Continuing this season's showcase of the new generation of conductors, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra will present Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, "Eroica," led by guest conductor Robert Moody, Thursday-Saturday.
He is being considered to succeed Fabio Mechetti, the orchestra's music director and principal conductor since 1999. Mechetti will lift the baton before Jacksonville's orchestra for the final time May 17 when the group, joined by the Women of the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus and the Jacksonville Children's Chorus, will present Mahler's Symphony No. 3.
Mechetti's finale is part of the Florida Blue Masterworks Series and will be sponsored by Friends of Fabio and Friends of the Jacksonville Symphony Guild.
Moody is music director of the Winston-Salem Symphony, artistic director of the Arizona Musicfest and music director of the Portland Symphony Orchestra in Maine. Also known for his experience in choral conducting, Moody founded the Phoenix Symphony Chorus and served as its music director.
He also has guest-conducted with the symphony orchestras of Detroit, Fort Worth, Houston, Indianapolis, Louisville, San Antonio and Seattle.
In addition to "Eroica," Moody will conduct the orchestra and Jacksonville Symphony Chorus in performing Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Dona Nobis Pacem," (Grant Us Peace).
The two pieces were chosen by Moody so that he could work with the orchestra and chorus and for the selections' relationship to the month of November, said symphony spokesman Paul Witkowski.
"The funeral march from Eroica and the setting of the choral piece recognize the 50th anniversary of the murder of John F. Kennedy and the remembrance of Veterans Day," he said.
Moody will conduct the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra today at 11 a.m., Friday at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m., and Saturday at 8 p.m.
For ticket information, visit jaxsymphony.org.
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