By Kelly Smith
Singing straight from the heart of the Great American Songbook, five-time Grammy nominee Michael Feinstein joins new Music Director Michael Francis for the must-see show of the season, The Florida Orchestra’s Second Annual Fundraising Gala concert on Saturday, January 30, at the Mahaffey Theater.
Think Manhattan-style glitz and glamor as Feinstein takes the stage with the orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Francis, who is celebrating his inaugural season. The program includes music from Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Frank Sinatra, Richard Rodgers and more.
It is one grand night of glamor to support the Florida Orchestra, not only in the concert hall, but for all it does in the Tampa Bay community, including free hospital, veteran and parks concerts. Concert tickets start at $50 and are available at floridaorchestra.org.
Other Florida Orchestra concerts in January:
The Fabulous Forties (Friday to Sunday, January 15-17): Swing dancers join this Raymond James Pops salute to the 1940s, including Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, Too Darn Hot and At Last. Jeff Tyzik conducts, with vocalist Helen Welch.
Mozart & More! (Friday to Sunday, January 22-24): Michael Francis takes you into the mind and music of Mozart with his Symphony No. 39 and Piano Concerto No. 23, featuring Gilles Vonsattel. Also John Cage’s Third Construction, using instruments such as tin cans and a cow bell. Free Classical Kids tickets are available.
The Music of U2 (Friday, Januaryy 29): A rock band joins the orchestra for one night only for With or Without You, Pride (In the Name of Love) and much more. Tickets start at $35.
Masterworks and Pops tickets are $15, $30 and $45 at floridaorchestra.org or by calling 727-892-3337 and 800-662-7286. The orchestra regularly performs at the Straz Center in Tampa, Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg, and Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater.
