SEATTLE SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES OPENING WEEKEND
SEATTLE SYMPHONY OPENING WEEKEND CELEBRATES START OF 2021–2022 SEASON, RETURN TO IN-PERSON CONCERTS AT BENAROYA HALL
OPENING WEEKEND KICKS OFF WITH THE OPENING NIGHT GALA ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
FREE CONCERT AND CELEBRATORY ACTIVITIES AT BENAROYA HALL ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
Seattle, WA — The Seattle Symphony announces its Opening Weekend programming for the 2021–2022 season, marking a highly anticipated return to in-person performances and expanding the organization’s previously planned Opening Night to an entire weekend of music and celebration.
The Opening Weekend kicks off on September 18 with an Opening Night Gala fundraising event featuring Music Director Thomas Dausgaard, who leads the Seattle Symphony in the world premiere of Composer in Residence Reena Esmail’s RE|Member, a Seattle Symphony co-commission, alongside Richard Strauss’s Don Juan and Stravinsky’s iconic Firebird Suite. The Opening Night Gala honors Charles and Lisa Simonyi for their philanthropic support of the Symphony and recognizes the inaugural President’s Council — a group of principal supporters instrumental to the Symphony’s resilience and innovation during the pandemic. The evening’s concert will also be livestreamed for free on Seattle Symphony Live, in addition to being broadcast on Classical KING FM 98.1.
A concert and celebratory activities for the community will then take place on Sunday, September 19 at Benaroya Hall, free to the public. This will include an “Ask the Artist” event with Music Director Thomas Dausgaard, ensemble performances from Seattle Symphony musicians throughout the afternoon, a full concert at 2 p.m. PDT, and the unveiling of an Indigenous art installation honoring the Symphony’s use of the Coast Salish peoples’ land. Music Director Thomas Dausgaard will conduct both Opening Weekend concerts on September 18 and 19.
The free concert on Sunday, September 19 will feature an encore performance of Seattle Symphony Composer in Residence Reena Esmail’s RE|Member (following its world premiere the prior evening), along with Strauss’s Don Juan, Walker’s Lyric for Strings, and Amy Beach’s Alla siciliana: Allegro vivace from the Symphony in E minor, “Gaelic.”
The unveiling of an Indigenous art installation on Sunday will recognize that Benaroya Hall is on the Indigenous land of the Coast Salish people, specifically the Duwamish Tribe, who are not currently federally recognized. The Seattle Symphony recently commissioned a traditional woven cedar mat from local artist DeAnn Jacobson as part of the organization’s growing partnership with the Indigenous communities in the Pacific Northwest. The work will be installed permanently at Benaroya Hall, with remarks from representatives from the Seattle Symphony and the Coast Salish peoples and a statement of land acknowledgement to commemorate the occasion.
The Seattle Symphony recently joined area arts organizations in announcing more comprehensive health and safety policies to ensure the safest return possible for in-person audiences, including requiring proof of vaccination (or proof of a negative COVID-19 test) for all event attendees. Further information about the Seattle Symphony’s protective protocols can be found at https://seattlesymphony.org/planyourvisit/safety.
To learn more about the Opening Night Gala, please visit the event page here. To reserve a free ticket to other Opening Weekend activities and performances, please visit the Opening Weekend event page.
SEATTLE SYMPHONY
Led by Music Director Thomas Dausgaard, the Seattle Symphony unleashes the power of music, brings people together and lifts the human spirit. Recognized as one of the “most vital American orchestras” (NPR), the Seattle Symphony is internationally acclaimed for its inventive programming, community-minded initiatives and superb recordings on the Seattle Symphony Media label. With a strong commitment to new music and a legacy of over 150 recordings, the orchestra has garnered five Grammy Awards, 26 Grammy nominations, two Emmy Awards and was named Gramophone’s 2018 Orchestra of the Year. The Symphony performs in Benaroya Hall in the heart of downtown Seattle from September through July, reaching over 730,000 people annually through live performances and radio broadcasts.
OPENING NIGHT GALA
SPECIAL PERFORMANCE
Saturday, September 18, at 6:30 p.m.
Thomas Dausgaard conductor
Mary Lynch oboe
Reena Esmail RE|Member (Seattle Symphony Co-commission & World Premiere)
R. Strauss Don Juan
Stravinsky The Firebird Suite (1919 version)
FREE OPENING WEEKEND CONCERT
SPECIAL PERFORMANCE
Sunday, September 19, at 2 p.m.
Thomas Dausgaard conductor
Mary Lynch oboe
R. Strauss Don Juan, Op. 20
Walker Lyric for Strings
Reena Esmail RE|Member
Beach Alla siciliana: Allegro vivace from Symphony in E minor, Op. 32, “Gaelic”
The President’s Council
Dr. and Mrs. Charles and Lisa Simonyi, co-chairs
Chap and Eve Alvord
Arakawa Foundation
Rebecca Benaroya
Leslie and Dale Chihuly
Judith Fong and Mark Wheeler
Lyn and Gerald Grinstein
Lenore Hanauer
Nesholm Family Foundation
James and Sherry Raisbeck
Charles and Maria Schweizer
Joan S. Watjen, in memory of Craig M. Watjen
Stephen Whyte and Rebecca Ralston
Opening Night Gala Supporters
Firebird
Paul Leach and Susan Winokur
Alexis and Michael Rowell
Kim and Jon Shirley
Dr. and Mrs. Charles and Lisa Simonyi
Gold
Rebecca Benaroya
Susan Coughlin and John Lauber
Delta Air Lines
Parul and Gary Houlahan
Ihn (Ike) Lee
Benjamin and Kelly Martz
The Nakajima Family
Stephen Whyte and Rebecca Ralston
Silver
René and April Ancinas
Boeing Company
Leslie and Dale Chihuly
Lyn and Gerald Grinstein
Susan Johannsen and Stephen Elop
Jeff Lehman and Katrina Russell
Dorothy Li
Microsoft
Erika J. Nesholm
Alexander Oki
Patricia and Jon Rosen
Norm and Elisabeth Sandler
Charles and Maria Schweizer
Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Snyder
Maryanne Tagney
Partners
6162 Productions
Aetna
Lumedic
2021– 2022 Opening Night Gala Committee
Erika J. Nesholm and Patricia Rosen, co-chairs
April Ancinas
Leslie Jackson Chihuly
Susan Coughlin
Lyn Grinstein
Susan Gulkis Assadi
Parul Houlahan
Eric Jacobs
Ike Lee
Susan Winokur
2021–2022 Masterworks Season Sponsor: Delta Air Lines
Thomas Dausgaard's position is generously underwritten as the Harriet Overton Stimson Music Director.
Principal Oboe Mary Lynch's position is generously supported by anonymous donors.
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