Symphony features ‘heroes’ in October concert

The newly-named Sequoia Symphony Orchestra (formerly the Tulare County Symphony) will show off the “heroes” in the season theme “Gods and Heroes” at its first Masterworks concert of the season at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7 at the Visalia Fox Theatre.

The orchestra will perform music about the legendary lover Don Juan in Strauss’ “Don Juan” and Shakespeare’s doomed lovers in Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet.”

Guest pianist Jeffrey Biegel will solo in Grieg’s well-known “Piano Concerto in A minor.” It is the only concerto composed by Grieg, written when he was only 24, and is one of the most popular piano concerti ever written, immediately identified by its crashing opening chords.

Biegel is also a composer, arranger and music innovator. His musical prowess is something of a miracle because until the age of 3 he could neither hear nor speak.

Tickets are $22 to $45 at the symphony office, 208 W. Main St., Suite D, Visalia, downstairs in Montgomery Square. Student prices are $10. Tickets are also available at 732-8600 or go to wwwsequoiasymphonyorchestra.com.

The audience is invited to attend the entertaining pre-concert preview by music director Bruce Kiesling at 6:45 p.m.