SAVANNAH PHILHARMONIC'S new Music and Artistic Director, Maestro Keitaro Harada, is off to an imaginative start in his first full season with the orchestra. The veteran conductor and virtuosic musician is staging a benefit at Victory North on Fri., Jan. 31, featuring members of the Philharmonic and guests performing Tango music. It’s all in an effort to benefit the Philharmonic and the continuation of the impactful, crucial work they do for the local music community and Savannah at large.
“It’s a sit-down dinner party at Victory North, and I’m super excited to take this into that venue,” Harada tells Connect. “What we’re doing with this event is celebrating the story of Tango through music and dance.”
The show will feature dancers from Savannah Ballroom Dancing, Alonzo and JaeLynn Boshulte.
“They’re coming to show off their Tango skills, and explain what the dance of Tango is,” Harada says. “We also have a New York-based Argentinian tenor, Gustavo Freulien, who’ll be performing Tango songs from Argentina. We have three really high-profile guests.”
The program itself will be led by Concertmaster Dr. Sinisa Ciric, and the night will include tapas, cocktails, and the opportunity for attendees to do some dancing, of course. Those in attendance will also have the opportunity to bid on an incredibly special opportunity—the chance to learn conducting from Harada himself and appear at the Philharmonic’s biggest event, Picnic In the Park.
“Picnic In the Park attracts thousands of people, and that person will have the chance to conduct the orchestra at that event. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Harada says. “I’ll give them [the tools] they’ll need in order to express their musical feelings through gestures.”
Tango music, Harada says, is rarely performed in an orchestral setting. The opportunity to bring it to this format was something he said he was eager to pursue.
“There’s a composer named Astor Piazzolla, who’s the master of Tango music, and I’d love to bring his music to our season in coming years,” he says. “I perform a lot of Tango music personally, so I want to make sure that repertoire comes in.”
If, for some reason, the music isn’t enough to entice you, it should be worth noting that the entire bar is complimentary with the purchase of a ticket.
“Come and heat up your January as we celebrate a new decade, a new Maestro, a newly energized Philharmonic and reinvigorated support for our region’s premier orchestra,” Savannah Philharmonic Board Chair Rhegan White-Clemm said in a press release.
“You don’t want to miss this,” event Chair Kelley Parker added. “Victory North is such a fabulous new venue for our city and the perfect setting for our Milonga Tango.”
For information about corporate and patron sponsorship packages, which include reserved seating and valet parking, contact Katherine Poss at [email protected] or call the Savannah Philharmonic office at 912-232-6002.
