THE ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S CONTRACT with its musicians doesn’t expire until Sept. 8, but the entities already have agreed to a three-year extension that takes all involved through the end of the 2020/21 season.
The agreement, along with box-office success and an unnamed donor, will allow the orchestra to grow to 88 players. The musicians’ union, called the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Players’ Association, has sought a full complement of 88 instrumentalists since before a 2014 strike. Auditions to fill the remaining openings are underway.
The ASO, in its 73rd year, had solidified its reputation as a leading American symphony under the leadership of music director Robert Spano, executive director Jennifer Barlament and a board of directors. Each year the orchestra performs more than 150 concerts — including education and community concerts — reaching a combined audience of more than 250 million people.
The ASO is in concert Saturday (March 10), when assistant conductor Stephen Mulligan leads Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto with Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov, plus Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet and R. Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben. The latter spotlights ASO concertmaster David Coucheron. On March 15 + 17, Peruvian maestro Miguel Harth-Bedoya returns for a spirited show of Latin music that includes works by Astor Piazzolla, Jimmy López and Ravel. Details, tickets for both HERE or at 404.733.5000.