Indianapolis Symphony's upcoming season: Star Wars, Beatles and masterworks

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's new season will start off with a famous Hoosier's homecoming and continue with a slate of stars who will make music composed across hundreds of years.

Indiana violin icon Joshua Bell will perform at the Opening Night Gala on Sept. 23 under the baton of John Nelson, who was the ISO's music director from 1976 to 1987.

Starting in September, big-name concerts will include live performances of the scores to Disney movies, fusions of classical and 21st-century popular music, contemporary pieces like Wynton Marsalis' Tuba Concerto that spotlight symphony musicians and, of course, masterworks like Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.

Plenty of guest artists are on the way, too. Singer Heather Headley, pianist Michelle Cann, and singer-songwriter Tony DeSare and recent Yuletide host Frankie Moreno will perform with the symphony.

Here are the classical, pops and film highlights of the 2023-24 season as well as when tickets are available. Find the full lineup at indianapolissymphony.org.

Classical masterpieces

• Saint-Saéns' Violin Concerto No. 3, with concertmaster Kevin Lin, and Smetana's "The Moldau" (Oct. 6-7)

• Hailstork's "JFK: The Last Speech," with Janice Chandler-Eteme, and Zwilich’s "American Concerto," with principal trumpet Conrad Jones (Oct. 27-28)

• Nadia Boulanger's Fantaisie variée for Piano and Orchestra, with pianist Alexandra Dariescu (Nov. 2-4)

• Saint-Georges' "Aria" and Concerto in A Major, Op. 5, No. 2, with New York Philharmonic principal clarinetist Anthony McGill and soprano Sonya Headlam (Jan. 19-20, 2024)

• Brahms' Symphony No. 3 (Feb. 8-10, 2024)

• Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms (Feb. 23-24, 2024)

• Wynton Marsalis' Tuba Concerto, with principal tuba Anthony Kniffen (March 7-9, 2024)

• Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, with pianist Michelle Cann (April 4-6, 2024)

• Sibelius' Symphony No. 2 (May 30-June 1, 2024)

• Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 and Gershwin's Concerto in F for Piano and Orchestra, with pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet (June 21-22, 2024)

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Popular works

Uncharted Series

Droves of audience members have flocked to Hilbert Circle Theatre for previous years' series thanks to Steve Hackman's inventive fusions of classical masterworks with the music from the best artists of today.

• "Kendrick Lamar x Stravinsky" (Nov. 8)

• "And I Love Her: The Music of the Beatles" (April 17, 2024)

• "From Beethoven to Beyonce" (June 5, 2024)

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Film Series

Audiences can watch the movie with a live soundtrack performed by the symphony.

• Disney in Concert: The Sound of Magic. Journey through 100 years of Disney music, animation and memories. (Oct. 21-22)

• "Toy Story" in Concert (Jan. 6-7, 2024)

• "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (April 19-20, 2024)

Pops

Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly will lead the symphony for several concerts, including:

• Cirque: World of Dance, with Troupe Vertigo (Oct. 13-14)

• Revolution: The Music of the Beatles — A Symphonic Experience, with the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir (Feb. 2-3, 2024)

• "South Pacific" Live in Concert, with the Indianapolis Men's Chorus and soloists to be announced (May 10-11, 2024)

• Ultimate John Williams (June 7-8, 2024)

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More star guests

Star soloists and ensembles performing with the symphony will include:

• Broadway's Heather Headley with hits from her career, including selections from "Aida" and "The Lion King" (Sept. 15-16)

• Trio Time for Three on "Contact," written for them by Kevin Puts (Sept. 28-30)

• Singer and actress Liz Callaway, performing the best from her stage and screen career (Nov. 10-11)

• American Idol finalist Cody Fry will bring his musical fusions and orchestrations (Jan. 12-13, 2024)

• Singers and pianists Frankie Moreno and Tony DeSare with hits from the Great American Songbook, rock, jazz and more (March 15-16, 2024)

• Two winners of Circle City-based competitions — violinist Augustin Hadelich (gold medalist of the 2006 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis) and pianist Kenneth Broberg (winner of the 2021 American Pianists Awards) — will perform from Feb. 8-10, 2024, and from May 30-June 1, 2024, respectively.

Yuletide 2023

The Indianapolis tradition will return from Dec. 1-23 with the tap-dancing Santas and sparkles for which it's known. More details, including ticket sales and who will host, will be forthcoming.

How to buy tickets

Subscriptions are currently on sale. The deadline for subscription renewal is March 20. Buy or renew subscriptions at indianapolissymphony.org, by calling 317-639-4300, by mail or at the Hilbert Circle Theatre Box Office, 45 Monument Circle.

Single tickets will go on sale to the public July 17.

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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 schedule: Highlights of the 2023-24 season