The Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra (RSO) celebrates 60 years of world-class music at THE ERAS GALA on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at the Ridgefield Playhouse. This exciting, entertaining evening, six decades in the making, will include a special performance by the RSO, featuring highlights from six eras of music, unique silent and live auctions, and a pre-concert cocktail reception for orchestra seating ticket holders.
THE ERAS GALA brings the community together to celebrate an organization whose mission is to enrich the cultural lives of the citizens of Ridgefield and the broader regional area by presenting musical performances of the highest artistic quality. The event also pays tribute to the history of an organization that has been a cornerstone of Ridgefield’s arts culture for decades.
The RSO, originally known as the Ridgefield Symphonette and comprised of amateur and professional musicians, performed its first concert on April 4, 1965. Founded by five local residents, Marcus Fischer, Marguerite Fischer, George Leeman Sr., Agathea Filgate and Bill Rodier, with Marcus Fischer as the first conductor, the ensemble was a true community orchestra. Conductor Salvatore Princiotti took over the leadership of the orchestra in the late 1960’s, followed in 1970 by the appointment of Beatrice Brown, who served as music director until 1995. Bea Brown’s legacy was a high-quality, fully professional symphony orchestra, which by the end of her tenure had changed its name to the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra. Brown was followed on the podium by music directors Sydney Rothstein (1997-2007), Gerald Steichen (2008-2016) and Yuga Cohler (2018-2024). On January 1, 2025, the RSO named Eric Mahl as only its seventh artistic leader in 60 years.
Music on the program for THE ERAS GALAS includes lively and beautiful short pieces or excerpts of significant pieces by Mozart, Charles Ives, George Gershwin, Aaron Copland, Antonín Dvořák, Mikhail Glinka, and Sergei Prokofiev.
The gala event will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 7:30 PM at the Ridgefield Playhouse (80 East Ridge Road, Ridgefield). Eras Tickets, including orchestra seating and a 5:30 PM cocktail reception, are $150. Concert Only Tickets with mezzanine and balcony seating are $75.
Tickets can be purchased by calling the RSO box office at 203-438-3889 or online at https://ridgefieldsymphony.org/eras-gala
The RSO encourages those interested in helping to sponsor the event to visit https://ridgefieldsymphony.org/eras-gala for more information.