The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
‘Northern Lights’ concert opens season
WATERBURY — The Waterbury Symphony Orchestra (WSO) presents its 81st season, “Atlas of Sound.” Music Director and Conductor Leif Bjaland leads the WSO in an exploration of the symphonic globe, surveying composers and the countries and cultures that shaped their music.
The season kicks off Sept. 22 featuring pianist Orion Weiss in Grieg’s epic Piano Concerto in A minor. The season also highlights key artistic collaborations, including the Hartford Chorale under the direction of Richard Coffey, and vocal soloists from the opera program at the Yale School of Music.
“Northern Lights” will be presented at Naugatuck Valley Community College Fine Arts Center, Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m. A pre-concert talk with Dr. Vincent DeLuise, WSO Cultural Ambassador, begins at 6:30 p.m.
“Northern Lights,” will feature masterpieces by Alfvén, Grieg, and Sibelius, highlighting the music of Sweden, Norway and Finland, so much of whose music derives from the indigenous melodies of these beautiful countries. Scandinavian & Nordic music has captured the imagination of listeners for over a century, from crashing opening chords to wild, inventive climaxes and sublime melodies. Join the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra at Naugatuck Valley Community College, conducted by Leif Bjaland with critically-acclaimed guest pianist Orion Weiss. The preconcert insights at 6:30 PM by Dr. Vincent deLuise, “Scandinavian Sunsets,” will explore the relationship of these folk idioms and nationalism in the music of these three Masters.
One of the most soughtafter soloists in his generation of young American musicians, the pianist Orion Weiss has performed with the major American orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and New York Philharmonic. His deeply felt and exceptionally crafted performances go far beyond his technical mastery and have won him worldwide acclaim.
Single tickets are now avaialble. Flexible subscription options are also available, beginning at just $54, giving patrons access to exclusive benefits all season long. To learn more, visit waterburysymphony.org, or call 203-574-4283.
Founded in May 1938 under the direction of Maestro Mario DiCecco, the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra (WSO) has spent the past several decades promoting the understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of symphonic and orchestral music. Originally incorporated as the Waterbury Civic Orchestra (1940), the Symphony and its mission have grown in both vision and artistic merit, expanding from a community orchestra to the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra (1956). The WSO has been led by Music Director and Conductor Leif Bjaland since 1994.
The WSO has been Orchestra-in-Residence at Naugatuck Valley Community College since 1992 and performs in the NVCC Fine Arts Center, 750 Chase Parkway, Waterbury.
Future concerts: Scary Tales, Oct. 28, 3 p.m. with selections by Grieg, Humperdinck, Hermann, MacDowell, Saint-Saëns and Dukas, with a pre-concert showcase featuring WSO Education
“Messiah,” Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Litchfieldl Dec. 2, 3 p.m., NVCC Fine Arts Center, Naugatuck. Handel's Messiah, presented in collaboration with the Hartford Chorale, and soloists from Yale Opera. Pre-concert talk at 2 p.m. with Dr. Vincent DeLuise, WSO Cultural Ambassador.
The American Sound, March 2, 3 p.m., , NVCC Fine Arts Center. A multimedia exploration of American music, through the lens of three pivotal composers: Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, and Aaron Copland. Featuring two of Copland's crowning 20th century compositions, Appalachian Spring and Lincoln Portrait.
Haydn |Mahler, Saturday, April 27, 7:30pm*, NVCC Fine Arts Center, Pre-concert talk, 6:30 p.m. with Dr. Vincent DeLuise, WSO Cultural Ambassador.