This is a the weekend that Tucson classical music fans dream of: too many options.
Over the next three days, Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra and Arizona Opera will open their 2015-16 seasons and Tucson Symphony Orchestra will kick off its MasterWorks chamber series.
So how do you see them all?
We have a plan:
β’ You have three shots to see the TSO β Friday, Oct. 9, in Oro Valley; and Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11, at Catalina Foothills High School. Consider driving to Oro Valley, where you can see the orchestra perform in the very fine main hall at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 7575 N. Paseo del Norte. It has some fantastic acoustics and it's a beautiful setting for Beethoven's monster Fifth Symphony masterpiece. The performance is part of the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance series and it starts at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9. Tickets:Β $45 to $55 at the door or in advance by calling 797-3959, extension 1.
β’ Arizona Opera is mounting the U.S. premiere of "Arizona Lady," a comic operetta that hits close to home. It's about an immigrant who wants to race a horse to save her Tucson ranch. It's about much more than that, but please note the locale: Tucson.Β This is an opera about us!Β Plan to see the show Saturday night at Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. It starts at 7:30 p.m. and it runs two hours and 40 minutes with one intermission.Β Tickets are $25 to $120.
β’ And finally, SASO. This is one you won't want to miss: the chance to hear a concerto performed by the person for whom it was written.Β Violist Brett Deubner will join the orchestra for New Jersey composer Amanda Harbergβs Viola Concerto, a piece she wrote for Deubner. Also on the program is Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6, βPathΓ©tique,β a piece that tricks you by presenting what you think might be the bombastic finale in the third movement and then closing with this emotional whisper. It starts at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, at St. Andrewβs Presbyterian Church. Tickets: $23 for adults, free for children 17 and younger.
