MSO season 79 opens with ‘Beloved Baroque’
Concertos for strings, horns and more highlight MSO’s own
Jackson, Mississippi — The Mississippi Symphony Orchestra strikes up its 79th season with the annual and much-anticipated “Beloved Baroque” concert, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9, filling St. Andrew’s Cathedral with the charming music of Vivaldi, Telemann and more.
The beautiful and intimate setting, rich acoustics, delightful music, plus MSO’s first outing of the season add up to a can’t-miss experience that welcomes the orchestra back to the stage and audiences back to their seats after a long summer’s absence.
“I know everyone is excited to be back,” said MSO President and Executive Director Jenny Mann.
MSO’s 79th season touts “A Season of Fresh Voices” with concerts that fold in historically overlooked composers, offer new collaborations and compositions, and focus on MSO’s own.
Three concertos on the “Beloved Baroque” program pull the spotlight to MSO players who are such a vital part of this orchestra and this community. “We want to highlight these wonderful musicians, and in this concert, you get to hear that,” Mann said.
MSO’s Principal Horn Mimi Linehan and Second Horn Richard Hudson shine in Telemann’s Concerto in D for Two Horns, reveling in the joy of the piece and heralding many more bright moments in the season ahead. The woodwind section enjoys a rare spotlight, too, in Telemann’s celebratory “Water Music” overture.
The opening concert of MSO’s Chamber Series also features Vivaldi’s rapturous Concerto for Strings in G, Corelli’s gorgeous Concerto Grosso and Zelenka’s virtuosic and captivating Capriccio No. 3. Lesser known and less frequently performed than his Baroque era peers, Czech-born Zelenka is called the Catholic Bach by experts in the field. His Capriccio No. 3 closes the evening with another dazzling spotlight for horn.
The ornamentation in Baroque music is a key part of its appeal, as is the legacy of its original purpose in 17th and 18th century European society, as pure entertainment, pleasant accompaniment and simply lovely listening.
“There’s a huge part of our audience that this music really resonates with,” Mann said. “They relish the opportunity to have one night of all Baroque music.” Limited, general seating in the cathedral’s stunning venue often makes this concert a sellout.
Individual tickets for the Sept. 9 “Beloved Baroque” concert are $25 for adults and $5 for students, kindergarten through college (with valid student ID). Advance tickets may be purchased online at www.msorchestra.com. Tickets will be on sale at the door as capacity permits.
Season tickets to MSO’s Chamber, Bravo and Pops Series are the best way to secure discounts, optimal seating (where applicable) and regular MSO updates of MSO’s 2023-24 “Season of Fresh Voices,” on sale at msorchestra.com.
“Beloved Baroque” is presented by the Vaughn and Nora-Frances McRae. The season is supported in part by funding from the Mississippi Arts Commission, a state agency.
What: Beloved Baroque, MSO Chamber Series concert
Who: Mississippi Symphony Orchestra
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 9, 2023
Where: St. Andrew’s Cathedral, 305 E. Capitol St., Jackson, MS