Classical, rock, holiday, cinematic and family friendly music. This year promises to be another lively season as Augusta Symphony turns 70.
“All of the concerts are upbeat and celebratory,” says music director Dirk Meyer. “We’ll mix the known with the unknown as we have done the last two years.”
Symphony Series
This year, the Symphony Series, which is appropriately called “Seventieth,” will include six concerts that celebrate seven decades of music that has been inspired by nature and nurture.
“I included several works throughout the season from 1954, and there are a few more from the 1950s,” says Meyer.
The season opens with Sounds of the Sea on Friday, September 27. The program includes Festive Overture, which was composed by Dimitri Shostakovich in 1954; Two Latin American Dances by Lena Frank, an American composer of contemporary classical musical who often draws on her multicultural background; and La Mer by French composer Claude Debussy.
In addition, guest artist Orion Weiss will accompany the orchestra on piano for Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4. “I have wanted to bring him here for several years,” says Meyer.
On Friday, November 1, Sounds from the Sky will feature three works that describe bird songs. The concert will include Tchaikovsky’s Suite from Swan Lake and two pieces by Finnish composers – Cantus Articus by Einojuhani Rautavaara and Symphony No. 5 by Jean Sibelius.
Cantus Anticus incorporates tape recordings of birdsong that Rautavaara made near the Arctic Circle. “It’s totally different from anything you’d expect. People are going to love this piece,” says Meyer.
In Symphony No. 5, Meyer says, “The last movement captured 20-plus swans that were flying above Sibelius.”
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Sounds From the Heart on Saturday, February 8 will feature guest artist Anastasia Petrunina on the violin for Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1, which was written in 1954.
“She performs a concerto with us every year,” says Meyer. “For years she has wanted to perform this with us. It’s her favorite piece of all time.”
The Symphony will present two concerts in March – Sounds of the Classics on Saturday, March 8 and Sounds From the East on Saturday, March 29.
Sounds of the Classics will include More Seasons by Michael Abels, a black composer who wrote music for television and film, and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 1. In addition, guest artist and celloist Santiago Cañón-Valencia of Colombia will accompany the orchestra on Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 1.
As guest artist for Sounds From the East, pianist Adam Golka will join the musicians for Saint Saens’ Afrika and Fazil Say’s Silk Road.
“He uses a lot of unusual techniques on the piano. He doesn’t just play the keys. He also plucks the strings,” says Meyer. “He plays the piano in ways you don’t think of. It’s fun to hear, and it’s fun to watch.”
The performance also will include Mozart’s Overture from The Abduction from the Seraglio and Rimsky Korsakov’s Scheherazade.
Fittingly, the finale for the Symphony Series on Saturday, May 3 is entitled Celebrating Augusta.
“We want to celebrate our 70th anniversary, and we also want to celebrate Augusta,” says Meyer.
This concert will include two works that were written in 1954 – the opening piece, Khatchaturian’s Suite From Spartacus, and Bernstein’s Candide Overture.
Still’s Symphony No. 1 will feature videography celebrating Augusta and the CSRA by guest artist and photochoreographer Nicholas Bardonnay.
“He takes a piece of music and choreographs his pictures to it,” says Meyer. “He’s creating a piece for us that will celebrate the history of the orchestra, the history of the Miller Theater and the history of our region.”
In addition to accessing the archives from the Augusta Museum of History for photos, Meyer says, “We will ask our audience members to submit photos of Augusta to us.”
The concert will conclude with Respighi’s Pines of Rome. “The Pines of Rome is really powerful,” Meyer says. “It will end with trumpets throughout the hall.”
Pops! Series
The Pops! Series will include tributes to a pair of American rock stars – Bruce Springsteen and Tina Turner.
On Thursday, October 10, Bruce in the USA will showcase Matt Ryan from the “Legends In Concert” cast. He began playing the Springsteen character in 2000.
“This is a show that was first created for Vegas. It tours across the country,” Meyer says.
The Mariachi Fiesta on Thursday, November 7 will feature the band, Mariachi Cobre from Disney World’s Epcot Park.
Sounds of the Season: A Chloë Christmas on Thursday, December 12 will showcase Irish singer Chloë Agnew, a former member of Celtic Woman. The program will include music with Celtic-inspired themes and traditional holiday tunes.
“Last year when we brought back the holiday concert for the first time in many years, people really loved it,” Meyer says.
In The Music of Tina Turner on Thursday, February 20, Broadway star and American Idol finalist LaKisha Jones and others will perform some of her hits such as “Proud Mary” and “River Deep, Mountain High.”
The Pops! Series wraps up on Thursday, April 24 with Star Wars: A New Hope when Meyer conducts the full orchestra for the movie soundtrack by John Williams.
“We perform all of the music from the movie, and the movie plays while we perform the music live,” says Meyer, an avid Star Wars fan.
Family Concerts at Columbia County Series
Also for the young and young at heart, the Family Concerts at Columbia County Series will include afternoon performances of Halloween at the Symphony on Sunday, October 27 and Holiday Spectacular on Sunday, December 8.
Regardless of the featured music, however, the shows generally share one common trait.
“I mostly try to end the concerts on an upbeat note,” says Meyer. “I want people to leave with a good feeling inside.”
The Symphony and Pops! performances will be held at Miller Theater, and the Family Concerts will take place at Hardin Auditorium. For more information, visit augustasymphony.com.
