In the early 1820s, Franz Schubert could sense that his years were numbered, so he began a creative period that saw him write several pieces, including his Symphony No. 9 (Schubert died in in 1828; the official diagnosis was typhoid fever, but some are suspicious).
The situation literally isn’t quite as grave, but there is no downplaying the seriousness of what it’s like to keep counting up as we tally the number of days in the Trump government shutdown, which is by far the longest in U.S. history.
And while real-life things like paychecks and food on the table are on the minds of many government workers and their families, The Florida Orchestra (TFO) is offering worried folks a reprieve with its announcement that it will offer free tickets to furloughed government employees.
The shows — where Joshua Weilerstein will conduct Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 — are happening in Tampa on Friday, January 18 at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts (8 p.m.) and at Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg where TFO is staging performances on Saturday, January 19 (8 p.m.) and Sunday, January 20 (2 p.m.).
Rock star cellist Joshua Roman will also perform Mason Bates’ Cello Concerto and William Grant Still’s Poem for Orchestra at the concerts.
According to a release, furloughed employees affected by the government shutdown can come to the TFO will call window starting 90 minutes before each performance, present a valid government ID and receive up to four complimentary tickets, depending on availability. And if you’ve got 10 kids, then don’t fret because free advance tickets for kids and teens are also available for this and all Tampa Bay Times Masterworks concerts.
Get more information on the shows and offer via floridaorchestra.org.
