discount or the full eight-concert series at a 20 percent discount are also available. Single tickets and subscription packages may be purchased through the Broward Center’s box office at 954/462-0222 and BrowardCenter.org. Priority and advance seating will be available to Classical Society members as noted above.
The Broward Center is located at 201 SW Fifth Avenue in Fort Lauderdale in the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District. The Parker Playhouse is located at 707 N.E. Eighth Street in Holiday Park, Fort Lauderdale. All dates, times, programs and artists are subject to change.