The Charlotte Symphony (CSO) welcomes a talented and diverse array of guest conductors and artists in 2022–23, a season that celebrates the Symphony’s greatest strengths and reaffirms its core commitments: serving the community with increased access to live symphonic music and educational opportunity, and presenting world class performances of the greatest works, ranging from standards of the repertoire to music by today’s most talented composers.
“The 2022–23 season is truly emblematic of what the Charlotte Symphony does best,” said President and CEO David Fisk. “The Orchestra will welcome a variety of guest conductors and artists with perspectives from around the world, offering a taste of the Symphony’s incredible range and versatility and laying the groundwork for an even more vibrant future.”
Here are some of the highlights of the upcoming season!
The Classical Series
– American Conductor Andrew Grams will open the Charlotte Symphony’s 2022–23 Classical Series with a program featuring Elgar’s Cello Concerto, performed by Israeli cellist Inbal Segev. The program, which takes place Oct. 7-8, will also include R. Strauss’s Aus Italien and PIVOT, a new work by GRAMMY-nominated composer Anna Clyne.
– Brazilian-born conductor Marcelo Lehninger will return to the CSO Oct. 28–29, to
conduct the second Classical program featuring Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, Pastoral, Lili
Boulanger’s d’un matin de printemps, and Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain.
– Transitioning to his new role as Conductor Laureate and Music Adviser, former Music Director
Christopher Warren-Green returns to Charlotte to conduct his world-renowned interpretation
of Handel’s Messiah, Dec. 2–4.
– The Charlotte Symphony will partner with The Mint Museum for the 2023 exhibit, Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds with a performance of works by Igor Stravinsky, one of Picasso’s dear friends, and more, March 10–11.
Pops and Movies
The 2022–23 season of the Sandra and Leon Levine Pops Series will explore a wide range of
musical genres, from iconic Soul tunes to the Music of the Beatles.
– The series will open with a celebration of the reigning divas of Soul and R&B with Queens of Soul (Oct. 21–22.)
– The magic of the holiday season comes to life with Holiday Pops (Dec. 16–18.)
– Classical Mystery Tour: Music of The Beatles will honor the musical legacy of The Beatles
with authentic reproductions of their most famous songs as you’ve never heard them before, live
with the Charlotte Symphony (Feb. 17–18.)
– The series concludes with 007: The Best of James Bond, a celebration of the greatest music from five decades of Bond films, including the iconic Theme Song and “Nobody Does it Better” (May 12–13.)
– From holiday train rides to epic space battles, the Charlotte Symphony’s 2022–23 Movie Series
will bring to life legendary music scores, live to film, for the ultimate “surround-sound”
experience. The series will feature The Polar Express (November 25–26,) Star Wars:
Return of the Jedi (March 17–18,) The Princess Bride (May 5–6) and Indiana
Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark (June 16–17.)
Family and Education
The 2022-23 season will present four one-hour concerts designed for children 4-9 years of age.
Each event includes pre-concert activities including music-related crafts and a hands-on
instrument petting zoo.
– The season will include Symphony Spooktacular, a Halloween special featuring spooky tunes like Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain and Gounod’s Funeral March of a Marionette (October 22, 2022).
– The magic of the holiday season comes to life with a family-friendly performance of Holiday Pops featuring sing-alongs and snowfall (Dec. 17.)
– Hans Christian Andersen’s timeless tale, The Emperor’s New Clothes, comes to life with
musical storytelling and a visit from Grey Seal Puppets (Feb. 18.)
– Classical Kids Live: Tchaikovsky Discovers America tells the true story of Tchaikovsky’s arrival in New
York for the grand opening of Carnegie Hall and his trip to Niagara Falls through his most beloved music (May 13.)
