Virginia Symphony 2013-14

Midori, the esteemed Japanese-American violinist, will join the Virginia Symphony and its music director, JoAnn Falletta, in the opening concerts of the of the 2013-14 season of Hampton Roads-based orchestra.

The coming season also will feature guest appearances by Thomas Wilkins, the onetime Richmond Symphony associate conductor, now music director of the Omaha Symphony, and guest performances by violinist Michael Ludwig, the piano duo of Christina and Michelle Naughton and pianist Martina Filjak.

Wilkins will conduct a ninth classical concert, featuring Brendon Eliot, the young violinist from Newport News, in the Violin Concerto of the Hampton Roads-based composer Adolphus Hailstork.

Falletta will conduct five of the eight classical subscription concerts scheduled next season.

Classical and pops mainstage concerts will be staged at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk, the Sandler Arts Center in Virginia Beach and the Ferguson Arts Center at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, with one pops date at Norfolk’s Harrison Opera House.

For information on subscription ticket packages, call the Virginia Symphony box office at (757) 892-6366 or visit www.virginiasymphony.org

Mainstage concert dates, artists and repertory for the 2013-14 Virginia Symphony season:

* Sept. 20 (Newport News), 21 (Norfolk), 22 (Virginia Beach) – JoAnn Falletta conducting. Kabalevsky: “Colas Breugnon” Overture; Prokofiev: “Romeo and Juliet” ballet suite; Brahms: Violin Concerto (Midori, violin).

* Oct. 17 (Newport News), 19 (Harrison Opera House, Norfolk) – Brent Havens conducting. “I Will Always Love You: a Tribute to Whitney Houston.”

* Oct. 26 (Norfolk), 27 (Virginia Beach) – Maximiano Valdés conducting. Verdi: work TBA; Rossini: Stabat Mater (Virginia Symphony Chorus).

* Nov. 15 (Newport News), 16 (Norfolk), 23 (Virginia Beach) – Benjamin Rous conducting. Stravinsky: “Apollon musagète;” Bach: Concerto in A major, BWV 1055, for oboe d’amore and orchestra (Sherie Aguirre, oboe d’amore); Beethoven: Symphony No. 5.

* Dec. 14 (Norfolk), 15 (Virginia Beach) – Robert Shoup conducting. Holiday Pops program (Virginia Symphony Chorus).

* Dec. 20 (Newport News), 21 (Norfolk) – JoAnn Falletta conducting. Handel: “Messiah” (soloists TBA, Virginia Symphony Chorus).

* Jan. 24 (Newport News), 25 (Norfolk), 26 (Virginia Beach) – Jo Ann Falletta conducting. Saint-Saëns: “Carnival of the Animals;” Poulenc: Concerto for two pianos (Christina & Michelle Naughton, pianos); Debussy: “La Mer;” Ravel: “Bolero.”

* Feb. 6 (Newport News), 8 (Norfolk) – Benjamin Rous conducting. “Classical Mystery Tour: a Tribute to The Beatles.”

* Feb. 21 (Newport News), 22 (Norfolk), 23 (Virginia Beach) – JoAnn Falletta conducting. Barber: “Medea’s Meditation and Dance of Vengeance;” Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 (Martina Filjak, piano); Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances.

* March 8 (Norfolk) – Benjamin Rous conducting. “VSO Pops Salutes Broadway.”

* March 14 (Newport News), 15 (Norfolk) – Thomas Wilkins conducting. Bernstein-Harmon: “Candide” Suite; Roberto Sierra: Concerto for saxophones (James Carter, saxophone); William Grant Still: Symphony No. 1 (“Afro-American”); Copland: “Billy the Kid” Suite.

* April 4 (Newport News), 5 (Norfolk), 6 (Virginia Beach) – JoAnn Falletta conducting. Webern: “Im Sommerwind;” Sibelius: Violin Concerto (Michael Ludwig, violin); Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 (Pathétique”).

* April 11 (Newport News), 12 (Norfolk) – Benjamin Rous conducting. “Pixar in Concert.”

* April 27 (Newport News) – Thomas Wilkins conducting. Adolphus Hailstork: Violin Concerto (Brendon Eliot, violin); other works TBA.