The classical music calendar includes the Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra \u201cViva La France\u201d concert at Moravian University, Bethlehem, and the Kutztown University Choir in concert at the university in Kutztown.<\/p>\n
The Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra presents \u201cViva La France,\u201d 3 p.m. with a 2 p.m. pre-concert talk, March 8, Foy Concert Hall, Moravian University, Bethlehem.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m honored to be joining the Pennsylvania Sinfonia for this fantastic program of French music,\u201d says Guest Conductor Michael Avagliano, adding, \u201cIt\u2019s a wonderful way to look forward to spring, getting to know some buoyant music by great composers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrancis Poulenc is a composer that audiences might not know well,\u201d Avagliano says.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure, though, after hearing his \u2018Sinfonietta,\u2019 they\u2019ll want to know more. The piece has an incredible feel of humor and personality that draws you in and leaves a smile on your face,\u201d says Avagliano.<\/p>\n
The four-movement work was commissioned by the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) to celebrate the first anniversary of its radio service, BBC Third Programme. Reportedly, the piece was well-received by a young audience that enjoyed its \u201cunsophisticated freshness and charm.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alto saxophonist Kirk O\u2019Riordan is the featured soloist in Jacques Ibert\u2019s two-movement \u201cConcertino da camera for alto saxophone and orchestra.\u201d Composed in 1935, with a lively and technically-challenging first movement, the second movement is lyrical, containing a short cadenza and very dynamic ending.<\/p>\n
Says Avagliano, \u201cHaving the opportunity to work with Kirk O\u2019Riordan is something I\u2019m looking forward to.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not often that the saxophone gets to be heard in an orchestral setting and the Ibert concerto is the perfect introduction for audiences to appreciate Kirk\u2019s talent and virtuosity,\u201d Avagliano says.<\/p>\n
The concert closes with Georges Bizet\u2019s \u201cSymphony No. 1 in C major,\u201d composed at age 17 while a student at the Paris Conservatory under the tutelage of famed composer and professor Charles Gounod. The four-movement work is characterized as light, joyful and energetic with a beautiful short oboe passage in the second movement performed by Nobuo Kitagawa.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe intimate nature of hearing a chamber orchestra is an experience that allows you to appreciate every musician on the stage,\u201d says Avagliano, adding, \u201cIt\u2019s something you don\u2019t want to miss.\u201d<\/p>\n
Avagliano is Music Director of the New Jersey-based Somerset Symphony Orchestra, Summit Symphony Orchestra and August Symphony, was a guest conductor for the Allentown Symphony Pops, Cincinnati Pops and maintains an active performance schedule as violinist and violist.<\/p>\n
Avagliano, a doctoral candidate for Orchestral Conducting at Rutgers University, has degrees from Indiana University and Rutgers University.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Riordan, saxophonist, composer, conductor and educator, is Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Lafayette College. He has performed at the World Saxophone Congress, U.S. Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium, national meetings of the North American Saxophone Alliance and is a frequent recitalist with pianist Holly Roadfeldt.<\/p>\n
He has a Doctor of Musical Arts from Arizona State University, Certificate of Performance in Saxophone from Northwestern University and three Masters of Music in composition, saxophone performance and conducting.<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra, \u201cViva La France,\u201d 3 p.m.; 2 p.m. pre-concert talk, March 8, Foy Concert Hall, Moravian University, 342 Main St., Bethlehem. Tickets: PSO office, 1524 W. Linden St., Allentown; 610-434-7811; https:\/\/www.pa.sinfonia.org<\/p>\n
\u201cA concert is the culmination of a journey that most people never witness: the refining of vowels, the shaping of phrases, the conversations about meaning and intention,\u201d says Derrick Thompson, Kutztown University Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe students\u2019 commitment to making great choral music is what transforms notes on a page into something powerful and meaningful,\u201d Thompson says.<\/p>\n
The Kutztown University Choir is in concert, 7:30 p.m. March 11, Schaeffer Auditorium, Kutztown University, Kutztown.<\/p>\n
The University Choir opens the concert with five selections: \u201cForever Music\u201d by Mark Hayes and Susan Bentall Boersma, an inspiring ballad celebrating the healing and uplifting power of music which also encourages audience participation; \u201cRitmo,\u201d an energetic Latin-style piece with Spanish lyrics, handclaps, finger snaps, stomping and body percussion; \u201cSure on a Shining Night\u201d by Morten Lauridsen; \u201cWe Remember Them\u201d by Susan LaBarr, and \u201cMusic Down in My Soul\u201d by Moses Hogan.<\/p>\n
Next is the Vocal Ensemble in \u201cFive Hebrew Love Songs\u201d by Eric Whitacre, which are of a more personal nature, reflecting a journey of love and cultural exchange between the composer and his wife.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis work is conducted by one of our senior music education students who has served as section leader of the bass voices,\u201d says Thompson.<\/p>\n
Two additional selections include \u201cDies Irae,\u201d based on a 13th century chant, and \u201cWitness,\u201d one of the most popular of traditional spirituals.<\/p>\n
The Troubadours, comprising tenor and bass voices, sing \u201cWait with Me\u201d by Coleman Peterson, a ballad about friendship, followed by the popular contemporary work by Rosephayne Powell, \u201cThe Word Was God,\u201d a fascinating presentation of the various phases in the biblical creation of the world.<\/p>\n
The concert concludes with the soprano and alto voice ensemble Circa. \u201cMuie Rendera\u201d is an arrangement of two Brazilian folk tunes in baiao dance style, \u201cEternal Rebel\u201d commemorates 100 years of Irish Independence, and an arrangement of Dolly Parton\u2019s song \u201cLight of a Clear Blue Morning,\u201d featuring solo soprano and soprano recorder.<\/p>\n
Says Thompson, \u201cThere is nothing quite like the experience of live choral singing. We hope families, students, alumni, and friends will join us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thompson has a Bachelor of Arts in music from Lynchburg College, Master of Arts in music from Morgan State University, Master of Music in choral conducting from Messiah University, and Master of Education in Music and Music Education and Doctor of Education in the College Teaching of Music and Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.<\/p>\n
Kutztown University Choir concert, 7:30 p.m. March 11, Schaeffer Auditorium, Kutztown University, 15200 Kutztown Road, Kutztown. Free. Ticket not required.<\/p>\n
\u201cClassical View\u201d is a column about classical music concerts, conductors and performers. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com<\/p>\n
Michael Avagliano<\/p>\n
Kirk O\u2019Riordan<\/p>\n
Derrick Thompson<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The classical music calendar includes the Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra \u201cViva La France\u201d concert at Moravian University, Bethlehem, and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":132286,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[153,155,154],"class_list":["post-132285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem-headlines","tag-bethlehem-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132285","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=132285"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132285\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/132286"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=132285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=132285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=132285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}