SEPTEMBER 2022
A Gala Evening with British Icon Maria Friedman Kicks Off Orchestra Lumos’ New Season
ORCHESTRA LUMOS
Traditional orchestras typically perform in theaters and concert halls – a fantastic way to experience the symphony, no doubt – yet not everyone can go see concerts this way. Music Director Michael Stern along with President and CEO Russell Jones and others from the Stamford Symphony are rethinking what an orchestra looks like in the 21st Century. Turns out, it looks a lot like Orchestra Lumos, the new iteration and moniker of the Stamford Symphony whose gala performance this September with world renowned musical theater performer Maria Friedman is just the beginning of an orchestra revolution in Fairfield County.
“Building on the very long and rich tradition of the Stamford Symphony serving Fairfield County, Orchestra Lumos is poised to start a whole new chapter,” Stern says. Stern, who is Orchestra Lumos’ Music Director in its inaugural season, notes that with a new identity and new vision, the former Stamford Symphony is situated for their brightest, most accessible season yet. Orchestra Lumos will now perform across the county — both in the Palace Theatre and in smaller, more unconventional spaces near you.
According to President/CEO of Orchestra Lumos, Russell Jones, the name change and rebrand were inspired by reimagining what a traditional orchestra does, and expanding the mission from something static to something dynamic that meets people of all ages where they live.
“We want everyone in Fairfield County to have a connection with us,” explains Russell. “The great French composer Pierre Boulez called the Orchestra an ‘ensemble of possibilities.’ And so however anyone wishes to have their fix of the Orchestra, be it in the classroom, library, or even a brewery, these are all equally valid touch points. Of course we want everyone to hear the whole Orchestra at the Palace Theatre, but from now on enjoying Orchestra Lumos is on your terms.”
Orchestra Lumos’ accessible approach is different than their previous iteration, the Stamford Symphony, which performed almost exclusively at Stamford’s Palace Theatre. Instead, Orchestra Lumos will be performing in non-traditional spaces too, like classrooms, libraries, museums, houses of worship – even breweries and malls. Next season, look for the musicians of Orchestra Lumos to fan out across the county to bring intimate ensemble performances to places like Greenwich, New Canaan, Darien, Westport, and of course, Stamford. All the while, Orchestra Lumos will still hold full 65-member ensemble concerts at the Palace, but these will no longer be the exclusive place to experience live music in Fairfield County.
Outside these alternative performances, some of the must-see moments of the season will be when world-class soloists like violinist Joshua Bell, pianist Awadagin Pratt, and cellist Alisa Weilerstein share the stage with Orchestra Lumos. They’re kicking off this exciting season with a special gala event with British musical theater icon Maria Friedman.
On Saturday September 24th, fresh off her smash sell-out run of Legacy at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory Theater, Friedman brings her revue to the Palace Theatre for one night of cocktails, music, and connection. The 75 minute performance features Friedman singing the music of three of the greatest composers of all time: Marvin Hamlisch, Michel Legrand, and Stephen Sondheim. Friedman’s Olivier Award-winning voice will be accompanied by the musical direction of Todd Ellison, whom the New York Times calls one of “Broadway’s electric conductors.”
The Gala event is a night not to be missed as it’s Maria Friedman’s sole US performance before she directs an Off-Broadway revival of Merrily We Roll Along starring Daniel Radcliffe. Tickets for the gala are already moving briskly and are expected to sellout, so those interested should consider making plans to see this unique experience now.
“Maria’s done it all,” says Jones. “These songwriters were all friends of hers. It’s a very personal compilation of songs she wants to sing, very special, very emotional.”
The Gala event is not just a concert, it’s an entirely curated experience with pre-concert cocktails, the concert during which Friedman will be joined by Vocalists Ross Lekites (Tina—The Tina Turner Musical) and Lewis Cleale (The Book of Mormon), plus a post-concert reception. The night promises moving, once-in-a-lifetime performances, a perfect way to welcome the new-look Orchestra Lumos to Fairfield County. Special ticket packages are required to attend the pre- and post-concert events. This memorable evening doubles as the Orchestra's annual fundraising gala to ensure Orchestra Lumos can continue to share exceptional musical experiences with world-renowned soloists and family-friendly programs that surprise and delight all ages.
The Maria Friedman gala event will also be the professional debut for many young musicians. As part of Orchestra Lumos’ ongoing commitment to youth engagement and education, the gala event will feature students from Westport High School Staples Players, Darien High School Theater 308, New Canaan High School Theatre Students and students from King School, Stamford.
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Maria’s done it all. These songwriters were all friends of hers. It’s a very personal compilation of songs she wants to sing, very special, very emotional."
-Russell Jones
Above all, Music Director Stern hopes Orchestra Lumos can help empower new musical voices in the Fairfield community by increasing the symphony’s visibility in younger audiences. His inaugural season is purposely ambitious and will feature an inclusive and diverse set of voices with music by Carolyn Bremer, Ivan Enrique Rodriguez, and Joseph Schwantner, as well as classic masterpieces by Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, and Schubert, just to name a few. (You can download the entire 2022-23 schedule here.)
“Making great music happen is at the heart of what we do,” Stern says. “Orchestra Lumos brings a reinvigorated commitment to excellence, breadth and inclusion.”
We want everyone in Fairfield County to have a connection with us. The great French
composer Pierre Boulez called the Orchestra an ‘ensemble of possibilities.’ And so however anyone wishes to have their fix of the Orchestra, be it in the classroom, library, or even a brewery, these are all equally valid touch points. Of course we want everyone to hear the whole Orchestra at the Palace Theatre, but from now on enjoying Orchestra Lumos is on your terms.
-Russell Jones
Saturday, September 24 at 7:30pm
Maria Friedman recalls her experiences with three of the greatest composers of all time
Marvin Hamlisch, Michel Legrand, Stephen Sondheim
A Gala Evening with Maria Friedman
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Saturday, October 15 at 7:30pm
Sunday, October 16 at 3pm
Opening Weekend - New Worlds
Awadagin Pratt, piano
The Palace
Series
Your Brightest Season Starts Now
Making great music happen is at the heart of what we do. Orchestra Lumos brings a reinvigorated commitment to excellence, breadth and inclusion.”
-Michael Stern
Opening weekend is Saturday, October 15 at 7:30pm and Sunday, October 16 at 3pm with Dvořák’s celebrated Ninth Symphony, From the New World, and featuring acclaimed pianist Awadagin Pratt, whose breathtaking, dynamic performances have awed audiences worldwide. But it all begins with the gala event September 24th. Join Maria Friedman for this intimate experience, as she recalls her experiences with these titans of the musical world.
For Orchestra Lumos, the future is bright. Says President Jones, “Lumos is from the latin for 'light' and we want our music to shine more brightly across Fairfield country.”
Be part of the brightest season yet with tickets starting at just $25. Visit www.orchestralumos.org to purchase tickets and view the full calendar of this spectacular upcoming 2022-23 season.
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Sunday, October 23 at 3:00pm
Opening Concert - New Canaan
Organ and Brass at First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan
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