I can’t tell you how proud I am to begin my tenure as the 12th Music Director for the Portland Symphony Orchestra! The orchestra and I first met back in January of 2006, and a tremendous sense of chemistry and electric energy has existed ever since. There is no one to whom I am more grateful than my predecessor, Toshi Shimada, who expertly led this orchestra for two decades. Thank you, Toshi!  

And we have benefited greatly this past season from the experienced leadership of one of Americas most respected and beloved Maestros. Joseph Silverstein brought the orchestra and audience through our year of transition with great music making, and helped set the scene perfectly for our next chapter, which begins in October 2008.

And what an exciting chapter it will be! As you look through our season’s offerings, I hope you’ll see a “thread of connection” that unites the various works on any program, and that gives you a bit of insight into my personality and my approach
to the concert experience. As we get to know each other, you will find that our concerts are created to make music at the highest of levels, and to leave you “buzzing” about the performance for days and days following.

So take a look inside! You’ll see Beethoven, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and also
Mason Bates, John Adams, Ralph Vaughan Williams, choral masterworks, and internationally lauded soloists. On Pops we have music from John Williams,
The Beatles, the Big Band Era, and more.

And if this weren’t enough, we have an endowment benefit concert with the world’s most famous soprano, Renée Fleming. Her performance will encompass both classical and popular Broadway repertory. This is a “can’t miss” event!

And so we begin. It’s going to be an electric journey that we take together,
and I can’t wait!

Peace,

Robert Moody,    
Music Director Designate

So click the links on the left to explore by series, and reflect, relax, rejuvenate, and let the music move you!