Culture worthy of your calendar

Mahler’s ‘Resurrection Symphony’

The Orlando Philharmonic is set to begin its fall season with a monumental work. This work requires large forces, and Gustav Mahler’s “Symphony No. 2” will be performed by the Orlando Philharmonic Concert Opera Choir, the University of Central Florida Choir and the largest orchestra the Philharmonic has ever assembled. Called the “Resurrection Symphony”, the 90-minute work will be performed at the Bob Carr at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25 with Christopher Wilkins conducting. Bassoonist Diane Bishop says, “I can’t wait to play Mahler’s ‘2nd’ again; to find myself in the middle of the orchestra overwhelmed by sound and emotion.” Horn performer Mark Fischer says, “Gustav Mahler’s ‘Symphony No. 2’ is a work that one can’t simply listen to with one’s ears. It’s a work that one hears with one’s soul.” In Mahler’s own thoughts, his first movement represents a funeral and asks the question, “Is there life after death?” Then, moving through the happiness and sadness of living, the final movement ends with the vocal forces’ fervent prayer for resurrection and hope for eternal life. For tickets, call 407-770-0071 or visit orlandophil.org.

Museum Day is free

The idea began with the Smithsonian Institution finding a way to thank magazine subscribers, and the idea has — fortunately for all of us — been picked up by museums throughout the United States. This year, free museum day is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25 and is “a day to celebrate culture, learning and the dissemination of knowledge.” More than 300,000 museumgoers and 1,300 venues in all 50 states participated last year. In order to gain free admission to our local museums, visit www.smithsonianmag.com and print as many tickets as you wish. Here in Orlando, the Orlando Museum of Art, the Mennello Museum, the Polasek, the Maitland Art Center, Maitland Historical Museum, Waterhouse Museum and the History Center (downtown) will all join the nationwide Museum Day by opening their doors free of charge to Smithsonian.com visitors. Call 407-836-8500 for information.

Portraits of Hunger showcase

With all eyes on the world’s economy, now more than ever art is being called upon to enlighten and educate. On Thursday, Sept. 30, the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida will present a photography contest and exhibit created to make us aware of the problem of hunger in our community. The showcase — free and open to the public — will take place at the Enzian Theater in Maitland. Portraits of Hunger began in 2006, and through this annual event, photographers go into the community to capture images that tell the story of hunger in Central Florida. At 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30, the winner will be announced along with a display of all photo entries. I will be one of a trio of competition judges that includes Dave Krepcho, president of Second Harvest, and Henry Maldonado, president of Enzian Theater. Last year, Second Harvest distributed more than 26 million pounds of food throughout Central Florida, and with the recession continuing, that number will go up this year. To learn how you can help, visit www.FeedHopeNow.org. The exhibit will take place at Enzian’s Eden Bar, 1300 S. Orlando Ave. in Maitland.

And not to be missed …

Florida Highwaymen at the History Center

“Against All Odds: The Art of the Highwaymen” brings together a group of 26 African-American artists who sold their paintings by the side of the road in the segregated South of the 1950s and ‘60s, collectively producing more than 200,000 paintings. It’s on exhibit through Jan. 2. Call 407-836-8500 or visit www.thehistorycenter.org

Charles Turzak, Master of Modernism

American Modernist Charles Turzak epitomized the American Modern Art movement in the 1930s. His Art Deco woodcuts are on display at the Albin Polasek Museum running through Nov. 14. Call 407-647-6294 or visit www.polasek.org