Vocestra: Concordia Symphony Orchestra Concert
The Concordia Symphony Orchestra (CSO) presents two giants of the orchestral repertoire, Gustav Mahler and Hector Berlioz. Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D Major, The Titan, incorporates pre-existing themes and ideas from Mahler’s earlier works. This stirring symphony was originally conceived as a programmatic work, possibly relating to Jean Paul’s novel The Titan, but Mahler in the end called this work a symphony. He did give titles to the four movements (Spring and No End, Under Full Sail, The Hunter’s Funeral Procession, and From Hell to Paradise), suggesting a progression of life from beginning to end.
Berlioz set six of Théophile Gautier’s poems to music, first with piano accompaniment and then with orchestra, in Western music’s very first orchestral song cycle, Les Nuits d’été. These songs aren’t closely related thematically but suggest a journey as well, this one about love, from youthful innocence through loss and finally rebirth. Even though the orchestration for this piece is modest for Berlioz, his dramatic and atmospheric genius is still present. The soloist for this piece is Elizabeth Hoyt-Sudhar.
Tickets for the Concordia performance are $15 for Adults and $12 for Students and Seniors, and are available at Tix on the Square (tixonthesquare.ca or 780.420.1757), Concordia Student Accounts, or at the door. Special Family Admission: $40 (available at the door only).