CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — The Clarion University Symphony Orchestra will present a concert on Sunday, May 1, at 3:00 p.m., in the Marwick-Boyd Auditorium.
Under the direction of Dr. Casey C. Teske, the theme of the concert is “From Russia With Love” which presents various compositions from 19th century Russian composers. The symphony orchestra is joined by special guest artist The Encore String Quartet which is a professional group consisting of players from the Youngstown, Ohio area. The members of this exciting young group are: Jerry Koziorynsky – violin; Rachael Aiken – viola; Susan Brenneis-Fisher – violin; and Stephanie Zitkovich – cello.
The concert opens with Rimsky-Korsakov’s Procession of the Nobles from his opera Mlada. The work demonstrates the composer’s skill of writing a vigorous march with a lyrical melody reminding us of a 10th century Prince entering a regal ceremony with brilliant trumpet fanfares and drums.
“Waltz” from the Ballet The Sleeping Beauty by Peter Ilyich Tschaikowsky ends the first part of the Symphony Orchestra program. Thought to be one of the best Ballets of the 19th century, the “Waltz” is from a birthday party at the end of Act I and is one of the most popular and beloved waltzes that he wrote.
The Encore String Quartet will perform three pieces on their portion of the concert. They start with Glazunov’s Five Novelettes For String Quartet, Op. 15. Like a short novelette in literature, Glazunov depicts different areas of the globe through this five-movement work. Next, they perform String Quartet No. 2 in D Major by Alexander Borodin. The is the most famous of the two quartets that Borodin composed where in the third movement titled “Nocturno” one central line weaves its way between each player. The quartet will end with Antonin Dvorák’s String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96 “The American.” Considered a staple of the string quartet genre, this composition is comprised of melodies and themes Dvorák heard through his travels in the United States in the late 19th century.
The orchestra continues the last part of the concert with “Procession of the Sardar” from Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov’s Caucasian Sketches, Suite No. 1, Op. 10. Based on a march tune from the Turkish town of Zeytun, it depicts a military parade led by the Sardar (the Turkish equivalent of a Commander or General) where the noisy crowd eagerly presses in for a closer view before being pushed back by the guards.
“Hopak” from Sorochinsky Fair by Modest Mussorgsky is a lively dance from this comic opera based on a story by Gogel. Its most remarkable feature is that the dancers leap while squatting and kicking with their legs out. This dance dates from early Russian and Romanian folklore.
The final piece of the op is perhaps the best-known excerpt entitled “Russian Sailor’s Dance” from the Ballet The Red Poppy by Reinhold Gliére. This composition is from the Russian folk song Yablochko (little apple) and consists of a statement of the theme, followed by a series of increasingly frenetic variations that end in a powerful orchestral climax.
The concert is free and open to the public.
