Raise a glass to a touch of class
THE Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra’s Live Sessions season will begin on Saturday with a set of sassy, summery music inspired by the Americas and linked by music from classical stalwarts such as Mozart, Bach and Vivaldi. The chamber ensemble of 13 string and percussion players will perform an eclectic and entertaining repertoire programmed by ensemble leader Miranda Carson and TSO publications editor Robert Gibson. Gibson said the music would begin with the second movement from the Mozart String Divertimento K137, followed by Preludio and Danza from Dos Miniaturas Andaluzas by Rodrigo, select movements from Suite for Strings by Rutter, and Hoe Down by Copland. “The Mozart is fast, fun and lively and
will really kick the whole thing off and set the tone for the night,” Gibson said.
The middle set will begin with an arrangement of Orange Blossom Special by Rouse.
“It’s classic bluegrass with virtuoso fiddle playing and is a rip-roaring piece,” Gibson said. “We follow that with the Vivaldi Concerto for Violin and Strings RV301 Opus 4
No.3, with Miranda Carson as soloist. People will hear it’s not that different from the bluegrass, with the same virtuosic bowing. “That will be followed by Bach’s
Orchestral Suite No.3, Air, often referred to as ‘Air on the G String’, which is the mellow moment of the concert.
“Then it’s back to bluegrass with Graeme Koehne’s Shaker Dances, Square Order Shuffle.”
The third set will begin with a Gibson favourite, Arthur Benjamin’s Jamaican Rumba. It will be followed three Piazzolla tangos: Autumn from Four Seasons Of Buenos Aires (with Hayato Simpson as soloist); Oblivion (with Miranda Carson as soloist); and Libertango.
The concert will conclude with Tico-Tico by Abreu.
The TSO Live Session will be held in Red Square (Macquarie Point) from 6.30pm on Saturday. A trio will perform between sets, and the Bootleg Gin Sluggers will perform at the after-party. Tickets are $35, available from
www.tso.com.au. Seating is limited, so bring along a camp chair.