NEWS
Brett Mitchell to Debut with Virginia Symphony Orchestra in October 2026
In unveiling their 2026-27 season, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra has announced that Brett Mitchell will make his debut in October 2026, leading the orchestra and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra Chorus in the music of Mozart to accompany a screening of the eight-time Oscar-winning classic Amadeus.
This performance will be presented on Saturday, October 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk, VA.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please click here.
Brett Mitchell to Debut with Lyric Opera of Chicago in January 2027
CHICAGO — In unveiling their 2026-27 season, Lyric Opera of Chicago has announced that Brett Mitchell will make his debut with the company in January 2027, leading the Lyric Opera Orchestra and Chorus in the music of Mozart to accompany two screenings of the eight-time Oscar-winning classic Amadeus.
Mr. Mitchell and the musicians will present two performances of the project, both at the Lyric Opera House in downtown Chicago:
Friday, January 15 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, January 16 at 2 p.m.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please click here.
And click here to read a preview of the Lyric’s 2026-27 season from CBS Chicago.
Brett Mitchell Returns to the San Francisco Symphony in May 2027
SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Symphony has announced that their 2026-27 season will feature the return of guest conductor Brett Mitchell to the podium.
On Friday, May 21, 2027, Mitchell will lead the orchestra in a performance of Michael Giacchino’s Oscar-winning score for Disney and Pixar’s Up while the film is screened above the Davies Symphony Hall stage.
Mitchell first led the San Francisco Symphony in July 2019 in a program of Berlioz and Mendelssohn.
Brett Mitchell Returns to the 2026 Blossom Music Festival with The Cleveland Orchestra
Brett Mitchell will lead The Cleveland Orchestra at the 2026 Blossom Music Festival. (Photograph by Roger Mastroianni)
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Orchestra has announced that, for the third consecutive summer, Brett Mitchell will lead the orchestra in a weekend of performances at the 2026 Blossom Music Festival.
Mr. Mitchell and the orchestra will present John Williams’s Grammy-nominated score for the second film in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, while the original film plays live on the big screen twice at Blossom Music Center:
Saturday, July 11 at 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 12 at 7 p.m.
For tickets and more information, please click here. To read a preview of the entire 2026 Blossom Music Festival, please click here.
Mr. Mitchell has been leading The Cleveland Orchestra for a dozen years since joining the orchestra as Assistant Conductor in the 2013-14 season. Since then, he has led more than 150 performances with the ensemble, including John Williams’s Oscar-nominated score for the first film in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, at Blossom in July 2025.
Brett Mitchell Returns to the Houston Symphony in June 2026
Brett Mitchell will return to the Houston Symphony in June 2026. (Photograph by Roger Mastroianni)
HOUSTON — The Houston Symphony has announced that Brett Mitchell will return to lead the orchestra in Nicholas Hooper’s score for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth film in the Harry Potter franchise.
Mr. Mitchell and the orchestra will present the film with live orchestral accompaniment twice at Jones Hall:
Friday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 27 at 2 p.m.
For more information, please click here.
Mr. Mitchell has been leading the Houston Symphony for almost 20 years since joining the orchestra as Assistant Conductor in the 2007-08 season. Since then, he has led more than 150 performances with the ensemble, including John Williams’s Oscar-nominated score Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in July 2023 and Patrick Doyle’s score for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in June 2025.
Brett Mitchell Returns to The Cleveland Orchestra in February 2026
Brett Mitchell will lead two performances of Michael Giacchino’s Oscar-winning score for Up with The Cleveland Orchestra in February 2026.
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Orchestra has announced that Brett Mitchell will return to Severance Music Center in February 2026 to lead two performances of Michael Giacchino’s Oscar-winning score for Up.
Two performances will be presented:
Friday, February 13 at 7:30 PM
Sunday. February 15 at 3:00 PM
For tickets and more information, please click here.
Brett Mitchell Returns to the Houston Symphony in June 2025
HOUSTON — The Houston Symphony has announced that Brett Mitchell will return to lead the orchestra in Patrick Doyle’s score for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the fourth film in the Harry Potter franchise.
Mr. Mitchell and the orchestra will present the film with live orchestral accompaniment three times at Jones Hall:
Friday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 28 at 2 p.m.
Sunday, June 29 at 2 p.m.
For more information, please click here.
Mr. Mitchell has been leading the Houston Symphony for almost 20 years since joining the orchestra as Assistant Conductor in the 2007-08 season. Since then, he has led more than 150 performances with the ensemble, including John Williams’s Oscar-nominated score for the first film in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, in July 2023.
Feature: ‘Brett Mitchell Pays Tribute to Leonard Nimoy and Star Trek with Emotional Piano Performance’
‘Brett Mitchell Pays Tribute to Leonard Nimoy and Star Trek with Emotional Piano Performance’
Italian Star Trek news magazine ExtraTrek has published an extensive feature about Brett Mitchell’s film music covers on his YouTube channel. The following excerpts are translated from the original Italian:
* * * * *
BRETT MITCHELL PAYS TRIBUTE TO LEONARD NIMOY AND STAR TREK WITH EMOTIONAL PIANO PERFORMANCE
Brett Mitchell's YouTube channel features piano-based reinterpretations of famous film scores, celebrating iconic characters and creating an immersive musical experience
Brett Mitchell, a renowned conductor and pianist, has developed a special relationship with film and television music over the years, combining his interpretative sensitivity with his passion for soundtracks. On his YouTube channel, active since 2006, Mitchell offers original arrangements ranging from orchestral classics to the most iconic soundtracks in pop culture.
One of his most touching tributes is the video Horner: Spock (Brett Mitchell, piano), in which he performs on the piano an arrangement of James Horner ’s Spock theme, taken from the soundtrack of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. This song, full of emotion and depth, is a perfect tribute to the figure of Leonard Nimoy and his iconic character, remembered for his wisdom, his stoicism and his famous motto: Live long and prosper. A few days ago Mitchell offered this piece on the day in which the actor, interpreter of the most famous Vulcan of the franchise, would have turned 94.
A tribute full of meaning
Mitchell's performance is notable for the delicacy with which he manages to render the emotional nuances of Horner's piece. The arrangement, entirely for piano, captures the melancholy and grandeur of Spock, evoking the most touching scenes of the film. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is a fundamental chapter of the saga, made immortal by the dramatic scene of Spock 's death, accompanied by Horner's music.
This tribute goes beyond a simple musical performance: it is a gesture of love towards a character who has marked generations of fans and who continues to be one of the most beloved figures of the Star Trek franchise.
Music and Cinema: The Perfect Combination on Brett Mitchell's Channel
Mitchell's work doesn't stop with Spock . His channel is a veritable archive of great soundtracks reinterpreted with sensitivity and mastery. Staying on the subject of Star Trek, we can't help but mention another example of his talent: the piano arrangement of A Good Start, a piece composed by Jerry Goldsmith for Star Trek: The Motion Picture. This piece, which accompanies the iconic final sequence of the film, is a hymn to the wonder of space exploration and the sense of adventure that has always characterized the saga.
The artist doesn't just play music: in his videos he often synchronizes the music with the original scenes, offering an immersive experience that fuses the power of the soundtrack with the visual narrative.
In addition to the two videos mentioned, Mitchell's channel features other highly valuable performances, such as:
• Angelo Badalamenti: Twin Peaks Theme (Piano Cover) (Brett Mitchell, piano), a touching reinterpretation of the famous theme from the Twin Peaks series, characterized by dreamlike and melancholic atmospheres.
• John Williams: AI Artificial Intelligence (Brett Mitchell, piano), an intense and emotionally charged performance of Williams’s score for Steven Spielberg’s film, which perfectly captures the film’s sense of wonder and melancholy.
A journey through music and memory
Visit his YouTube channel and subscribe to not miss all his new reinterpretations and to enjoy many other songs already published. For those who love cinema, soundtracks and classical music, his YouTube channel is a must-see, where every note tells a timeless story.
Preview: Brett Mitchell leads The Cleveland Orchestra's 2023 holiday festival
Brett Mitchell will lead more than a dozen performances with The Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Music Center between December 13 and 23, 2023.
CLEVELAND — Fox 8 News has broadcast an interview with Ross Binnie, Chief Brand Officer of The Cleveland Orchestra, about the ensemble’s upcoming holiday festival, featuring 14 performances led by guest conductor Brett Mitchell.
Mr. Mitchell will conduct a dozen performances of the orchestra’s annual Holiday Concerts from December 13 through 23, as well as two performances of John Debney’s score for Elf (2003) while the film is shown live on the big screen above the Severance Music Center stage on December 19 and 20.
Watch the complete interview below, or click here to view it on Fox 8 News’s website.
Preview: Brett Mitchell leads ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ with the Houston Symphony
Brett Mitchell will lead Danny Elfman’s Grammy- and Golden Globe-nominated score for ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ with the Houston Symphony on December 9-10 at Jones Hall.
HOUSTON — The Katy News has published a preview of the Houston Symphony’s upcoming 2023 holiday concert schedule, including several performances led by guest conductor Brett Mitchell.
Guest Conductor Brett Mitchell kicks off the holiday concert season in Jones Hall with the modern holiday masterpiece, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. As the film plays on the big screen above the Jones Hall stage, the live orchestra breathes life into Danny Elfman’s captivating score and the whimsical worlds of Halloween Town and Christmas Town.
Performances will be presented at Jones Hall on Saturday, December 9 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 10 at 2:30 p.m. For tickets and more information, please click here.
Audio: Brett Mitchell discusses John Williams's score for 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'
HOUSTON — As he prepares to lead the Houston Symphony in four performances of John Williams’s Oscar-nominated score for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Brett Mitchell has appeared as a guest on the most recent episode of Houston Matters from Houston Public Media.
In this appearance, Mr. Mitchell speaks with producer Joshua Zinn about Mr. Williams’s work for both the Harry Potter and Star Wars franchises.
To listen to the complete story, please click here; the interview with Mr. Mitchell begins at 6:20.
Brett Mitchell to lead John Williams celebration at 2023 Strings Music Festival
Brett Mitchell will lead the Strings Music Festival Orchestra in an all-John Williams performance on July 1, 2023, at the Strings Music Pavilion in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
John Williams and Brett Mitchell in Nov. 2022 at Severance Music Center in Cleveland, Ohio (Photo by Angela Mitchell)
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Brett Mitchell will return to the Strings Music Festival to lead an all-John Williams program on Saturday, July 1, 2023, the organization has announced.
The program will feature original arrangements for brass and percussion by Timothy Higgins of some of Mr. Williams’s most iconic works, including music from the Star Wars and Harry Potter films, Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan, Lincoln. The Cowboys, and several Olympic fanfares.
The orchestra will be comprised of members of the Cleveland, Minnesota, and Philadelphia orchestras; the Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Oregon, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Utah symphonies; the Chicago Lyric and San Francisco opera orchestras; the United States Marine Band; and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit stringsmusicfestival.com. Donor presale begins on Tuesday, April 25; tickets will be on sale to the public on Thursday, May 11.
Mr. Mitchell first led the Strings Music Festival in a performance of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 on their 2018 season finale, and returned to lead Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring on their 2022 season finale.
Previews: ‘West Side Story’ with The Cleveland Orchestra
Brett Mitchell leads The Cleveland Orchestra in Leonard Bernstein’s ‘West Side Story’ at Severance Hall in June 2017. Mr. Mitchell returns to Cleveland lead the project again on March 17, 18, and 19. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
CLEVELAND — In anticipation of Brett Mitchell’s performances of Leonard Bernstein’s score for West Side Story with The Cleveland Orchestra this weekend, several media outlets have published preview articles.
From Axios: Cleveland Orchestra takes on West Side Story
It was good enough for Steven Spielberg, so why not the Cleveland Orchestra?
Driving the news: Guest conductor Brett Mitchell will lead the Cleveland Orchestra through "West Side Story in Concert," this weekend at Severance Hall.
Video from the 1961 Oscar-winning film will play on a screen behind the orchestra.
Zoom out: "West Side Story" has experienced a national resurgence in recent years, starting with a Broadway revival in 2020 and Spielberg's film remake in 2021.
Zoom in: Mitchell, who is an adjunct professor of music at the University of Denver, has led the Cleveland Orchestra in multiple performances of "West Side Story," most recently in 2017 when he was associate director of the orchestra.
What they're saying: Mitchell tells Axios that Leonard Bernstein's music in "West Side Story" is "universal" and "quintessentially American."
"This project premiered in the 1950s. The film premiered in 1961," Mitchell says. "Here we are more than 60 years later still experiencing this piece. It's a total masterpiece."
The big picture: Orchestral performances of mainstream movies have become all the rage.
"It's one of the greatest things that has happened to orchestras in the last century," Mitchell says. "I grew up listening to all these amazing soundtracks, and now I get to bring them to life for thousands of people."
From The News-Herald: Cleveland Orchestra, guest conductor revisiting classic West Side Story movie score
It wasn’t too long ago the notion of The Cleveland Orchestra performing live during a movie screening would have been considered taboo for a world-class symphony.
Those days are long gone, with the renowned orchestra entertaining fans and merging worlds through numerous film experiences, including during its popular Blossom Season.
Next up for The Cleveland Orchestra is a return to the classic “West Side Story,” with guest conductor Brett Mitchell, taking place March 17 through 19 at Severance Music Center.
This is familiar ground for Mitchell, who nearly six years conducted The Cleveland Orchestra through composer Leonard Bernstein’s legendary score.
“The last project that I did with The Cleveland Orchestra in Severance Hall before I left was ‘West Side Story,’” Mitchell said. “It was hugely meaningful to me and an enormous thrill.
“Back then, the orchestra had started doing movies with live accompaniment — I believe it was the first time the orchestra had ever done one of these movie projects on their classical subscription series. Here we are again. It says a lot about these movie projects and how they have become such an integral part of what we do at orchestras now.”
With Mitchell conducting, The Cleveland Orchestra will perform Bernstein’s electrifying score — “Something’s Coming,” “Tonight,” “America,” “I Feel Pretty” and “Somewhere” — while the remastered film is shown on a high-definition screen with the original vocals and dialog.
“I’m watching a special version of the film with lines that run across the picture,” Mitchell said. “Those lines are how we kind of synchronize the live music to the picture. Normally when I’m conducting a piece, I’ve got two things going on: the orchestra in front of me and the score.
“I’m always navigating back and forth. With a project like this, you have the orchestra, you have the score and the video monitor. It’s just one more wrench in the works that can throw you for a loop.”
Naturally, the loop for a project like this comes down to synchronization and timing. The latter is where working with a world-class orchestra makes Mitchell’s job easier. It turns out there’s a certain element of flexibility afforded a conductor when working with The Cleveland Orchestra.
“They’re the greatest musicians in the world,” Mitchell said. “Part of what makes them the greatest in the world is that they’re also the best-prepared musicians in the world. If I need to speed the tempo up ever so slightly, they make it so easy to be able to do that.
“If I need to slow it down ever so slightly, they make it incredibly easy to do that, as well. These film projects can be the most stressful things you do as a conductor because of all the demands of synchronization but when you have The Cleveland Orchestra it really takes all of the stress off you. You just get to focus on making this great music.”
When it comes to the upcoming “West Side Story” affair, the irony — and heresy to some — is this time around some Cleveland Orchestra audience members may be just discovering the original 1961 film.
That’s due to Steven Spielberg’s Academy Award-winning 2021 remake that attracted younger viewers.
“I love it — I think it’s great,” Mitchell said. “So if people have come to ‘West Side Story’ through Steven’s remake of it, which I thought was completely brilliant, I’m thrilled.
“It’s a project that is absolutely worth discovering in every single iteration. They’re both fantastic pieces of art in their own right.”
Brett Mitchell to lead 'West Side Story' with The Cleveland Orchestra
Brett Mitchell leads The Cleveland Orchestra in West Side Story at Severance Hall in June 2017. Mr. Mitchell will lead the project again with the orchestra in March 2023.
Brett Mitchell and The Cleveland Orchestra present West Side Story at Severance Hall in June 2017.
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Orchestra has announced that Brett Mitchell will return to lead three performances of Leonard Bernstein’s score for West Side Story—synchronized with the original film—on March 17, 18, and 19, 2023.
Mr. Mitchell first led this project in Cleveland in June 2017 during his final season as the orchestra’s Associate Conductor. Read reviews of those performances on Cleveland.com and Cleveland Classical.
For more information and to purchase tickets for the March 2023 performances, please click here.
Preview: Brett Mitchell to lead 'Fantasia' with the Houston Symphony
HOUSTON — The Katy News has published a preview of Brett Mitchell’s upcoming performances of Disney’s Fantasia with the Houston Symphony:
This Thanksgiving weekend, the Houston Symphony brings to life the magical classic that’s captivated generations—Disney’s animated film Fantasia. November 25–27, Conductor Brett Mitchell leads the orchestra through the iconic film score while animation fills the giant screen at Jones Hall. Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, families and music-lovers alike can experience the magic of favorites like Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, Pomp and Circumstance, Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, and, of course, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.
Known for its crowning achievement in the history of animation, Fantasia is Disney’s longest animated feature ever made. The film revolutionized the industry by combining animation with a collection of great classical music that sends audiences on a fantastical journey filled with Disney magic. Fans will be thrilled to know that the Houston Symphony has its own unique ties to the film as well; the 1940s version of Fantasia features eight segments of classical music conducted by former Houston Symphony Music Director Leopold Stokowski. Additionally, guests can look forward to seeing the “Blue Bayou” segment as Disney animators originally imagined it for the 1940 release—a languid flight of a pair of whooping cranes above a Louisiana bayou set to the Debussy classic Claire de Lune.
To read the complete preview, please click here.
To purchase tickets to these performances, please click here.
Brett Mitchell returns to The Cleveland Orchestra to lead 2022 holiday festival
Brett Mitchell will lead The Cleveland Orchestra’s 2022 Holiday Concerts in Mandel Concert Hall at Severance Music Center. (Photo by Roger Mastroianni)
Published March 8, 2022 Updated July 16, 2022
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Orchestra has announced that Brett Mitchell will return to lead their 2022 Holiday Concerts, a series of a dozen performances running from Thursday, December 8 through Sunday, December 18. Repertoire and guest artists will be announced in Fall 2022, but tickets are on sale now. For more information, please visit clevelandorchestra.com/holiday.
Mr. Mitchell will also lead The Cleveland Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus in a live-to-picture performance of John Williams’s score for the 1990 Christmas comedy film, Home Alone, on Wednesday, December 14. To learn more or purchase tickets for Home Alone, please click here.
Preview: Brett Mitchell to lead 'Return of the Jedi' with the Houston Symphony
HOUSTON — The Houston Press has published an extensive preview of Brett Mitchell’s upcoming performances of John Williams’s Oscar-nominated score for Return of the Jedi.
The Force is strong as the Houston Symphony presents Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - in concert. The orchestra will play the entire score while audiences watch the battle between good and evil rage on in the final chapter of the original Star Wars trilogy. The program runs Friday through Sunday at Jones Hall.
John Williams’ incredible score - from 20th Century Fox fanfare to closing credits - will be conducted by Brett Mitchell. The impresario returns to the stage after many years after operating as an Assistant Conductor for the Houston Symphony from 2007 to 2011. This marks his first time to lift the conducting baton since the birth of his son, William.
And if there was any indication that Mitchell is the perfect choice to conduct this piece, his son is the proof.
"I'm an enormous John Williams fan, to the point where our little boy's name is Will, but his full name is William John Mitchell. William and John happened to both be family names as well, but it is also no coincidence that that his name is William John, because John Williams has been an enormous part of my life. It's a little bit of an homage to the maestro with with the name," he said.
The show will be a display of artistic athleticism. There is one hour and 54 minutes of music in this film. For comparison, that's 37 minutes more than Star Wars: A New Hope, and 15 minutes more than Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi runs two hours and 17 minutes, which means that only 23 minutes of this movie doesn't have music. Hopefully The Force will be strong with the musicians as well.
Mitchell feels that it will be.
"I have no doubts and no fears that we're going to be able to do this. I have every confidence that it's going to be fantastic, and it is precisely because of the quality and the caliber of Houston Symphony."
To pull off a feat like this, Mitchell and the orchestra don't have much prep time. Yet, depending on how you look at it, Mitchell has been preparing for this nearly his entire life.
"I have done this project before, which helps. That said, the entire score is 527 pages long, and it's almost two hours of music. It's a lot of music to take in. It takes months to really absorb all of this material. But the real trick is, I saw Return of the Jedi as a four year old boy on October 9, 1983. I remember because it was my mom's birthday," he said. "I suppose you could say I've been preparing for this for more than 38 years since I saw the movie. I love John Williams' work and Star Wars in particular."
There will be an intermission in the show, but once everyone is seated for the second act, it's nonstop for the orchestra and conductor afterward.
"Once you get 10 minutes into the second act, from that point forward, there's 58 minutes of nonstop music until the end of the picture. There's no opportunity for the orchestra to break and no opportunity for the for the conductor to break. It's incessant. It's really driving, musically," he said.
"I really hope the audience gets the brilliance of John Williams' music during this concert. When you're watching Return of the Jedi at home, even on the very best of sound systems, or even in the theaters, the music is only one part of the soundtrack. It's competing with dialogue. It's competing with sound effects. And it can get lost, or it can get dialed down. When you're experiencing an orchestra playing this music live, there is such an immediacy to it that you simply cannot ignore," he said. "And the corollary to that is that I hope the audience appreciates what brilliant virtuoso athletic musicians the Houston Symphony is composed of because this is an extraordinary feat to be able to play this score."
To read the complete preview, please click here.
To purchase tickets to these performances, please click here.
Brett Mitchell conducts ‘Return of the Jedi’ with the Houston Symphony
Published January 30, 2022 Updated March 4, 2022
HOUSTON — The Houston Symphony has announced that Brett Mitchell will return to lead four performances of John Williams’s Oscar-nominated score for Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi at Jones Hall in March 2022. The complete schedule is as follows:
Friday, March 4 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 5 at 2:30 p.m. & 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 6 at 2:30 p.m.
Mr. Mitchell has led over 100 performances with the Houston Symphony, principally in his former role as Assistant Conductor from 2007 to 2011.
For more information about these performances and to purchase tickets, please click here.
Read several preview articles by clicking on the following links:
The Katy News: “Houston Symphony Screens Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi With Orchestra Performing John Williams’ Iconic Score Live”
Culture Map: “Houston Symphony blasts off with special Return of the Jedi screening and performance”
Houston Chronicle: “Houston Symphony goes out of this world” (subscription required)
To watch Mr. Mitchell’s in-depth exploration of the music of Return of the Jedi, watch the video below, or click here to view it on YouTube.
Colorado Symphony announces its 2020-21 season, Brett Mitchell's fourth as Music Director
DENVER — The Colorado Symphony has announced its 2020-21 season, which marks Brett Mitchell's fourth as Music Director. Over the course of the season, Mr. Mitchell will lead the orchestra in half a dozen subscription weeks and a number of other special projects.
Highlights of Mr. Mitchell's fourth season as Music Director of the Colorado Symphony include:
Sep 18-20: Korngold’s Sursum Corda, R. Strauss’s Suite from Der Rosenkavalier, and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor” (more info)
Oct 2-4: Kevin Puts’s …this noble company, Elgar’s Cello Concerto, and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 (more info)
Nov 20-22: Hindemith’s Symphonic Metamorphosis, Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2, “Little Russian” (more info)
Apr 9-11: Wagner’s “Good Friday Music” from Parsifal, Mason Bates’s Resurrexit, and Brahms’s A German Requiem (more info)
Apr 30-May 2: Ravel’s Noble and Sentimental Waltzes, Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2, and Stravinsky’s Petrushka (more info)
May 28-30: Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection” (more info)
Mr. Mitchell will collaborate with the following soloists during the Colorado Symphony's 2018-19 season:
Paul Huang plays Beethoven’s Violin Concerto
Olga Kern plays Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor”
Joshua Roman plays Elgar’s Cello Concerto
Joyce Yang plays Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Anna Christy and John Brancy sing Brahms’s A German Requiem
Stefan Jackiw plays Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2
Felicia Moore and Susan Platts sing Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection.”
Mr. Mitchell will lead several other special programs throughout the season, including:
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (complete film with John Williams's score performed live)
To learn more, please read these articles in Westword and The Denver Post, or visit the links below.
Review: "The Colorado Symphony takes Denver on intergalactic ‘Star Wars’ musical journey"
Brett Mitchell leads the Colorado Symphony in John Williams’s score for ‘Return of the Jedi’ at Boettcher Concert Hall in Denver on Friday, Feb. 28. (Photo by Colin McKinley)
DENVER — Live for Live Music has published a review of Brett Mitchell’s performance last night of John Williams’s score for Return of the Jedi with the Colorado Symphony:
The Colorado Symphony took Denver’s Boettcher Concert Hall through an intergalactic space journey on Friday night with a live performance of the 1983 sci-fi blockbuster, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.
The performance saw a live, 360-degree play-through of the sixth episode of the Star Wars saga by the 80-symphonic piece. While John Williams was the original composer to the film’s iconic soundtrack, Friday night’s second-only performance of the Jedi battle was conducted by Brett Mitchell, who’s innovative, eclectic, and respectable leadership of the symphony glided music and film fans in attendance through the galaxy. As 7 p.m. came around, the theater lights dimmed as the percussion section led fans into the classic 20th Century Fox cinematic opening to begin the two-and-a-half hours of Luke Skywalker completing his destiny of defeating his father Darth Vader on the Death Star to bring balance to the galaxy.
Solo, Chewbacca, R2-D2, and C-3PO landed on the forest moon of Endor to meet a tribe of always-lovable Ewoks. The opening “second set” banter gave way to Mitchell’s storytelling of the symphony’s remarkable musicianship applied to learn the film’s score in just four days in stating, “We’re gonna blow up the second Death Star, and may the Force be with you.”
The symphony rose to a climactic musical force as Skywalker battled Darth Vader while the Rebel fleet successfully destroyed the Death Star, allowing the Empire to fall back into balance. The six-minute ending credits were completed with a grand musical peak to send fans off into the night’s symphonic galactic journey, while also making for a wonderful reminder that The Force is always with us.
After a kickoff on Thursday and a second performance last night, the Colorado Symphony completes its symphonic Jedi training with a final matinee performance on Saturday at 2 p.m.
To read the complete review, please click here.
Scroll down for a full gallery from Friday’s performance, courtesy of photographer Colin McKinley.
