Fort Myers Community Concert Association Still on for 2021 Despite Postponement
Barber of Seville.
The New York Philharmonic String Quartet.
The Fort Myers Community Concert Association has announced its revised concert series for 2021 that includes five performances by world-class musicians playing classical to contemporary music in the organization’s 72nd annual concert series.
Originally slated to kick off in January, the series now begins Feb. 16, 2021. The original lineup included the Russian State Symphony and the National Dance Company of Siberia. Both groups canceled their tours.
Originally slated to kick off in January, the series now begins Feb. 16, 2021. The original lineup included the Russian State Symphony and the National Dance Company of Siberia. Both groups canceled their tours.
“We are happy to offer this outstanding roster of performances by musicians from throughout the United States, Canada, and beyond,” said Community Concert Association President Mary Lee Mann. “All COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed to keep everyone safe.”
Mann said temperatures of every patron will be taken before being admitted to the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall on the Florida SouthWestern State College campus in Fort Myers, where all of the concerts are scheduled. Masks will be required of all attendees and staff. Hand sanitizing stations also will be located throughout the hall.
“The well-being of our patrons is a prime consideration,” Mann said. “We will continue to monitor the local COVID-19 positivity rates, and If our 2021 series should have to be canceled, all subscribers would receive a complete refund, or if they choose, a credit toward our next season.”
“The well-being of our patrons is a prime consideration,” Mann said. “We will continue to monitor the local COVID-19 positivity rates, and If our 2021 series should have to be canceled, all subscribers would receive a complete refund, or if they choose, a credit toward our next season.”
Concerto Soloists Internationale – A Celebration of Song.
Season tickets for all five performances are now on sale by contacting Mann at 239-693-4849 or emailing her at [email protected]. All five concerts are included in one ticket price, which ranges from $165 for prime orchestra and mezzanine seats to $155 for other orchestra and mezzanine seats, $85 for lower balcony seating, and $65 for upper balcony.
For membership forms, visit fortmyerscommunityconcerts.org. Tickets to individual concerts will be sold by the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall box office beginning Jan. 15.
The five performances all begin at 7:30 p.m.:
- A Celebration of Song – Classics to Broadway – Feb. 16. This elegant concert program features international soloists performing popular selections from classical to Broadway with full orchestra and a live on-stage master of ceremonies.
- Barber of Seville Opera – Feb. 24. Bribery, deception, and disguise are the keys to this two-act comedic masterpiece by Rossini. Figaro, the Barber of Seville needs all of his wiles to help the Count and ensure true love wins the day.
- Pianist Jeremy Denk – March 3. Denk is one of America’s foremost pianists. Winner of a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship and the Avery Fisher Prize, Denk recently was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He returns frequently to Carnegie Hall and has appeared with the Chicago Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, and the Cleveland Orchestra.
- The New York Philharmonic String Quartet and Drew Petersen, Piano – March 11. The New York Philharmonic String Quartet consists of four Principal musicians from the New York Philharmonic, who formed in 2017 during the Philharmonic’s 175th anniversary season. Critically-acclaimed pianist Drew Petersen joins the string quartet for this performance.
- Violinist Blake Pouliot with Hsin-I Huang, Piano – March 23. At only age 25, Violinist Blake Poulot has been praised by the Toronto Star as “one of those special talents that comes along once in a lifetime.” This evening’s program will include Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 3 in E-flat major and Prokofiev’s Violin Sonata No. 1 in F minor.
The Fort Myers Community Concert Association is an all-volunteer not-for-profit organization founded by the legendary Barbara B. Mann in 1949 to bring world-class entertainment to Southwest Florida at affordable prices. The association consists of more than 1,700 members, underwriters, and sponsors. Performers brought to Fort Myers in the past by the association include The Israel Ballet, Violinist Itzhak Perlman, The Boston Brass, Minnesota Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Vienna Boys Choir, Pianist Andre Watts, Violinist Joshua Bell with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and many others.
Information and photos provided by the Fort Myers Community Concert Association
