Here are Conductor Monte Perkins’s notes for the final Symphony Sundays concert of the season, Pioneers and Prodigies. We hope you join us on Sunday, May 7. At the final concert in our 2016 – 2017 season, two of the pieces we will play are… Read More »Conductor’s Notes: Pioneers and Prodigies on May 7, 2017
Throughout history artists have inspired and been inspired by artists of their acquaintance and of previous periods. At the March 26, 2017 concert, “Inspired by the Bard,” we will present for you three works drawing on the genius of William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616). His… Read More »Conductor’s Notes – “Inspired by the Bard” March 26, 2017
Good afternoon and welcome to our first concert for the new year. Today we will play pieces by well known composers whose works are seldom heard in the concert hall of the modern symphony orchestra. And, frankly, we will be presenting them in a way… Read More »Conductor’s Notes: Going For Baroque
We call this concert “Music For The Birds”, but a more apt title might be “Music Inspired By Our Feathered Friends”. Italian composer and musicologist Ottorino Respighi (1879 – 1936) wrote several scholarly treatises on Baroque music and composers. His editions of the works of… Read More »CONDUCTOR’S NOTES – October 2, 2016 “Music for the Birds”
Spread the word! We have an opening for Principal Horn, and the runner-up will be offered the Third Horn position. Auditions will take place on Tuesday, September 6, and you can call to schedule your audition appointment beginning in August. AUDITION DATE: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6… Read More »Principal Horn Audition – Tues., Sept. 6
We are pleased to have Kathy Pyeatt for our Symphony Sundays season finale, “Bigger Is Better.” She will guest perform in Richard Strauss’s “Four Last Songs.” A nationally acclaimed soprano, Pyeatt has recently sung the title role in Tosca with the Asheville Lyric Opera, Bryan… Read More »Nationally Acclaimed Soprano Kathy Pyeatt to Guest Perform in “Bigger Is Better”
To close our “Symphony Sundays” season, we’ve chosen works that epitomize the Romantic Era, using a large orchestra and grand themes that were once described as erotic, decadent, immoral, and lascivious. Richard Wagner (1813 – 1893) had an overwhelming impact on music that is still… Read More »Conductor’s Notes, May 1, 2016, “Bigger Is Better”
Throughout history composers have stood on the shoulders of the generations of composers who preceded them, learning, copying, and being inspired. Many have been quite open in their admiration, as was Tchaikovsky with Mozart. We are pairing these two masters for you in four compositions.… Read More »Conductor’s Notes, March 20, 2016, “Peter and the Wolfgang”
Good afternoon and welcome to the first concert of 2016 by Festival City Symphony. Today we will perform three works: one well known; one universally admired; and one, though by a famous composer, a Milwaukee premiere. Our program begins with a piece that became part… Read More »CONDUCTOR’S NOTES February 28, 2016 “FINNISH WITH SWEDISH & ILANA”
Good afternoon and welcome to the first Symphony Sundays program for the 2015 – 16 season. We’ve chosen to begin with music focused on our country, two works by Americans and one inspired by a visit here. Charles Ives (1874 – 1954) is often considered… Read More »CONDUCTOR’S NOTES September 13, 2015 “American Celebration”