P. E. I. Symphony Orchestra presents Celebrate Autumn Tempest

Hurricane Juan Piano Concerto to be featured in Oct. 14 concert in Charlottetown

The P. E. I. Symphony’s 45th season starts with a storm on Sunday, Oct. 14, in the Homburg Theatre of Confederation Centre of the Arts.

Celebrate Autumn Tempest will kick off with an exciting new Canadian work, Hurricane Juan Piano Concerto, with composer Peter Allen performing with the orchestra as the featured piano soloist. Allen has continually delighted audiences with his virtuosity and soulful artistry. As a concert pianist, he is heard on CBC regional and national radio and is well known to audiences in the Maritimes and throughout Canada.

Commissioned by CBC Radio 2, the Hurricane Juan Piano Concerto was world premiered by Symphony Nova Scotia in 2008 with Allen as soloist, to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the storm that made such an impact on two provincial capitals. The work features five movements beginning with a pastoral and then a second movement which according to Allen expresses the fascination that people feel “when wacky weather starts.” The work then takes an ominous transition to a “much thicker and louder” third movement.” The fourth movement features a minimal piano cadenza as a transition to the final movement which features bright friendly themes that “mark the camaraderie in the community fostered by the storm.”

Allen is currently associate professor of piano at Dalhousie University’s Department of Music in Halifax and conducts the Dalhousie Symphony Orchestra.

Also on the program, the Rákóczi March is sometimes referred to as the unofficial state anthem of Hungary. The first version of this anonymous march song dates from the early 18th century, created to lament the misfortune of the Magyars under the Habsburgs. Refined in the 19th century, the song inspired many references including the popular version Hector Berlioz included within his larger composition, La Damnation de Faust in 1846.

The Symphony No. 9 in E Minor From the New World, is by far the most popular work by Antonín Dvorák and one of the most popular works in the entire repertoire for any symphony orchestra. Often known as the New World Symphony, it was written in 1893 while Dvorák was the director of the New York Conservatory. Dvorák claimed to be greatly inspired by Native American music and the AfricanAmerican spirituals and felt strongly that North American music should focus on this rich foundation. Others hear the folk music of his native Bohemia in the New World Symphony, but all classical music lovers can find something to treasure in this famous and easily recognizable work.

To help make it easy for families to enjoy orchestral music together, the P. E. I. Symphony continues to offer discounted tickets for youth and students at $ 15 for any seat in the house. Concerts begin at 2: 30 p. m., and everyone is welcome to the pre- concert talk at 1: 15 p. m. in Studio One.

The P. E. I. Symphony is also continuing its partnership with The Maple Grille restaurant with the popular Symphony and Supper special offer. Bring two ticket stubs from the Oct. 14 concert, order two entrées and receive 50 per cent off the second entrée. This offer is valid for reservations only on Oct. 14 and Oct. 15 at The Maple Grille, 67 University Ave.

Symphony tickets are at Confederation Centre box office or www. confederation centre. com.

Patrons are reminded to allow extra time to arrive downtown and find parking due to the Island Marathon, also underway on Sunday.

For information, visit www.peisymphony.com, find P. E. I. Symphony on Facebook, call 892- 4333 or send a message to marketing@peisymphony.com. This concert has been made possible by the support of the Joan and Regis Duffy Foundation.