New Indianapolis Symphony season includes 'Elf,' Queen-Gershwin fusion and masterworks
With the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's 2024-25 season will come the artistic vision of new music director Jun M?rkl and a bevy of big classical, Broadway and pops masterpieces.
Starting in September, the ensemble will perform three popular movie scores, concerti and several takes on rhapsodies — including Gershwin's famous one and a fusion of of his work with Queen. Next year will bring several traditional heavy-hitters, including two of Beethoven's later symphonies and Mahler's Symphony No. 4.
M?rkl, who will officially begin his five-year contract Sept. 1, has conducted the orchestra as a guest since 2000 and been its artistic advisor since 2021. The season will nod to another conductor with big Indianapolis ties as well — former Music Director Mario Venzago, who will return for the Sept. 28 opening night gala.
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As in years past, the symphony will bring in several guest conductors, and it has programmed works by underrepresented composers. Elena Firsova, Gabriela Lena Frank and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor are among those who are part of the "Unheard Voices" initiative.
Here are the classical, pops and film highlights of the 2024-25 season as well as ticket information. Find the full lineup at indianapolissymphony.org.
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's 2024-25 season
Classical masterpieces
Rachmaninoff’s "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini," with Venzago and pianist Conrad Tao. (Sept. 28)
Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, with violinist Geneva Lewis and conductor Gemma New, as well as Elgar’s "Enigma Variations" (Oct. 18-19)
Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 (Jan. 16-18, 2025)
Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra (Jan. 24-25, 2025)
Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 (May 1-3, 2025)
Berlioz' "Symphonie Fantastique" (June 13-14, 2025)
Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, in the season finale (June 20–21, 2025)
Popular works
Film Series
Audiences can watch the movie while the symphony performs the soundtrack live.
"Elf" in Concert (Nov. 16-17)
"Lion King" in Concert (Feb. 22-23, 2025)
"Back to the Future in Concert": Includes about 20 minutes of music that composer Alan Silvestri added to the score for such concerts. (April 12-13, 2025)
Pops
Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly will lead the symphony for concerts that include:
Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," with pianist Stewart Goodyear. Broadway vocalist Allison Blackwell also will perform (Oct. 11-12)
30th Anniversary Tour of Pink Martini with China Forbes in a mix of jazz, pop from the 1940s and 50s and more (March 14-15, 2025)
Uncharted Series
Steve Hackman returns with his popular works that fuse the best artists of today with masterworks from yesteryear.
"Bohemian Rhapsody in Blue" (Sept. 18)
"Bartók x Bj?rk" (Feb. 19, 2025)
"Tchaikovsky x Drake" (April 9, 2025)
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More star guests
Broadway leading lady Ashley Brown (Sept. 20-21)
Pianist George Li on Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto (Oct. 25-26)
Actor and Broadway star Norm Lewis (Jan. 10-12, 2025)
Singer Capathia Jenkins will perform "She’s Got Soul" (Feb. 7-8, 2025)
Pianist Joyce Yang on Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 (Feb. 28-Mar. 1, 2025)
Time For Three, formerly artists-in-residence for the symphony, return to perform works that mix classical, Americana, and singer-songwriter styles (May 9-10, 2025)
Yuletide Celebration 2024
The symphony's beloved signature holiday concerts will return Dec. 6-23. The host will be announced at a future date.
How to buy tickets to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
Subscriptions are currently on sale, and the deadline to renew them is March 18. Do so at indianapolissymphony.org, by calling 317-639-4300, by mail or at the Hilbert Circle Theatre Box Office, 45 Monument Circle.
Single tickets go on sale to the public July 22.
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Contact IndyStar reporter Domenica Bongiovanni at 317-444-7339 or [email protected]. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter: @domenicareports.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra 2024-25 season: Gershwin, Queen, more
