Albany Symphony set to kick off 63rd season featuring ‘Magic of Music’

ALBANY – For Albany Symphony Orchestra Music Director/Conductor Claire Fox Hillard, the magic of song remains the same.

Ah, but for the veteran musician who’s a year away from celebrating his 40th anniversary with the Albany orchestra, there’s always a new verse.

“This time of year brings about a rejuvenation, a time to appreciate this great opportunity again,” Hillard said as the orchestra honed in on the first performance of its 63rd season, the Nov. 7 showcase “The Magic of Mozart Meets Carmen,” featuring the music of both Mozart, in celebration of his 270th birthday, paired with works from Bizet’s epic “Carmen.”

“As we prepare to open the season, we gradually reach a kind of culmination point. There’s a lot of excitement as we kick off a new season.”

This season, ASO is highlighting some of the orchestra’s principal musicians during each performance, and those selected for the initial performance are oboist Will Wise, clarinetist Peter Geldrich, bassoonist Shannon Lowe and horn player Kelly Bayer.

“Throughout the season, we’ll be showcasing some of our musicians,” Hillard said. “These guys, in addition to being great musicians, are really neat people. Yes, they love playing music, but they also enjoy drag racing, mountain climbing, watching James Bond movies … doing the kinds of things all of us do.

“Most people only see them as the person playing the French horn on stage, but we’re going to show that they’re regular folks who have dedicated their professional lives to playing music.”

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic around 2020 was a key factor in the Albany Symphony deciding to offer its performances to the public at no cost. And while Hillard said the intended outcome of “opening up the orchestra to the public” has been successful, the move also cut into the symphony’s finances.

To help address that issue, the orchestra’s board has revived the Symphony League, an organization that will support the ASO and whose members will enjoy special perks in relationships with the group.

“We have different levels of support for the orchestra, and the $150 donation to be a part of the Symphony League is the first level,” Hillard said. “People who join will receive selected reserve seating at all concerts, special meet-and-greet opportunities with musicians, invitation to donor appreciation events and presale access for special events (like the March 13 Crawfish Festival).

“We also offer other benefits to donors on the patron ($200-$749), benefactor ($750-$1,499) and maestro ($1,500 and above) levels.”

The Nov. 7 performance, which kicks off what the orchestra is calling “The Magic of Music” season, is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Albany Municipal Auditorium. ASO will continue to welcome audience members to its performances at no charge, although a $20 donation is recommended. Other performances, also scheduled at 6:30 p.m. at the Municipal Auditorium, include “The Magic of the Holiday Season” – aka “Peppermint Pops” – on Dec. 8, “The Magic of Music by Candlelight” on Feb. 6, and “The Magic of Mozart Meets Beethoven” April 10.

The orchestra also will present its James Barnett Foundation Children’s Concert “Tchaikovsky Discovers America” on March 19, with shows at 9:30 and 11 a.m. for students in local school systems.

Also this year, for music lovers who might want to order their music “to go,” the symphony’s a la Carte program allows individuals or groups to enhance their events by “ordering” anywhere from two to 20 musicians to play at the event. For additional information, visit albanysymphony.org.