Ever wondered how it would feel to sing onstage at Benaroya Hall? Here’s your chance! Sing the classics of the choral repertoire alongside the members of the Seattle Symphony Chorale — for three nights this summer! Scores will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own. Admission is $10 at the door, cash or check only, and no RSVP is required. Enter via the Artists Entrance on Second Avenue. Here’s a snap from last year’s sing-a-thon, with special thanks to Janis Marie Photography:

And here’s the schedule:

Monday, July 26, at 7pm
Handel’s Dixit Dominus
Conductor: Doug Fullington, Artistic Director of the Tudor Choir

Monday, August 2, at 7pm
Mendelssohn’s Elijah
Conductor: Karen P. Thomas, Artistic Director of Seattle Pro Musica

Monday, August 9, at 7pm
Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms
Conductor: Joseph Crnko, Seattle Symphony Associate Conductor for Choral Activities / Music Director of Northwest Choirs

Who can forget the image of Bugs Bunny massaging Elmer Fudd’s head in The Rabbit of Seville or the Wagnerian antics of What’s Opera, Doc? Bugs, Elmer, Daffy and the whole Looney Tunes gang come to Benaroya Hall on July 7 & 8! See your favorite Warner Bros. cartoons projected on the big screen while Seattle Symphony performs the soundtrack, conducted by George Daugherty. These two back-to-back nights are the FINAL CURTAIN CALL for this popular production — Bugs Bunny on Broadway is retiring after it’s Seattle performance.

Buy your tickets now!

EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT!

Board of Directors Chair Leslie Jackson Chihuly and Interim Executive Director Mark McCampbell announced today that French conductor Ludovic Morlot has been named Music Director Designate, beginning in the 2010–2011 season, to assume the role of Music Director at the beginning of the 2011–2012 season with an initial six-year contract.

36-year-old Morlot is quickly establishing a strong reputation as one of the leading conductors of his generation. Already in great demand in North America and Europe, London’s The Guardian said of Morlot’s 2009 BBC Philharmonic debut: “Every so often in the musical world, a comparatively unknown quantity comes along and takes everyone’s breath away. Such was the case last week, when Ludovic Morlot—French-born, British-trained and better known in the US—made his debut with the BBC Philharmonic.”

Learn more about this dynamic rising star, soon to reside in Seattle.

Welcome to Seattle, Ludovic Morlot!

Did you know that, before he came to Seattle, Music Director Gerard Schwarz performed with Leonard Bernstein as the Co-principal Trumpet of the New York Philharmonic?

Hear the Maestro reminisce about his time with that great American musical icon and preview this weekend’s Season Finale Concert: A Seattle Bernstein Celebration. On the program: Bernstein’s exultant Chichester Psalms, his Symphony No. 2 and William Schuman’s Third Symphony. WATCH NOW!

Performances start tonight — get your tickets here.

Oh, Robert – how we love you…your heart-wrenching lieder, your insightful music critiques, your fantastic 19th-century hipster hair.

Celebrate Schumann’s 200th Birthday TONIGHT with a recital of his chamber music works, performed by guest pianist Simon Trpčeski and Seattle Symphony musicians.

A few tickets are still available, buy yours NOW!

We all know that it took 76 trombones to lead the big parade in Meredith Willson’s The Music Man. But just how many hats does it take to put on a semi-staged version of this timeless musical?

The answer: 74 hats of all shapes and sizes, carefully numbered and laid out backstage at Benaroya Hall.

See the hats (courtesy of The 5th Avenue Theatre and Village Theatre), Marvin Hamlisch, Broadway stars and more tonight through Sunday, as Seattle Symphony produces The Music Man in 60 Minutes, plus other Broadway hits. Buy your tickets now!

Celebrate this American musical theater icon (and Seattle Symphony’s Principal Pops Conductor) this Thursday through Sunday, when Marvin leads the Orchestra, Seattle Choral Company, Broadway soloists and more in a 60 minute semi-staged rendition of Meredith Willson’s timeless musical: The Music Man. Tickets start at only $17!

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Marvin
Happy Birthday to YOU!

A letter to former Seattle Symphony Music Director John Spargur (1911–1921), circa the mid-1930s, following the Orchestra’s visit to a local elementary school. Charlotte, where are you now?

Great TV is headed your way! Tune in to Art Zone with Nancy Guppy on KCTS 9 tonight at 7pm to hear Maestro Gerard Schwarz give his recommendations for enjoying great local classical music. He also discusses our upcoming season, which kicks off in September with a reprise of our super-popular Beethoven & Wine Festival and a spectacular Opening Night. Here’s a teaser:

Afterward, turn to the Seattle Channel at 8pm to catch Seattle Symphony 2007 Young Artist winner Marie Rossano — a student of Seattle Symphony violinist Simon James! — on another episode of Art Zone.

Guest Conductor Christian Knapp leads Mark Morris Dance Group and Seattle Symphony, May 21–23 at The Paramount Theatre. This year Morris’ talented dancers will leap and spin to  Haydn’s Horn Concerto No. 2, featuring Seattle Symphony Horn Player Mark Robbins, Bach’s Jesu Meine Freude, and Vivaldi’s exultant Gloria — sung by Seattle’s renowned Tudor Choir. WATCH NOW!

Performances start tonight — get your tickets here!