Josh Garrick: Culture Worthy of your Calendar

The Daytona Beach Symphony Society, celebrating its 60th illustrious season of classical concerts, presents Winterfest 2012 including a fully-staged opera and two outstanding concerts. They begin with “Don Giovanni,” the opera based on history’s most famous lover. It’s by Mozart, it’s fully staged, and it’s one of the greatest operas ever written. “Don Giovanni” comes to the Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach on Friday, Jan. 27, with orchestra, sets, costumes and singers drawn from Europe’s great opera houses. The next day WinterFest continues on a lighter note as the Canadian Brass bring their special brand of music and joy to the Peabody Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28. The world-famous brass group is made up of five tremendous brass musicians. With over 90 recordings, they play everything from Bach to the blues and provide entertainment the entire family can enjoy. Russia’s St. Petersburg State Orchestra rounds out the weekend at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29. The Russians are known for their passion and virtuosity and this Orchestra does not disappoint. Pianist Alexander Pirozhenko joins the orchestra to perform Beethoven’s dramatic Piano Concerto No. 2 in a program that includes Wagner’s romantic “Liebestod” from “Tristan und Isolde” and Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.” Call 386-253-2901 or 1-800-745-3000, or visit dbss.org.

Handpicked by Billy Joel

The “New Voice of the American Rock & Roll Songbook,” Michael Cavanaugh was handpicked by Billy Joel to star in his Broadway musical “Movin’ Out.” A charismatic performer, musician and actor, Cavanaugh appeared in the show for more than 1,200 performances, receiving Grammy and Tony award nominations along the way. Evoking a voice and talent to rival the ‘Piano Man’ himself, Cavanaugh will be joined on-stage by the entire Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra at the Bob Carr PAC at 2 and 8 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28. Call 407-770-0071 or visit orlandophil.org

The Manhattan Brass

Proving that there can never be enough brass music in Florida, the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park will present the Manhattan Brass on their 20th Anniversary Tour at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29 in the Tiedtke Concert Hall at Rollins College. Renowned for their dynamic performances, the Manhattan Brass will present music ranging from Bach to Bernstein. From premiere works to featured performances on National Public Radio, the Manhattan Brass is NOT your grandfather’s brass quintet. Call 407-646-2182 or visit BachFestivalFlorida.org. If you’ve read with an ear for the ‘brass sound,’ you now realize you can hear the Canadian Brass on Jan. 28 in Daytona and then hear the Manhattan Brass on Jan. 29 in Winter Park!

Bob the Builder at Orlando Science Center

Bob the Builder and his Can-Do Crew invite aspiring builders and their families to help “get the job done,” as the first-ever, hands-on Bob the Builder Project: Build It Traveling Museum Exhibit comes to the Orlando Science Center. This 2,000-square-foot multimedia exhibit is sponsored nationally by the Delta Faucet Company. As they hammer out solutions to a job well done, Bob and the Can-Do Crew demonstrate the power of positive-thinking, problem-solving, teamwork and follow-through. From start to finish, the team always shows that The Fun Is In Getting It Done! The exhibit invites children to ‘fix things’ with kid-smart activities that inspire and encourage. Families can work together to install new parts to sinks in Bob’s mobile home while learning about water conservation. Replicating Bob’s world while inspiring teamwork and the ‘can-do’ attitude, the exhibit will be on display from Jan. 28 to May 6. Call 407-514-2000 or visit osc.org

And NOT-to-be-missed …

Topographies, a magnificent exhibit at the Orlando Museum of Art, by Florida’s own Barbara Sorensen, “reminds us of the globe’s wild, natural beauty.” Topographies is on view through April 1. Call 407-896-4231 or visit OMArt.org.

Josh Garrick is a writer, photographer, educator, and fine art curator. He is a member of the Curatorial Council for the Museum of Florida Art. Garrick can be reached at [email protected] or 407-522-3906.