Department of Music

The Charlottesville & University Symphony Orchestra continues its 2012-13 season, entitled Let’s Dance!, on Saturday, March 23, 8:00 p.m., at Old Cabell Hall on the U.Va Grounds, and Sunday, March 24, 3:30 p.m., at Monticello High School in Charlottesville.

Conducted by Music Director Kate Tamarkin, the concerts include Ottorino Respighi’s Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 1; Manuel de Falla’s Suite No. 2 from The Three Cornered Hat; Johann Strauss, Jr.’s Emperor Waltzes; and Maurice Ravel’s La Valse.

Respighi’s first suite of Ancient Airs and Dances reflects his interest in the Renaissance dances of Italy’s golden age. Falla’s The Three Cornered Hat pokes fun at life in a small Andalusian town, including seduction and mistaken identity. Although Johann Strauss, Jr. was Austrian and Ravel was French, both the Emperor Waltzes and La Valse are explorations of Vienna’s most famous dance.

Both performances are sponsored by Sage Physics & Engineering.

Know the Score pre-concert lectures will be presented 45 minutes before each concert. Free of charge, these informative and entertaining lectures by McIntire Department of Music Chairman and Associate Professor of Music Richard Will offer both novice and experienced patrons a deeper appreciation of the performances. Saturday’s lecture will take place in Minor Hall; Sunday’s lecture will be held in the Forum at Monticello High School. 

Free parking is available in the U.Va Central Grounds Parking Garage, located on Emmet Street, on Saturday night and at the high school on Sunday afternoons. Both venues are wheelchair accessible.

Tickets are priced at $38, $30, $25 and $20 for adults, and $10 for students. U.Va students may request one complimentary ticket in advance. Tickets may be purchased at The University of Virginia Arts Box Office, (434) 924-3376, 12:00-5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday in the lobby of the Drama Building at 109 Culbreth Road, or online at www.artsboxoffice.virginia.edu. All University of Virginia employees are entitled to a 20% discount on tickets to individual performances. This offer does not apply to subscriptions or previously purchased tickets.

Prior to the March 24 ^th performance at the high school, the orchestra will host its third annual Musical Instrument Petting Zoo from 1:00-2:00 in the Commons. Miniature Mozarts and budding Beethovens will be able to explore, touch and learn to make sounds on instruments in the string, woodwind and brass families. Members of the orchestra will be on hand to offer demonstrations and answer questions. There is no admission charge for the Petting Zoo.

The final dates in the Let’s Dance! season are April 20-21: Works by Adams, Copland, Bernstein and Ginastera with clarinet soloist Rob Patterson.

Arts Box Office: (434) 924-3376