The Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia continues its 50th Anniversary Season on Saturday, March 22, 7:30pm, at Old Cabell Hall on the Grounds of the University of Virginia and Sunday, March 23, 3:30pm, at Charlottesville High School’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center.
Noting his decision to celebrate the orchestra’s milestone season with the inclusion of a well-known, major symphonic work on each of the five 2024-25 Masterworks programs, Music Director Benjamin Rous anchors the March performances with Wolfgang Amadè Mozart’s Requiem, a choral masterpiece left unfinished at the time of his death. Joining the orchestra are the UVA University Singers, Michael Slon, director, and four vocal soloists specializing in music of the Baroque and Classical periods: Clara Rottsolk, soprano; Patrick Dailey, countertenor; Gene Stenger, tenor; and Andrew Garland, baritone.
Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings opens the concerts. One of the most well-known American compositions of the 20th century, it was played by orchestras around the world following the 9/11 tragedies and has been heard at state funerals and featured in movie soundtracks, most notably Oliver Stone’s 1986 Vietnam War film "Platoon.”.
Rounding out the program is the world premiere performance of & metaphors for rapper, countertenor and orchestra by A.D. Carson. Carson is Associate Professor of Hip Hop and Shannon Center Fellow for Advanced Studies at the University of Virginia. His work as a performance artist, educator, writer and commentator deals with issues of race, place, history, literature, hip-hop, rhetoric and performance.
Benjamin Rous says, “In the work, A.D. Carson not only employs metaphors, but explores the very idea of metaphor as a lens through which to view the nature of communication between opposing viewpoints. In referring to “ampersand”, he zooms in on this ancient Latin-derived symbol, which, as he has written, ‘continues to hold meaning; to connect sentences & phrases; to link pasts, presents & futures together; to suggest possibility.’ ”
Cross-genre countertenor Patrick Dailey performs with Carson and the Charlottesville Symphony. His appearance is made possible by the Davidson Guest Artist Fund.
Content Warning: The lyrics to & metaphors include strong language which may not be suitable for all audiences.
The March concerts are supported by UVA Arts, Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band at the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation, the Carl Roskott Fund for Special Programming, and the UVA Arts Council.
Major season support has also been provided by the Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation.
In-depth program notes by Program Annotator Laurie Shulman are posted on the orchestra’s website, www.cvillesymphony.org, two weeks prior to each Masterworks concert.
Free parking is available in the UVA Central Grounds Parking Garage, located on Emmet Street South on Saturday nights and at Charlottesville High School’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center on Sunday afternoons. The Charlottesville Free Trolley stops at McCormick Road near the UVA Amphitheater, in close proximity to Old Cabell Hall. Both venues are wheelchair accessible.
Single tickets are $10-$53 for adults and $10 for students. UVA students may request one complimentary ticket in advance. Tickets may be purchased at the University of Virginia Arts Box Office, (434) 924-3376, 12:00-5:00pm, Tuesday through Friday in the lobby of the UVA Drama Building at 109 Culbreth Road, or online at www.artsboxoffice.virginia.edu.
All University of Virginia employees (faculty and staff of all UVA departments and professional schools) are entitled to a 20% discount on tickets to individual performances. This offer does not apply to subscriptions, the December Family Holiday Concerts, “Pops at the Paramount” or previously purchased tickets.
REMAINING 2024-25 CONCERT INFORMATION
RACHMANINOFF PIANO CONCERTO NO. 3
Saturday, April 26, 7:30pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds
Sunday, April 27, 3:30pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center
CLAUDE DEBUSSY – Claire de lune
KAIJA SAARIAHO – Asteroid 4179 - Toutatis
ALEXANDER BORODIN – Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor
SERGEI RACHMANINOFF – Piano Concerto No. 3 with Anna Han, Piano
All artists, programs and venues are subject to change.
"Know before you go" Answers to frequently asked questions about Charlottesville Symphony Concerts.
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