The Space Coast Symphony Orchestra’s concert – this Sunday at Trinity Episcopal Church in Vero Beach – could be called “SCSO’s Greatest Hits.”
Preparing the program certainly required more time than usual, and the orchestra will definitely be “playing favorites”: Artistic Director Aaron Collins and his musicians reviewed hundreds of audience requests from the past nine seasons (Collins says the orchestra’s “dedicated and knowledgeable audience” has never had a problem “letting me know what they like”).
That abundance of choices resulted in an exciting musical evening brimming with the biggest and best-loved symphonic works by Gershwin, Stravinsky, Respighi, Rimsky-Korsakov, Prokofiev, Debussy, Ravel, Grieg and others: official title – “Fan Favorites.”
Making this concert even more of a Must Attend event, 2017 Van Cliburn piano competition quarter-finalist Sergey Belyavskiy will join the orchestra. Belyavskiy, a Russian and a highly regarded interpreter of Liszt, will play two big fan favorites, Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and Liszt’s “Totentanz” (Dance of the Dead), a thrilling piece which, according to Wikipedia, is notable for “being based on the Gregorian plainchant melody “Dies Erae,” and for its daring innovative style.
Tickets are $20 in advance; $25 at the door; and free for 18 and under or with student ID. Show time is 3 p.m.
So much wonderful classical music this week: On Thursday, Feb. 15, the Atlantic Classical Orchestra takes the stage at St. Edward’s School’s Waxlax Center for its Masterworks II program, “Songs and Dances.”
The music will soar to the rafters as the orchestra performs Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony, Opus 25, written in loose imitation of the style of Haydn; Schumann’s Symphony No. 2, Opus 61 in C Major: The uplifting tone of this symphony, according to Wikipedia, is remarkable in the face of Schumann’s health problems, and “can be seen as a Beethovenian triumph over fate/pessimism”; and Barber’s Concerto for Violin, Opus 14.
In spite of a lengthy and rocky genesis, this has become one of the most frequently performed of all 20th century concertos, and an exciting young musician, violinist Sirena Huang, will be performing it Thursday. Winner of the inaugural Elmar Oliviera International Violin Competition, Huang was praised by the Baltimore Sun for her “impeccable technique … deeply expressive phrasing … and poetic weight,” bringing not only “technical brilliance and powerful artistry,” but also a strong sense of connection to her audience.
The competition website says Huang made her solo debut with the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra in 2004 at only 9, and, since then, has performed in 17 countries across three continents.
The music begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 to $60.
Next up on the LIVE! From Vero Beach concert schedule it’s Poco, the California country rock band formed, says Wikipedia, “following the demise of Buffalo Springfield in 1968” and in the first wave of the West Coast country rock genre.
Think “Crazy Love,” “Heart of the Night,” “Rose of Cimmaron.” They’re bringing all that and more to the Emerson Center this coming Thursday, and they’re still going strong, even cranked up that energy and ’tude.
Music starts at 7 p.m.
