CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A John Williams tuba concerto, an organ performance by a former Charlestonian and an audience selected-concert are all in the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra's 2012-2013 season.
Maestro Grant Cooper outlined the season at reception for symphony supporters and musicians on Wednesday.
"We have a very unique and important function," he said. "We don't look for outside acts to pay them big bucks to take back to California or New York. Sixty-five percent of our budget is spent in the Kanawha Valley."
That money is used for salaries, meals and lodging for the musicians.
One of those musicians joined Cooper at the podium. Principal tubist Aubrey Foard promised that the tuba concerts on tap for Oct. 19 and 20 "are audience friendly, very enjoyable."
The Capitol Conference Center Symphonic Series opens Sept. 21 and 22 with "Grieg Piano Concerto" featuring Antonio Poma-Baldi on piano. Following the program "Respighi: Fountains of Rome" (with the tuba concertos), will be "Mendelssohn: Scottish Symphony" on Nov. 8 and 9; the orchestra will perform Felix Mendelssohn's "The Hebrides (Fingal's Cave) and his "Symphony No. 3 in A minor (Scottish). Violinist Michael Ludwig, the concert master for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, is the guest artist for that program.
The West Virginia Symphony Chorus, conducted by David Castleberry, will appear with the orchestra in presenting Mozart's "Requiem" and Brahm's "Tragic Overtone" on Jan. 25 and 26, 2013.
Cooper said the orchestra will undertake the challenge to grow in order "to bring off the cathedral of sounds" in Anton Bruckner's "Symphony No. 8 in C minor" for the "Bruckner 8" program on March 1 and 2, 2013. Pianist Alexandre Motouzkine will be the guest artist.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A John Williams tuba concerto, an organ performance by a former Charlestonian and an audience selected-concert are all in the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra's 2012-2013 season.
Maestro Grant Cooper outlined the season at reception for symphony supporters and musicians on Wednesday.
"We have a very unique and important function," he said. "We don't look for outside acts to pay them big bucks to take back to California or New York. Sixty-five percent of our budget is spent in the Kanawha Valley."
That money is used for salaries, meals and lodging for the musicians.
One of those musicians joined Cooper at the podium. Principal tubist Aubrey Foard promised that the tuba concerts on tap for Oct. 19 and 20 "are audience friendly, very enjoyable."
The Capitol Conference Center Symphonic Series opens Sept. 21 and 22 with "Grieg Piano Concerto" featuring Antonio Poma-Baldi on piano. Following the program "Respighi: Fountains of Rome" (with the tuba concertos), will be "Mendelssohn: Scottish Symphony" on Nov. 8 and 9; the orchestra will perform Felix Mendelssohn's "The Hebrides (Fingal's Cave) and his "Symphony No. 3 in A minor (Scottish). Violinist Michael Ludwig, the concert master for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, is the guest artist for that program.
The West Virginia Symphony Chorus, conducted by David Castleberry, will appear with the orchestra in presenting Mozart's "Requiem" and Brahm's "Tragic Overtone" on Jan. 25 and 26, 2013.
Cooper said the orchestra will undertake the challenge to grow in order "to bring off the cathedral of sounds" in Anton Bruckner's "Symphony No. 8 in C minor" for the "Bruckner 8" program on March 1 and 2, 2013. Pianist Alexandre Motouzkine will be the guest artist.
Peter DuBois returns as guest organist for the final series program, "Saint-Saens: Organ Symphony," on May 3 and 4. DuBois, who was director of music for 10 years at Christ Church United Methodist, now teaches at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y.
In December, the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra will play its traditional programs: "Home for the Holidays" on Dec. 7 and 8 and "The Nutcracker" with the Charleston Ballet on Dec. 14 and 15.
A new program in the ZMM Architects & Engineers Pops Series will be "And the Winner Is . . . " on Feb. 8 and 9, 2013. Cooper explained that the audience will be asked for their favorite musical pieces from the movies. At the February program, the orchestra will play the winning pieces.
Acrobats will soar above and in front of the orchestra during "Cirque de la Symphonie" on March 15 and 16, 2013. For "Music of the Night," the final pops concert on April 12 and 13, 2013, Broadway singers Norman Large and Christina Saffran will perform numbers from various musicals.
The City National Bank Family Discovery Series includes Cooper's retelling of childhood classic "Little Red Riding Hood" on Nov. 10 and "Orchestras & All That Jazz," in which Cooper shows the flexibility of an orchestra that can play all styles of music, on April 13, 2013.
For more information and to buy season tickets, call 304-561-3570 or visit www.wvsymphony.org. ;
Reach Rosalie Earle at ea...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5115.
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