The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

For its 64th season, the Symphony of Southeast Texas (SOST) presents a lineup of concerts to fulfill the wildest of fantasies and take the audience to unimaginable places through the magic of great orchestra music and amazing guest artists. With concert themes ranging from the unusual to the most classical, there are styles for all tastes to enjoy.

“Our schedule this season is a true masterpiece,” said SOST Music Director Chelsea Tipton II. “Just as there are many movements to a symphony and each movement by itself only tells part of the story, but put together they create a masterpiece. We are excited to present a full range of concerts sure to appeal to a variety of musical tastes throughout the coming season.”

We dive deep into the wild and wondrous performances immediately with the season opening concert at 7:30 p.m.

on Saturday, Sept. 17.

“Cirque de la Symphonie” brings the magic of the well-known “Cirque” front and center to the Julie Rogers Theatre stage alongside your SOST orchestra for a thrilling evening.

This concert will be an exciting adaptation of artistic performances widely seen in theaters and arenas everywhere.

Artists include the most amazing veterans of exceptional cirque programs throughout the world — aerial flyers, acrobats, contortionists, dancers, jugglers, balancers, and strongmen.

Each artist’s performance is professionally choreographed to selections from great works such as Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake,” Bizet’s “Carmen Suite,” Brahms’ Symphony No. 3, Dvorak’s “Carnival Overture” and more.

These classical masterpieces all transform into a new dimension as the aerialists fly overhead and acrobatic feats are performed.

Sponsored by Goodyear Beaumont Chemical; guest artist sponsored by the Symphony League of Beaumont.

For the first of two incredible pops concerts this season, we present a spectacular evening of Broadway hits at 7:30 p.m.

on Saturday, Oct. 8 with “Oh What a Night!” Your SOST will be joined by the multi-talented tenor Connor Bogart O’Brien to perform America’s most beloved musicals.

You’ll be snapping along with the “Jersey Boys” in your head to “Oh What a Night” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” and then drift through the great music that made “Frozen,” “West Side Story,” “Les Misérables,” and “Phantom of the Opera” such great memories.

“Oh What a Night” brings Broadway’s best right here to Beaumont! Sponsored by Mason Construction; guest artist sponsored by Sandra Clark.

We venture over to Shangri La Gardens in Orange again for a very special fall concert at 5:00 p.m.

on Sunday, Oct. 16.“Symphony at Shangri La” is a festive evening of seasonal nature and magnificent music where guests can stroll through Shangri La Gardens at the peak of the Scarecrow Festival arriving at the Great Lawn in time to indulge in the orchestra’s outdoor performance of popular music including selections from “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Oklahoma” and “The Wizard of Oz,” plus classics such as “Moon River” and other favorites.

“Symphony at Shangri La” is held in addition to the SOST season subscription schedule and in partnership with the Lutcher Theater and Shangri La.

*This concert is not part of the season subscription package.

Tickets are $15 each for general admission, and guests must bring their own lawn chair/blanket.

Sponsored by INVISTA, the Edaren Foundation, Natalie and S. L. Greenberg, Granger Chevrolet, First Financial Trust and Asset Management, Freys Landscape, SpawGlass and Honeywell Corporation; with additional support from Kroger.

At 7:30 p.m.

on Saturday, Nov. 19, our fantastic season continues with some wonderful triumphs of the greatest composers of all time in “Triumphant Tchaikovsky.” Beethoven’s “Egmont Overture,” Bizet’s Symphony in C and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto make for an international program of time-honored classics.

SOST Concertmaster Matthew Detrick performs one of the greatest violin concertos of all time, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto.

It is considered one of the most technically difficult works for the violin.

Detrick is no stranger to a challenge, having begun playing the violin at the ripe age of three and turning it into an active performing and teaching career.

Sponsored by Entergy Texas & CHRISTUS- St.Elizabeth Hospital; guest artist sponsored by Beaumont Music Commission.

On Sunday, Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. the SOST comes “Home for the Holidays” to get the community in the holiday spirit with family and friends. This fifth annual holiday concert will be a joyful celebration featuring popular seasonal songs performed in grand style by the orchestra and our community partners. This performance is a family-friendly and heartwarming way to capture the essence of the season featuring familiar holiday tunes and even a sing-along. *This concert is not part of the season subscription package. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for seniors and students. Sponsored by Southeast Texas Medical Associates.

In our second pops concert of the season, American country music artist and Vidor native Tracy Byrd, along with his band, will be joining the SOST on stage for “Best of Byrd” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18. This is an innovative and exciting endeavor for all involved as it is the first appearance for Byrd and his band with a symphony orchestra and a new musical journey for the SOST. As always, Byrd is sure to have you dancing in the aisles and then warming your hearts with that marvelous voice that made him a legend. Sponsored by Capital One Bank; guest artist sponsored by Kinsel Ford.

Our traditional choral concert is always a grand event, and this year at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 11, the SOST Chorus and guest conductor Dr. James Han will not disappoint. This captivating evening includes Johann Strauss’s classic waltz “On the Beautiful Blue Danube,” Johannes Brahms’ “Variations on a theme by Haydn, op. 56a” and Robert Schumann’s Requiem, opus 148. You don’t want to miss this fantastic performance featuring so many voices and instruments working together in glorious harmony! Sponsored by Rosine McFaddin Wilson; guest artist sponsored by Baptist Hospitals.

For the finale concert to this unbelievable season, we present an extraordinary evening of great artistry filled with imagination and fulfilling dreams you haven’t even envisioned.

“Symphonie Fantastique” at 7:30 p.m.

on Saturday, April 1, presents the wit, charm, romance, rhythmic verve, and masterly orchestration that combine in what many consider to be one of Rachmaninoff’s greatest compositions – his “Paganini Variations.” The orchestra performs this masterwork with the amazing Christopher O’Reilly as our piano soloist.

The second half of the concert features the magnificent journey through the orchestral masterpiece, “Symphonie Fantastique” by Hector Berlioz. Co-sponsored by Regina Rogers and the Symphony League of Beaumont.

With more concerts than ever this season, the SOST brings the magic of music to Southeast Texas like it never has before.

Maestro Tipton will also host a pre-concert talk at 6:30 p.m. before each of the Classics Series concerts (on Nov. 19, March 11 and April 1) featuring special guests.

All performances are held at the Julie Rogers Theatre, 765 Pearl St. in downtown Beaumont, with the exception of “Symphony at Shangri La.”

Season tickets are available with prices ranging from $111 to $193. Single ticket prices range from $26 to $46; senior, student and group discounts are available. To purchase tickets or get more information, go to www.sost.org or contact the Symphony office at(409) 892-2257.

The Symphony of Southeast Texas continues its mission of presenting educational, entertaining, and culturally enriching programs of the highest artistic quality and, as always, promises to be “Good to the last note!”