Courtesy of Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra
The Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra™ continues its 36th season featuring “Tenors and Titans.” Music Director Marcelo Bussiki has planned the 2017- 2018 subscription series to include five classical performances. The third concert in the series will feature an evening of masterworks with their roots in the world of dance and special guests, the Brazos Valley Chorale. CHI St. Joseph Health is the official sponsor of the 2017-2018 Season.
The “Russians and Ravel” concert is on Sunday, Feb. 25, at 5pm in Rudder Auditorium on the Texas A&M University campus. The third performance of the subscription season, “Russians and Ravel” will begin with the theatrical Petrushka: Stravinsky’s ballet that tells a story of love and jealousy from the interesting point of view of a beloved puppet character. Petrushka is followed by Bolero from Ravel. Bolero is a Spanish-flavored and mesmerizing orchestral piece written by a French composer for a ballet, commissioned by a Russian actress and dancer. Finally, a dance from Borodin’s opera Prince Igor will close the program with vocal accompaniment from the Brazos Valley Chorale.
“This concert was designed with the ballet Petrushka in mind. Given that it will take an entire first half, I decided to program the second half in a coherent manner that would balance with the technical difficulty of Petrushka,” says Bussiki. “For the second half I chose to unify the program by including other orchestral works with theatrical roots, because of its popular appeal, Bolero was the first on my list ... and to complete the program I also chose the very popular Polovtsian Dances from the opera Prince Igor by Borodin.”
The BVSO’s theme for this year is ‘Tenors and Titans’ due to the key elements of the season featuring composers considered to be the titans of classical music, as well as phenomenal guest artists. “The stars of the show will be our talented orchestra musicians as always, the beautiful addition of vocals from the Brazos Valley Chorale, plus the interesting array of compositions the audience is sure to enjoy,” according to Symphony Executive Director Mary Koeninger.
“This concert is one that the Maestro has wanted to do for a long time and we are so pleased to be able to bring it to life for the community now,” Koeninger continues.
Patrons can also continue to enjoy free pre-concert talks one hour prior to each subscription performance in the Rudder Theatre Complex. Ann Thompson will again present her delightful and witty insights into the composers, the history, and meaning behind the music. Then after the concert, a patron social hour at Napa Flats will keep the enjoyment going to top off an exquisite evening of music and entertainment. The Maestro will attend as well.
Individual tickets to all concerts are also on sale now at the MSC Box Office. Advance tickets are $39 for adults and $13 for students. At the door, tickets cost $44 for adults and $16 for students. Tickets are also available at www.boxoffice.tamu.edu or by calling (979) 845-1234. All programs are subject to change.
