American Classical Orchestra Founder and Artistic Director Thomas Crawford leads the opening concert of the Orchestra’s 39th season at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall on Thursday, November 16. The first of four 2023-24 orchestral performances, the concert offers such epic masterpieces as Mozart’s “Paris” and Beethoven’s “Pastoral” symphonies, along with Beethoven’s Romance in G Major for Violin and Orchestra. The Romance features award-winning, historically informed violinist and concertmaster Augusta McKay Lodge. The title of the program, premier coup d'archet (first stroke of the bow), refers to a device whereby all string instruments play together at the start of a symphony—a practice popular at the time.   The American Classical Orchestra’s next performance, Gesù Nato, will be a special holiday program of rarely heard Baroque works by Bencini and Gianettini at Corpus Christi Church, W. 121 St. between Broadway & Amsterdam on December 14.   Season Opening: Premier coup d'archet Thursday, November 16, 2023, 7:30 pm at Alice Tully Hall American Classical Orchestra Thomas Crawford, conductor Augusta McKay Lodge, violin                                                   Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphony No. 31 in D Major, K. 297/300a “Paris” Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 “Pastoral” Ludwig van Beethoven:  Romance for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in G Major, Op. 40   The evening opens with Mozart’s Symphony No. 31, which makes ample use of the premier coup d’archet method.  It was written while the 22-year-old composer was looking for work in Paris and received hearty applause at its 1778 premiere. Beethoven’s Romance in G Major for Violin and Orchestra spotlights Augusta McKay Lodge, a founding member of ensembles Voyage Sonique (New York) and Spielerei Piano Trio (Amsterdam), and a frequent concertmaster with Les Arts Florissants. Augusta will also perform with Les Arts Florissants at Alice Tully Hall as violin soloist for Purcell’s The Fairy Queen on November 2. The program concludes with Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, beloved for its portrayals of sounds of nature, including birds, a brook, and a thunderstorm. The ACO presents an authentic look at Beethoven’s vision by using natural hunting horns, leather timpani, and 18th century Austrian woodwind instruments.   Tickets, priced at $75, $55, and $35, are available at www.aconyc.org, by calling at ACO at (212) 362-2727, ext.4, or by visiting lincolncenter.org or calling CenterCharge at 212.721.6500. Subscriptions, priced at $255, $187, and $119, offer a 15% discount over individual ticket prices.   For details of American Classical Orchestra’s 2023-24 season, click here.

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