With an abundance of caution for the health and safety of musicians, staff and audience the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra has re-thought their programming for the rest of the 2020-2021 season. The new lineup will feature hybrid in-person and livestreamed concerts along with open-air, family-friendly performances.
To better provide for social distancing, concerts will be performed with no intermission with high-quality programs in a shorter format. Patrons will have the option to enjoy concerts in-person or from home, thanks to the ASO’s new equipment to enhance audio and video quality.
Interim artistic director Geoffrey Robson has also created a fall schedule full of free-to-the-public programs featuring ASO musicians. The schedule is a mix of virtual-only and live and virtual performances in various venues around Little Rock. These free offerings include mini live concerts, virtual happy hours paired with short performances, behind-the-scenes looks into rehearsal sessions and education programs, the continuation of the Bedtime with Bach series and pre-recorded lecture/recitals featuring symphony players and local music experts.
Masterworks and Pops Live! Series dates originally scheduled for September, October and November will be rescheduled to the spring, and the River Rhapsodies Chamber Music Series will be moved from the Clinton Presidential Center to the Robinson Center this fall.
Here’s a look at the updated 2020-2021 calendar:
Stella Boyle Smith Masterworks Series:
Masterworks #1 – Jan. 16-17, 2021
Matthew Kraemer, guest conductor
Tessa Lark, violin
Masterworks #2 – Jan. 30-31, 2021
Roderick Cox, guest conductor
Masterworks #3 – Feb. 20-21, 2021
Geoffrey Robson, Interim Artistic Director
Gil Shaham, violin
Masterworks #4 – March 20-21, 2021
Akiko Fujimoto, guest conductor
Martina Filjak, piano
Masterworks #5 – April 10-11, 2021
Stephen Mulligan, guest conductor
Gabriel Martins, cello
Masterworks #6 – May 1-2, 2021
Andrew Crust, guest conductor
Shannon Lee, violin
Acxiom Pops Live! Series:
- Kris Allen Holiday Spectacular – Dec. 18, 19 & 20, 2020
- Fascinating Gershwin – Feb. 6-7, 2021
- TBA – March 13-14, 2021
- Cirque de la Symphonie – May 8-9, 2021
River Rhapsodies Chamber Music Series:
- River Rhapsodies #1 – Sept. 22, 2020
- River Rhapsodies #2 – Oct. 27, 2020
- River Rhapsodies #3 – Nov. 10, 2020
- River Rhapsodies #4 – Feb. 23, 2021
- River Rhapsodies #5 – April 13, 2021
- River Rhapsodies #6 – May 11, 2021
For more info or to purchase tickets, head to the ASO website.