Department of Music

The Charlottesville & University Symphony Orchestra continues its 2011-12 “Bridges” season with a program titled “Bridges Across Time – Psalms and Folksongs” on Saturday, November 19, 8:00 p.m., at Old Cabell Hall on the U.Va Grounds, and Sunday, November 20, 3:30 p.m., at Monticello High School in Charlottesville.

The concert features works that span centuries, drawing on ancient Hebrew psalm texts, nineteenth century folk music and modern musical theater motifs: Leonard Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms,” Igor Stravinsky’s “Symphony of Psalms” and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2 in C minor.

U.Va Assistant Professor of Music Michael Slon will conduct the orchestra and the University Singers in the “Chichester Psalms” and “Symphony of Psalms.”  Founded in 1957, the University Singers is the University of Virginia’s premier choral ensemble, performing a cappella and accompanied choral literature including major works with orchestra.

Bernstein’s setting of Psalm 23 for treble soloist will feature Ben Elliott from the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir.  A member of the choir for six years, he has served as a soloist and section leader and been named Outstanding Chorister for three years.  Current University Singers accompanist David Norfrey sang the solo under Bernstein’s baton at a 1973 Vatican performance for Pope Paul VI.

“Symphony of Psalms” served as a conceptual model for “Chichester Psalms”; hence the pairing on this program.  Like so much of Stravinsky’s music, the Symphony is unique. Stravinsky ignores the conventional four-movement layout of a symphony and the work’s three movements are performed without a break.  While its source is Biblical, it is intended for concert rather than church performance and holds its own in a concert hall.

Stephen Czarkowski is the orchestra’s guest conductor during Music Director Kate Tamarkin’s fall semester sabbatical.  He will lead the orchestra in Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2.  The second symphony has been dubbed “Little Russian” because the composer incorporated three Ukrainian folk tunes into its fabric.  Ukraine was called “Little Russia.”

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 on-line atwww.artsboxoffice.virginia.edu.

Subscription tickets for the remainder of the season’s masterworks concerts are available at the orchestra office (434) 924-3139.