Take your seats, ladies and gentlemen, the show is about to begin. The Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra’s 2022-2023 season opens on September 24, 2022. The Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra (CCSO) aims to facilitate an environment where a diverse group of people can come together and share something in common: a love for music. The new season takes on the theme, “Let the music thrill you,” and with an exciting lineup of concerts, it’s sure to do just that. The new season includes familiar favorites and inspiring additions for the community to enjoy.
“Our goal is to share and celebrate the thrill and excitement that is live, classical music,” director of marketing and development Hannah Bittner shared. Starting with Virtuoso Opening Night on September 24, the season opener features three CCSO musicians, Diana Sipes and Jasmine Kienne (flute) and Elisabeth Adkins (violin). The concert will include Samuel Zyman’s “Fantasia Mexicana for Two Flutes and Orchestra.”
October’s concert will celebrate the enormous musical contribution of Hispanic heritage by playing an array of pieces from Cuba, Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, and Argentina. The concert features Eli Manzo, a remarkable young pianist, performing one of the most beloved piano concertos ever. The Hispanic Heritage Celebration concert will take place on October 15, 2022.
“[This season], we will pay tribute to two important celebrations: Hispanic Heritage Month and Black History Month,” said maestro and music director Hector Guzman. “This includes music and performers from Mexico, Venezuela, Spain, Argentina and Brazil, as well as the music of one of America’s greatest jazz composers: Duke Ellington. Our goal [this season] is to be inclusive and expand the reach of the CCSO in the city and surrounding regions.”
December’s concert will serve as a beloved Coastal Bend tradition: Home for the Holidays. This annual concert has become synonymous with the holiday season and features the musical stylings of several local musicians. Shira Samuels-Shragg will serve as the guest conductor for the evening, and the Del Mar Master Chorus, Corpus Christi Chorale, TAMU-Kingsville Concert Choir, along with the CCSO, will perform all your favorite seasonal classics. Home for the Holidays will take place on December 10, 2022.
Come 2023, An Interplanetary Experience, slated for February 4, includes an iconic suite by British composer Gustav Holst. Guests will be enhanced by a multi-media presentation, including spectacular imagery shown on the Performing Arts Center’s brand-new “video wall.” In addition, the CCSO will celebrate Black History Month at this concert with music from jazz composer Duke Ellington.
The season’s Grand Finale: Carmina Burana concert is one Guzman is particularly looking forward to sharing with audiences. A famous piece for choir, soloists and orchestra, Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” was taken from poems of the 11th and 12th centuries. The texts were compiled in cantata form to create a now universally loved piece. Performed by Barbara Padilla (soprano), Scot Cameron (tenor), Ricardo Jose Rivera (baritone), Del Mar Master Chorus, Corpus Christi Chorale, TAMU-Kingsville Concert Choir and CCSO, the finale provides an electrifying end to a spectacular season. The season’s finale is set for March 4, 2023.
“I am excited to see the reactions of our crowd at each concert,” Bittner shared. “I think this season will be wonderful, and I can’t wait to see and hear how it impacts our community.” With a riveting lineup of concerts, CCSO’s 2022-2023 season will surely accomplish its goal of thrilling audiences.
Tickets to each CCSO concert start at just $25 and are available online or at the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Performing Arts Center (PAC) box office the night of the event. The box office opens two hours before showtime, and each concert takes place at the PAC. Season subscriptions are also available for purchase online.
