Tacoma Symphony, Northwest Sinfonietta offer new works, glass collaborations, soloists and Mozart’s “Requiem”

The Tacoma Symphony and Northwest Sinfonietta just announced their 2016-17 seasons, and while there’s a lot of innovation, there are a surprising number of parallels. Both ensembles are offering stellar soloists (particularly violinists); both are doing collaborations with glass artists; both will perform striking new music; and both include Mozart’s iconic “Requiem.”

The Sinfonietta, in its second year as a musician-led organization that rotates artistic partners, will offer six concerts with varying numbers of musicians. David Lockington will conduct two concerts that include Stravinsky, Schumann, Goldmark, violin soloist Dylana Jenson and a collaboration with Dale Chihuly, the Museum of Glass and Spectrum Dance Theatre. Joseph Swensen conducts Barber, Mozart, Schumann (with pianist Jeffrey Kahane), Dvoràk, Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2 with himself as soloist. Cuban pianist Aldo Lopéz-Gavilán leads an evening of Cuban jazz, and Eric Jacobsen finishes the season in May with singer Gabriel Kahane and Mozart’s “Requiem.” All concerts repeat in Seattle, Tacoma and Puyallup.

The Tacoma Symphony, meanwhile, celebrates 70 years with a season of four mainstage concerts, two pops concerts and “The Messiah.” Director Sarah Ioannides mixes the old and new. There will be Glazunov, Dvoràk’s “New World” symphony and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto paired with works like Philip Glass’ Violin Concerto No. 1 arranged by young Australian saxophonist Amy Dickson, and a world premiere by Puyallup-born composer Daniel Ott inspired by the retreating glaciers of Mount Rainier and with glass art made at the Museum of Glass.

The Tacoma Symphony Chorus will perform Mozart’s “Requiem,” as well as the usual Sounds of the Season and “Messiah” concerts, and a pops concert with jazz band features jazz trumpeter Jens Lindemann. Violin soloist Vadim Gluzman makes a return appearance, and Korean violinist Kristin Lee makes her debut. Concerts are in Tacoma and Gig Harbor.

Subscriptions are now on sale.

Northwest Sinfonietta: 888-356-6040, northwestsinfonietta.org

Tacoma Symphony: 253-591-5894, tacomasymphony.org

This story was originally published March 23, 2016 at 1:19 AM with the headline "Tacoma Symphony, Northwest Sinfonietta offer new works, glass collaborations, soloists and Mozart’s “Requiem”."