Posted July 17, 2023
We asked DPAA staff and artists, “What performances are you most excited for in the 2023-2024 Season?” We hope you enjoy their answers and will check out their recommendations for yourself!
Pictures at an Exhibition
“I am most looking forward to the Star Wars: A New Hope concert, as I am a huge Star Wars fan. I am also looking forward to the Pictures at an Exhibition concert because the DPO will be performing one of my top 5 orchestral pieces, which is ‘Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini’ by Rachmaninoff.”
– Melissa McCoy, Engagement Programs Manager
“Pictures at an Exhibition. It’s the first work of classical music I was ever exposed to, in the fourth grade, when our teacher showed us Bernstein’s Young People’s Concert that featured it. It remains my favorite piece of classical music.”
– Patrick Nugent, President & CEO
Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
“Sweeney Todd. This was the first professional opera production I worked on, and I’ve been looking forward to returning to it ever since that experience.”
– Milena Treer, Director of Production
“I’m most excited to see the Opera’s production of Sweeney Todd. I love campy horror, and Sweeney Todd is going to be funny, filthy, and fabulous. Plus, the Victoria Theatre is the place to be during the Halloween season.”
– Olivia Budde, Marketing Coordinator
Brahms: A German Requiem
“Singing the Brahms’ Requiem in the Spring.”
– Linda Keith, Dayton Philharmonic Chorus
“Brahms Requiem! It’s such an amazing piece of music!”
– Sean Vore, Utility Horn, Dayton Philharmonic
Dracula: Bloodlines
“I’m very much looking forward to the return of Dracula: Bloodlines. It is one of my favorite ballets from my tenure at Dayton Ballet, and I’m looking forward to it being back on the Victoria Theatre’s stage.”
– Isaac Jones, Dancer, Dayton Ballet
Swan Lake
“I have never seen it live and look forward to being caught up in the struggle of innocence vs. deception that will be enhanced by the Philharmonic’s performance of Tchaikovsky’s score”
– Jackie Griffin, Learning Programs Manager
“This season I am most excited for Swan Lake. This ballet is always an exciting one to put on, as it is loved by so many for the music and overall size of the production. A true classic!”
– Harrison Broadbent, Dancer, Dayton Ballet
Steve Hackman’s Tchaikovsky X. Drake
“My child is a hip-hop dancer that also studies classical music, so how can we not be excited to see a performance that combines 2 genres that we already love?”
– Jackie Griffin, Learning Programs Manager
And some of us can’t choose just one . . .
“As a trumpeter, I am naturally excited to perform Pictures and The Planets, but I am also excited to play Tosca, as Puccini is one of my favorites!”
– Eric Knorr, Trumpet, Dayton Philharmonic
“I can’t choose! I love everything about the opera season and think there is something special about each production: Orlofsky’s party is going to be sparking and fun, just like champagne, Sweeney Todd is a masterpiece…long one of favorites it is storytelling through music at its best. Tosca is operatic perfection, gorgeous, thrilling music, a love story and a thriller…love, lust, murder, revenge PLUS the gorgeous sets and costumes that will take your breath away. Presenting Will Liverman in concert has been a goal since I became Artistic Director. One of the most compelling performers I’ve ever seen, I am thrilled to introduce him to Dayton audiences.”
– Kathleen Clawson, Artistic Director, Dayton Opera