Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Revel in the music

Summer symphony to dazzle patrons


By SABINA DANA PLASSE
Express Staff Writer

Symphony patrons enjoy the beautiful environs of Sun Valley while listening to the world-class sound of the Sun Valley Summer Symphony. Photo by Chris Pilaro

The Sun Valley Summer Symphony will be in full orchestral mode for its 23rd concert season with music director Alasdair Neale at the helm on Sunday, July 29. The 2007 program will open with John Adams' "Short Ride in Fast Machine" followed by Tchaikovsky's "Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Opus 36."

Making his first Sun Valley appearance, internationally renowned baritone Thomas Hampson will join the symphony on Monday, July 30. Hampson will perform a selection of arias from Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro, K. 492, Tchaikovsky's "Polonaise," Korngold's "Mein Sehnen, mein Wähnen" (Pierrot's Tanzlied) from "Die Tote Stadt, Op. 12," Verdi's "La Forza del destino" and "Di Provenza il mar" from "La Traviata."

The Sun Valley Summer Symphony was originally the Elkhorn Music Festival, which was founded in 1985 by Dr. Carl Eberl, a professor emeritus at the College of the City University of New York and his wife, Julianne.

The orchestra started with 22 musicians, but by the time Eberl retired, it had over 55 members. Under the direction of Neale, who celebrates his 13th season, the symphony now has over 100 musicians. Neale conducts a full symphony orchestra, which includes distinguished musicians from some of North America's most prominent orchestras.

This could be the symphony's last summer at the Sun Valley Resort Esplanade, as a new music pavilion in Sun Valley is scheduled to be completed by August 2008. The symphony and Sun Valley Co. are building a permanent structure on the resort's lower soccer field with an orchestra stage, 1,500 covered seats and room for thousands to see and hear music. The pavilion will be available for use by local groups as well.

Support for the summer symphony is always needed, especially so it can maintain its tradition of free concerts. On Friday, Aug. 10, there will be a benefit concert featuring the piano duo Katia and Marielle Labèque, and an encore performance by Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell.

The evening will consist of cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at 5 p.m. followed by a two-hour concert beginning at 6 p.m. Premier seats are $500 each and general seats are $250 each. Highlights for the evening will include Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" played on two Steinways. In addition, Mitchell will entertain with his vast arsenal of Broadway musical favorites.

All concerts are held at the Symphony Tent on the Sun Valley Resort Esplanade starting at 6:30 p.m. Picnics can be held on the grounds outside the tent. For more details about benefit tickets and for a complete schedule of performances call 622-5607 or visit svsummersymphony.org.




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