Philharmonic celebrates 25 years of bringing brilliance to Naples

"Forewarned is forearmed" will be a good thing to remember if you missed any of the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra's performances during the 2005-06 season because they were sold out.

The orchestra will be celebrating 25 years of music for its upcoming 2006-07 Silver Anniversary Season with a dazzling calendar filled with classical and pops performances. The Naples Philharmonic Orchestra season-subscription brochure is filled with more goodies than the Neiman Marcus Holiday Gift Catalog and forewarned fans can pick up a copy at the Philharmonic's customer service center. The center is located at 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples. Their office is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can call the center at 597-1900 or visit www.thephil.org.

"This is a very special season – a time for reflecting on the past and protecting the future," said Myra Janco Daniels, chairman and CEO of the Philharmonic Center for the Arts, when she recently announced the season and voiced thanks for 25 years of community support.

The Opening Night Gala – A Russian and American Celebration on Saturday, Nov. 4, will feature an out-of-this-world evening of glorious Russian and American music that makes my Slavic psyche sing!

Internationally acclaimed virtuoso violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg will perform Pytor Ilych Tchaikovsky's exquisite Violin Concerto in D Major. The orchestra, under the baton of Jorge Mester, will also perform other classic Russian orchestral selections. The American sector will be represented with equally emotive favorites, such as Ferde Grofe's amusing On the Trail and Lenny's lighthearted Fancy Free.

October opens with Family Fare No. 1, offering aptly titled The Thrill of the Orchestra, Russell Peck's entertaining introduction to all the instruments of the orchestra that concludes with Tchaikovsky's great Fourth Symphony.

Then, the Fall Music Fest will tickle Mozart fans' fancies Saturday, Oct. 21, with a superb Salute to Mozart — notably Piano Concerto No. 23, K. 488; Piano Concerto No. 20, K. 466; and Piano Concerto No. 21, K. 467 — all passionately performed by British virtuoso Howard Shelley. Attentive listeners will recognize stylish strains featured in the film Elvira Madigan.

There's more to adore of Howard Shelly on the following Saturday, Oct. 28, when he performs Felix Mendelssohn's brilliant Piano Concerto No. 1, following intermission after Jorge Mester and the orchestra open the Salute to Brahms program with the composer's splendid Symphony No. 1.

How's that for anniversary season openers?

In the spring Russian prodigy cellist Alexandre Bouslov will perform Anton Dvorak's masterful Cello Concerto. It's sure to be a sellout as will another favorite of mine – a Pops Special titled Gershwin, Ellington, Vienna and More, starring conductor and trumpet genius Doc Severinsen.

Other star-studded favorites include Holiday and Patriotic Pops Traditions, as well as Happy Holidays with perennial classic George Balanchine's The Nutcracker in November followed by Seasonal Treasures.

Last, but not least, in the Phil's glorious gala to celebrate, celebrate and celebrate some more, stellar superstars Kathleen Battle and Samuel Raney, along with Bernadette Peters and Joel Grey, will be backed by the one-and-only Naples Philharmonic Orchestra. The historic performance will not only celebrate the orchestra's 25th anniversary and honor Philharmonic Center founder and CEO Myra Janco Daniels but proceeds will benefit the Orchestra Endowment Fund. (Single tickets cost $1,000.) The limited seating event will feature a gourmet buffet created by Sara Moulton, executive chef of Gourmet magazine.