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Community Corner

Concert: Reading Symphony Orchestra Performs Scheherazade

The Reading Symphony Orchestra is taking the show on the road for its March 23, 2014 concert.  The RSO will be performing at Barrows Auditorium at Wilmington High School (159 Church St., Wilmington) for its second concert of this year's season. The concert will begin at 3:30 and tickets are available at the door.

This concert will feature the music of old masters such as Handel's Overture to Acis and Galatea and Mozart's Linz Symphony #36 in C Major K 425.
Acis and Galatea (HWV 45) is considered to be the finest example of the English pastoral opera genre. Using the text by British poet John Gay, G.F. Handel premiered this composition in 1718 as entertainment for the court. This piece remains in opera repertory to this day and has been adapted several times, most notably by W.A. Mozart in 1788.

The Linz symphony received its nickname from the Austrian town where Mozart and his wife were resting while traveling from Vienna to Salzburg.  Upon hearing of the arrival of the famous composer in Linz, the local Count declared that there would be a concert of Mozart's music. Since he was not traveling with any music manuscripts in his possession and internet accessibility had not yet been invented, Mozart obliged the request of the Count by composing the Linz symphony in just 4 days.

Scheherazade will be brought to life by the Reading Symphony Orchestra during the second half of this concert. Rimsky-Korsakov's epic symphonic suite captures the spirit of the tale One Thousand and One Nights.  The beguiling voice of Scheherazade sings and enchants courtesy of a solo violinist, while the brass section depicts the harsh voice of her master, the Sultan. All of the timbres of the orchestra conspire with her to tell the stories that ultimately save her life. The music of Scheherazade recently captured international headlines as it was used by the Olympic Gold medal winning ice dancing duo Davis and White.  Audience members with children are invited to preview this website for a fun tutorial on Scheherazade: http://www.classicalkusc.org/kids/sche/index.asp (click on “play game”).

Tickets for this performance are available at the door at Barrows Auditorium at Wilmington High School. Children 12 and under receive free admission, Senior tickets are $10.00 and Adult tickets are $15.00.  Parking for this concert is across the street from Wilmington High School.

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