The Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia
Benjamin Rous, Conductor
Peter Spaar, Bass
PROGRAM
[click title for preview]
MAZZOLI Dark with Excessive Bright (2016) 13’
GERSHWIN Lullaby (1919) 9’
BEETHOVEN Op. 18, No. 4 in C minor for string orchestra (1798-1800) 23′
The Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia performs a pair of Masterworks concerts on Saturday, November 6, 8:00pm, at Old Cabell Hall on the Grounds of the University of Virginia and Sunday, November 7, 3:30pm, at Charlottesville High School’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center.
While the Charlottesville Symphony’s woodwind and brass sections remain sidelined by COVID restrictions, Music Director Benjamin Rous has crafted a one-hour program with no intermission that spotlights the orchestra’s violin, viola, cello and bass sections. Missy Mazzoli’s Dark with Excessive Bright: Concerto for Contrabass and String Orchestra features the Charlottesville Symphony’s Principal Bass, Peter Spaar.
Lullaby, originally composed for string quartet but transcribed for string orchestra, was one of George Gershwin’s two chamber works. It is best described as a jazzy lullaby for grown-ups. Benjamin Rous’s transcription of Beethoven’s string quartet Op. 18 No. 4 in C minor for full string orchestra rounds out the program.
Soloist Peter Spaar holds the Robert and Ruth Cross Principal Bass Chair with the Charlottesville Symphony and is the longest-tenured member of the orchestra, having served as its Principal Bass since 1993. He is also a member of the Richmond Symphony and Senior Lecturer in Bass at the University of Virginia. Local audiences know him as a fixture in Charlottesville’s jazz scene as the founder of the Free Bridge Quintet, UVA’s jazz quintet-in-residence.
The Charlottesville Symphony’s 2021-22 concert season is made possible by a major grant from the Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation.
“Know the Score” pre-concert lectures at Minor Hall on Saturday evenings have been temporarily suspended. In-depth program notes are posted on the orchestra’s website, www.cvillesymphony.org, two weeks prior to each Masterworks concert.
The University of Virginia requires that masks be worn at all times inside Old Cabell Hall. In addition to wearing a mask, everyone attending the November 7th concert at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center will be required to provide proof of full vaccination or proof of a negative COVID test taken with 72 hours of arrival at the Center. A valid photo ID is also required. Patrons who are not able to show both will not be able to attend the performance and will be issued a ticket refund.
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-$45 for adults and $10 for students. UVA students may request one complimentary ticket in advance. Single 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 2021-22 CONCERTS INFORMATION
OLD WORLD
Saturday, February 12, 8:00pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds
Sunday, February 13, 3:30pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center
FELIX MENDELSSOHN – The Hebrides Overture
OTTORINO RESPIGHI – Fountains of Rome
SERGEI RACHMANINOFF – Isle of the Dead
BEDŘICH SMETANA – The Moldau
NEW WORLD
Saturday, March 21, 8:00pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds
Sunday, March 22, 3:30pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center
Paul Ghun Kim, Guest Conductor
FRANZ LISZT – Les Préludes
FLORENCE PRICE – Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Brendon Elliott, Violin
ANTONĺN DVOŘÁK – Symphony No. 9 (“From the New World”)
DAZZLING DANCES
Saturday, April 23, 8:00pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds
Sunday, April 24, 3:30pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center
CHRISTOPHER ROUSE – Flute Concerto with Kelly Sulick, Flute
JOHANN STRAUSS II – Accelerationen; Banditen-Galopp; Frühlingsstimmen; Éljen a Magyar!
NICOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV – Capriccio Espagnol
AND
FAMILY HOLIDAY CONCERTS
Friday, December 4, 8:00pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds
Saturday, December 5, 3:30pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds
Holiday favorites with the UVA University Singers
Conducted by Michael Slon
All artists, programs and venues are subject to change.
