SYMPHONY NEWS

Puente Jr. Tito Puente Jr. at Mann

The high energy and festive sounds of the "King of Latin Dance," Tito Puente, will fill the stage at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall.

Tito Puente Jr. and his fivepiece band will perform with the Southwest Florida Symphony at 8 p.m. on March 7 and 8. Music Director Michael Hall and conductor Frank Fiore will conduct.

Puente has dedicated his life's work to nurturing the musical legend of his father.

"There was magic in the music my father made," he said. "It made people happy all over the world. My goal is to keep it alive … and expose it to a whole new generation."

Single tickets are $15-$50. Call the box office at 418-1500 or visit www. swflso.org to order tickets.

Symphony to offer cruise with director

The Southwest Florida Symphony's Music Director, Michael Hall and AAA Travel invite you to join them on the Crystal Symphony, a 940-guest, six-star ship, for an exclusive cruise to the Baltic Sea and Russia from June 7-18. This classical music-themed cruise begins in London

and visits the northern capitals of Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Helsinki, including three full days in enchanting St. Petersburg, Russia.

Hall First-rate entertainment will include performances by world renowned artists such as Frederica von Stade (mezzosoprano), Jake Heggie, (pianist), Leila Josefowicz (violinist), and the Crystal Ensemble of singers. Passengers will also have the opportunity to attend musical lectures and the take classes with the Creative Learning Institute.

This trip starts at $7,036 per person and includes airfare from Fort Myers. AAA members and non-members are welcome. For more information, call 939-6500 in Fort Myers or 594-5006 in Naples. Book your trip by February 29 and save $300 per couple.

Youth Orchestra performs spring concert

The Southwest Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra, led by conductor Michael Simpson, presents Pictures in Music at 7 p.m. on March 3 at Cypress Lake High School Center for the Arts.

The Youth Orchestra will perform Delibes' "March and Procession of Bacchus" from the ballet "Sylvia" and Ravel's "Promenade" and "Great Gate of Kiev" from "Pictures at an Exhibition." The second place concerto competition winner, Courtney Renfroe, will perform the first movement of Elgar's "Cello Concerto." The brass quintet, the woodwind quintet, the string quartet and the Sinfonietta, conducted by Nanette Grant, will also perform.

Tickets for the concert are $7 and may be purchased by calling the Symphony box office at 418-1500. Tickets may also be purchased at the door the night of the performance.