The next live performance of the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra’s 32nd season will be Sunday, January 26 in Rudder Theatre. This classical subscription concert entitled “Serendipitous Serenades” will feature the orchestra’s strings performing works from Riegger, Foote, Barber and violinist Brian Lewis as soloist for Leonard Bernstein’s Serenade.
Music Director Marcelo Bussiki looks forward to working with Brian Lewis again as the artist performed Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with the BVSO in 2009. Bussiki shares, “I think that we couldn't have had a better soloist to interpret this work. Brian Lewis's acute sensibility to the music's many shades of emotion and the technique required to master the piece are a must for any violinist attempting to perform this work. Additionally, Brian has a profound knowledge of the work, as evidenced in his 2006 recording of it with the London Symphony.”
What: “Serendipitous Serenades”
When: Sunday, January 26 at 5:00pm
Where: Rudder Theatre in College Station
Program: Riegger – Romanza, Op. 56a
Foote – Serenade, Op. 25
Barber – Adagio for Strings, Op. 11
Bernstein – Serenade (After Plato’s “Symposium”)
Brian Lewis, violin
Maestro Bussiki thinks that audiences will enjoy the upcoming concert, saying, “Although this entire program is based on adagios and serenades, what is really behind the surface is a program with highly varied emotionality. The first part is mostly intimate, contemplative and meditative while the second part departs into a profoundly intense mood carried by Bernstein's Serenade.”
Wallingford Riegger composed his “Romanza” in 1953 and is known for composing modern dance music. Arthur Foote graduated from Harvard and is recognized as the first notable composer to be trained entirely in the United States. Samuel Barber composed his famous “Adagio for Strings” while in his 20’s. Patrons can hear more interesting facts about the music and composers with the BVSO pre-concert lectures, held one hour before the subscription concerts at 4pm. This concert’s session will be held in the Forum venue, just down the hall from Rudder Theatre. Hosted by the clever and charming Ann Thompson, a popular lecturer for the Houston Grand Opera, these pre-concert talks have been very well received by BVSO audiences, resulting in some “standing room only” events.
Individual advance tickets ($34 for adults, $12 for students/children) for this concert are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the MSC Box Office, located in the Rudder Complex lobby, by phone (979) 845-1234, or online at http://boxoffice.tamu.edu. Tickets will also be on sale at the door the night of the concert, although patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance, as the ticket prices at the door will be higher. Call the Brazos Valley Symphony Office at (979) 696-6100 with any further questions or visit bvso.org.
