Lake County-based orchestra readies for its fourth season 2008/2009

Building on the beautiful sounds of its first three seasons, the Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra will continue its exciting performances with a fourth year of concerts beginning on Thursday, Oct. 23.

Based in Lake County, the not-for-profit orchestra features 60 professional musicians from the Central Florida area. Internationally acclaimed composer and pianist Guy Saint-Clair, who has recorded with the London Symphony, founded the orchestra. Led by the award-winning conductor Michael J. Garasi, the orchestra has established a reputation for excellence.

The fourth season by the Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra includes the following concerts at 7:30 p.m. at the St. Patrick Catholic Church of Mount Dora, located at 6803 Old Highway 441, and at Montverde Academy, located at 17235 Seventh St.:

• Good Ol’ Souls — The season begins with music such as “Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” “Firebird,” and “Night on Bald Mountain.”
  • Oct. 23 in Mount Dora
  • Oct. 24 in Montverde
    
    
• At Christmas Time — An extra concert with “Nutcracker Suite,” Festival of Carols,” and “Hallelujah Chorus.”
  • Dec. 18 in Mount Dora
    
    
• Russian Romance — This concert includes Tchaikovsky favorites such as “Violin Concerto,” Romeo and Juliet Overture“ and “Capriccio Italien”
  • Jan. 15 in Mount Dora
  • Jan. 16 in Montverde
    
    
• Rule Brittania — This concert features music from “The Proms,” including “Spitfire,” “Jerusalem,” “Nimrod” (Enigma), “Land of Hope and Glory,” plus piano concertos “Warsaw Concerto” and “Alamein Concerto.”
  • Feb. 19 in Mount Dora
  • Feb. 20 in Montverde
    
    
• Gypsy Serenade — Listen to exotic and mysterious gypsy violin in Liszt, Dinicu, Brahms, Sarasate, Dvorak, Dragon and Enesco
  • April 2 in Mount Dora
  • April 3 in Montverde
    
    
• Slavic Soul — Enjoy Dvorak’s “Cello Concerto,” “Carnival Overture,” plus Borodin’s “Polovetsian Dances” give a spectacular conclusion to the season.
  • April 30 in Mount Dora
  • May 1 in Montverde

For more information about the Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra or to order tickets, call (352) 589-1500 or write Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra, 2034 Bayside Avenue, Mount Dora, FL  32757. Concert tickets are $36 in advance, $42 at the door or $150 for the entire five-concert season (Christmas concert sold separately).