Event
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Naples Philharmonic Masterworks
Naples Philharmonic
Alexander Shelley, artistic and music director
James Ehnes, violin
Tama Matheson, actor
Meilina Tsui — Commissioned Work†
Mendelssohn — Violin Concerto
Mendelssohn — A Midsummer Night’s Dream
† World Premiere
This dream of a program features the world premiere of a new work by Kazakh composer Meilina Tsui, artistic partner and violinist James Ehnes joining the orchestra under the baton of Artistic and Music Director Alexander Shelley for a run through Mendelssohn’s lyrical and popular Violin Concerto before the orchestra concludes with Mendelssohn’s evocative, energetic and magical A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The night opens with Alexander and the orchestra unveiling Tsui’s latest work. As the first Chinese classical composer of Dungan ethnicity to gain international recognition, Tsui continues her efforts to blend Central and East Asian cultures to further popularize the Kazakh musical tradition.
Few violinists are better equipped to lead an orchestra through Mendelssohn’s renowned Violin Concerto than James Ehnes. The 1844 piece is considered by many to be one of the most highly regarded Romantic era violin concertos, especially when performed by a violinist like James Ehnes, whose balance of technical precision and musical passion highlights the multi-layered perfection of Mendelssohn’s challenging masterpiece.
In the evening’s final segment, actor/narrator Tama Matheson joins the orchestra for a performance of Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream interspersed with scenes from Shakespeare’s play. Mendelssohn composed the overture at the age of just 17, then added incidental music to the play written 16 years later. The combination of The Bard’s words and Mendelssohn’s music combine to perfectly capture the magic and whimsy of Shakespeare’s imagined world.
Prelude at 6:30pm
Join the conductor before the performance for an insightful 30-minute prelude discussion about the program.
Music and Museum
All Masterworks tickets include same-day admission to The Baker Museum. Museum hours on day of performance: 10am-7:30pm. In addition, the doors to Hayes Hall will open 90 minutes prior to this performance. Arrive early to enjoy the exhibitions and light fare available at Heidi's Place.
The Artistic and Music Director position is generously endowed by Sharon and Timothy Ubben.
Tickets start at $29.
Naples Philharmonic
Naples Philharmonic
Founded in 1982, the Naples Philharmonic normally performs over 140 orchestral and chamber concerts, as well as opera and ballet, education, community and special event concerts from September through June each year.
Meet the Musicians
Alexander Shelley
Artistic and Music Director Meet Alexander
Jack Everly
Principal Pops Conductor Meet Jack
James Ehnes
Artistic Partner Meet James
Manuel López-Gómez
Associate Conductor Meet Manuel
Alvin Ho
Assistant Conductor Meet Alvin
Alexander Shelley
Alexander Shelley
A “natural communicator, both on and off the podium” (The Daily Telegraph), Alexander Shelley performs across six continents with the world’s finest orchestras and soloists. A passionate and articulate advocate for the role of music in society, he has spearheaded multiple award-winning and groundbreaking projects unlocking creativity in the next generation and bringing symphonic music to new audiences.
With a conducting technique described as “immaculate, everything crystal clear and a tool to his inborn musicality” (Yorkshire Post), Alexander is known for the precision and integrity of his interpretations, for his creative programming and for the breadth of his repertoire. He collaborates with artists such as Lang-Lang, Joshua Bell, Daniel Hope, Hélène Grimaud, Itzhak Perlman, Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson alongside some of the finest orchestras of Europe, the Americas, Asia and Australasia.
As of January 2015, Alexander has served as principal associate conductor of London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, with whom he curates an annual series of concerts at Cadogan Hall and tours both nationally and internationally. In September 2015, Alexander succeeded Pinchas Zukerman as music director of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, the youngest in its history.
In 2016, Alexander was awarded the ECHO prize for his second Deutsche Grammophon recording, Peter and the Wolf, and both the ECHO and Deutsche Grunderpreis in his capacity as artistic director of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen’s Zukunftslabor, a visionary project of grass-roots engagement, which uses music as a source for social cohesion and integration.
He has a wealth of experience conducting and presenting major open-air events; in Nuremberg alone, he has, over the course of nine years, hosted more than half a million people at the annual Klassik Open Air concerts — Europe’s largest classical music event.
Meet Alexander
James Ehnes
James Ehnes
James Ehnes has established himself as one of the most sought-after musicians on the international stage. Gifted with a rare combination of stunning virtuosity, serene lyricism and an unfaltering musicality, James is a favorite guest at the world’s most celebrated concert halls.
Recent orchestral highlights include the Met Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, San Francisco Symphony, London Symphony Orchestra and Munich Philharmonic. Throughout the 2024-25 season, James continues as artistic partner with Artis—Naples.
Alongside his concerto work, James maintains a busy recital schedule. He performs regularly at the Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall, Symphony Center Chicago and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, among others. He is the leader of the Ehnes Quartet and the artistic director of the Seattle Chamber Music Society.
James also has an extensive discography and has won many awards for his recordings, including two Grammys, three Gramophone Awards and 11 Juno Awards. In 2021, James was announced as the recipient of the coveted Artist of the Year title in the 2021 Gramophone Awards, celebrating his contributions to the recording industry.
Tama Matheson
Tama Matheson
Tama Matheson is an award-winning writer, director and actor with over 20 years of experience in theater, film and opera. He has written, directed and performed in plays around the world and has a passion for creating innovative, multidisciplinary dramatic works. Over the past few years, Matheson created a series of music plays that fuse theater and music into a fresh form. Playwriting credits include Don Juan – the Scandalous Life of Lord Byron, Johann Sebastian, Mahler and His 10th Symphony and several noteworthy adaptations. As a director, Matheson has worked in theater and opera companies worldwide, including Covent Garden, the Sydney Opera House and Madrid’s Teatro Real. He is the artistic director of the Brisbane Shakespeare Festival and a founding member of London’s Poesis: Words and Music. He has also collaborated with orchestras including the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and London Mozart Players. As an actor, Matheson has worked with major theater companies in England and Australia. Matheson has won several awards for his work. This year, he makes his U.S. debut with A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the Naples Philharmonic.
