Event
Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony
Naples Philharmonic Masterworks
Naples Philharmonic
Stephanie Childress, conductor
Time for Three
Nicolas Kendall, violin
Charles Yang, violin
Ranaan Meyer, bass
Mary Kouyoumdjian — Commissioned Work
Jennifer Higdon — Concerto 4:3
Mendelssohn — Symphony No. 4, “Italian”
Franco-British conductor Stephanie Childress makes her Naples Philharmonic debut, joining “the classically trained garage band” Time for Three in the penultimate Masterworks program of the season. The program begins with the premiere of a newly commissioned work by Armenian American composer Mary Kouyoumdjian, before Time for Three takes to the stage for Jennifer Higdon’s Concerto 4:3. Built around two violins and double bass, the three-movement concerto sprinkles bluegrass energy into the Classical format, evoking a musical postcard of the Smoky Mountains. Music shaped by time and place continues with Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony, a high-spirited reflection on his travels as a young man through sun-soaked Italy, featuring intricate counterpoint, buoyant string melodies and bright woodwind textures that culminate in a whirlwind finish.
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.
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
Stephanie Childress
Stephanie Childress
Franco-British conductor Stephanie Childress has firmly established herself as a rising star on both sides of the Atlantic, equally at home in opera and on the concert platform. Through her striking individuality and bold, cross-disciplinary programming, she offers a forward-thinking vision for the role of a conductor in the 21st century.
Childress has received much critical acclaim over her interpretations of Mozart’s operas and will make her Opéra de Paris debut in spring 2027, conducting a new production of Don Giovanni. Previously, she led productions of Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Hamburg Staatsoper), Don Giovanni and Le nozze di Figaro (Glyndebourne). An advocate for contemporary opera, she conducted Missy Mazzoli’s Breaking the Waves at Detroit Opera and Simon Voseček’s Ogres at the Prague State Opera.
Inspired by the inherently collaborative nature of opera, Childress brings the same spirit to her symphonic work, whether collaborating with director Tom Morris on an exploration of Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 at St John’s Smith Square, making debuts with orchestras like the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl or returning to The Cleveland Orchestra to conduct Mendelssohn’s Scottish Symphony for the closing concert of the Blossom Festival.
Time for Three
Time for Three
Grammy and Emmy-winning ensemble Time For Three defies convention, merging classical, Americana, and singer-songwriter traditions into a singular, remarkable sound that captivates audiences worldwide. Consisting of Ranaan Meyer (double bass, vocals), Nicolas “Nick” Kendall (violin, vocals) and Charles Yang (violin, vocals), Time For Three’s collaborations with top composers and artists, appearances with major orchestras and conductors, commitment to encouraging the next generation of musicians and relentless pursuit of creative boundary-pushing has solidified them as one of the most exceptional groups on the scene today.
