Folsom Symphony's 8th Season begins October 15

Our 8th season: Spectacular!
A ‘glorious’ Ninth will highlight the Folsom Symphony’s fabulous eighth season. 

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, an undisputed classical masterpiece, is the crown jewel in our upcoming season, which opens at Three Stages Oct. 15.

The extraordinary Ninth Symphony headlines a 2011-2012 repertoire that symphony fans will agree is the orchestra’s most impressive yet. This piece was the composer’s final completed symphony, premiering in Vienna in 1824 to five standing ovations, an unrivaled number at the time. Beethoven by then was deaf and had to be instructed to look at the audience to see their explosive approval.

The Ninth Symphony is so admired and ambitious the orchestra will be presenting an encore performance. 

Along with the Beethoven piece, which will be accompanied by the Sacramento Master Singers, the season’s repertoire includes a stunning clarinet concerto, Tchaikovsky’s emotional Fourth Symphony, uplifting Christmas-season music that gets the audience singing along, romantic sounds in celebration of Valentine’s Day, favorite movie scores that will bring back memories, and much more. The full playlist, seven performances, follows. For more detail, download our season brochure.   

Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m.: Light Out of the Darkness. “Tragic Overture” by Brahms; Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F minor by von Weber (clarinet solo: Charles Messersmith); Symphony No. 4 by Tchaikovsky. Von Weber’s concerto is considered one of the finest pieces ever written for the clarinet. The Tchaikovsky symphony, completed while the composer was going through a time of personal melancholy, is a turbulent, emotional work. The pizzicato section, in which the strings are plucked, is renowned.  

Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 11, 3p.m.: A Joyful Celebration. Seasonal music including “Bartered Bride” by Smetana; “Variations on a Rococo Theme” by Tchaikovsky (cello solo: Susan Lamb Cook); Concerto for Oboe and Violin in C minor by Bach (violin solo: Concertmaster Anita Felix; oboe solo, Curtis Kidwell); traditional Christmas music, singing along and more.  

Feb. 11, 7:30 p.m.: Music of the Heart. “Romeo and Juliet Overture” by Tchaikovsky; “Moonlight Sonata” by Beethoven (piano solo: Natsuki Fukasawa); “Elvira Madigan” by Mozart (piano solo: Fukasawa); Violin Concerto No. 1 by Tchaikovsky (violin solo: Anita Felix); the theme from “Love Story” by Lai, and more.  

March 24, 7:30 p.m. and March 25, 3 p.m.: Glorious Beethoven! Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, conducted by Maestro Michael Neumann, with parts sung by the Sacramento Master Singers and guest soloists under the direction of guest conductor Ralph Hughes. This was the first “choral symphony,” one that includes singing. Nearly everyone is familiar with the tune “Ode to Joy” based on a poem by Friedrich Schiller and sung during the Ninth’s final movement.  

June 2, 7:30 p.m.: Summer Symphony at the Movies. Our annual pops concert: Favorite and familiar musical scores, including “Star Wars Suite,” “The King’s Speech,” “Dances With Wolves,” and more. 

All performances are given at Three Stages theater on the Folsom Lake College campus. Season tickets are still available. For tickets, click here or call 916-608-6888. Email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .