After years of fighting for survival, Napa Valley Symphony suspended operations in March of 2012, "dealing with the unforeseeable and the unforeseen," according to board chair Michael Enfield. He cited "insurmountable financial problems" for the 79-year-old orchestra. The organization remained dormant.
Now, a new organization, imaginatively called Symphony Napa Valley, will make its appearance with a debut concert on Sept. 21, in Yountville's Lincoln Theater. SNV, unlike NVS, has a parent organization, the Napa Valley Performing Arts Center.
With the title "The Phoenix Rises," the concert, conducted by Ming Luke, will present Stravinsky's 1945 version of the Firebird Suite and Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 5 (Reformation).
Luke says the tentative repertory for the two singers is the Barcarolle from The Tales of Hoffman, "Glitter and Be Gay from Candide" from Candide, "Mon Coeur s'ouvre a ta voix," from Samson et Dalila, "Can't Help Loving that Man of Mine," and others.
Breckenridge and Graves will also participate in a fundraising event in Lincoln Theater on Sept. 20, starring vocal soloists Marnie Breckenridge, soprano, and Denyce Graves, mezzo soprano.