HONOLULU — From Mozart to the Muppets, Hawaii Symphony Orchestra’s 2022-2023 concert season offers something for all ages and a full lineup of diverse performances. The symphony’s first performance on Oct. 6 kicks off a new educational series, Beyond The Music, that provides a context for keiki and kupuna.
“The idea behind Beyond the Music came from our own curiosity and how we could share the stories about the composer and musicians that are commonplace in the symphonic repertoire,” explained HSO President and CEO Dave Moss. “Our hosts for the event, Michael-Thomas Foumai and Dane Lam, will compare the Dvorak Symphony to a movie plot, and show how reoccurring themes and motifs occur just like how a film comes together.
“The symphony was written in 1893, so we will be relating what was happening in America where Dvorak composed the piece, with what was happening in Hawaii during 1893, and the music that was written and performed here. This allows us to connect time and place to the music we are still performing today.”
After attending the Oct. 6 concert, the audience can take it as a standalone performance or attend one of the Halekulani Masterworks performances, Oct. 8-9. Dane Lam will conduct HSO performing the same piece by Dvorak and the First Symphony by Honolulu-born Dai-Keong Lee. In addition, HSO principal timpanist Brad Davis takes center stage in a timpani concerto, “Raise the Roof,” by Grammy Award-winning American composer Michael Daugherty. Upcoming Halekulani Masterworks performances will feature additional guest artists, as well as the works of Mendelssohn, Carl Orff and others.
To prepare for this weekend’s performances, Moss said the first rehearsal was held Tuesday evening with up to five rehearsals to come before the Saturday concert. “It’s always a bit like the first day of school — but waiting for that first audience of the season is always epic,” he said.
“We are excited to welcome an audience at so many different venues this season, especially Moanalua Performing Arts Center and the Hawaii Theatre,” said Moss. “We also have an incredibly diverse lineup of artists joining the HSO this season, and many new faces amongst the orchestra musicians.”
The end of October brings the Lexus Hawaii Films in Concert Series featuring the fifth film in the Harry Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.” The audience will see the entire film in high-definition on a 40-foot screen in the Blaisdell Concert Hall as HSO performs the soundtrack live.
The first of five in the HapaSymphony Series begins Nov. 5 at Hawaii Theatre with Lea Almanza, Starr Kalahiki, Lady Laritza La Bouche and special guest Brandy Lee hosted by Miss Candi Shell. This uniquely Hawaii series combines orchestral prowess with the distinctive talents of island musicians and performers.
Closing out 2022 will be Disney’s “The Muppet Christmas Carol in Concert” with HSO performing live to the film, and everybody’s favorite cast of Muppets characters taking on familiar roles in the classic Charles Dickens holiday tale.
“The diversity we are offering is simply unprecedented for our symphony and community,” said Moss. “Every performance has some aspect of the unexpected — from our first HapaSymphony show with Lady Laritza La Bouche and Brandy Lee, to our new Muppets Christmas Carol, and everything in between.”
In August of this year, HSO announced a new four-year contract between the board of directors and its 84 musicians that secured performances through 2026. The agreement guarantees 18 weeks of performances in the first two years, 19 weeks in the third year, and 21 weeks in the final year that effectively changes the performance season from nine months to a year-round schedule.
At the time, James F. Moffitt, president of the Musicians’ Association of Hawaii, Local 677, commented that a four-year agreement was unusual among orchestras and that it would allow HSO management the time to recover from the effects of the pandemic.
“The agreement gives a tremendous amount of stability to plan new ways of connecting with our community through music,” commented Moss. “It gives our musicians the guarantee of work, and our community the guarantee that the music will continue to play.”
Visit the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra’s website for the full season lineup and to purchase tickets.
Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii.