by Staff
From the T-U Center to the Florida Theatre, the new year is rich with entertainment possibilities.
The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra opens its “second season” Friday when it presents “Romanticism” at 11 a.m. as part of its Coffee Series. There will be a second performance at 8 p.m. The concert features the music of Berlioz, Mendelssohn and Brahms and highlights Lee Luvisi on piano.
The JSO’s Masterworks Series continues Jan. 10 with “Beethoven, Sibelius & The Great,” featuring guest conductor Klauspeter Seibel and Cory Cerovsek on violin.
Other JSO concerts in the coming months are:
• Jan. 25 and 26: “Mariachi Cobre — Pops Fiesta!” Michael Krajewski conducts, with special guests Mariachi Cobre, the featured act at the Mexican Pavilion at Epcot.
• Feb. 8: “The Breadth of Beethoven,” featuring the winner of the Van Cliburn Competition.
• Feb. 15 and 16: “Club Swing,” featuring Five by Design, a quintet that salutes the music of the Big Band era.
• March 16: “The Music of Heroes.” Conductor Michael Butterman and the JSO perform heroic music.
• April 19 and 20: Grammy Award-winner Sandi Patty, who sings everything from gospel to Disney.
• April 27: Mstislav Rostropovich, who is recognized as Russia’s greatest cellist.
• May 10 and 11: Art Garfunkel. one of the most recognizable voices in popular music.
The Florida Theatre also has a busy start to the new year, beginning Jan. 9 with the London City Opera performing “The Merry Widow.”
Other shows include “An Evening with Jose Carreras,” Jan. 18; the Statler Brothers, Jan. 31; Mandy Patinkin, Feb. 1; Julio Iglesias Feb. 15; Doyle Dykes, Feb. 16; Sweet Honey in the Rock, Feb. 24; Joan Baez, March 20, and “Porgy and Bess,” March 28.
The FCCJ Artist Series has a busy slate, opening Jan. 17 with The Glenn Miller Orchestra. Other shows include Jackie Mason in “Much Ado About Everything, Jan. 22-27; The Readers Theatre Performance, Feb. 15-16, and “The Merry Wives of Windsor, March 1.
For ticket information on symphony performances, call 354-5547; for the Florida Theater, call 355-2787; for the FCCJ Artist Series, call 646-2222 or 632-337.