West Side Story and Magic Flute

Dreams & Idylls

Tuesday, July 23 at 7:30PM, Sunset Center Theater

Grete Pedersen, conductor; Clara Rottsolk, soprano; Andrew Staples, tenor; Dashon Burton, bass-baritone; Festival Orchestra

One of the most powerful and beautiful songs ever written, “Somewhere” from West Side Story, sets the tone of the Tuesday night concert with messages of love and hope for the future.

Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 is a self-described lyric rhapsody that is lush and rich in texture, idyllic, and full of nostalgia. He paints a musical picture that is evocative and dreamy from the perspective of a small boy who, at times, seems to be an adult reminiscing about his childhood. 

Haydn’s Symphony 49 derives from his Sturm und Drang period. The slow movements are dark and somber, but the fast movements show driven and relentless energy. 

The arias from Mozart’s Magic Flute are light-hearted with musical-textual playfulness, bringing full circle the messages of overcoming trials, love, and hope for the future. “Somehow, Someday…there’s a place for us.”

Program

“Somewhere” from West Side Story (3 minutes) | LEONARD BERNSTEIN (1918-1990)

Knoxville: Summer of 1915, op. 24 (16 minutes) | SAMUEL BARBER (1910-1981)

Symphony No. 49, Hob. I:49, F minor, “La Passione” (24 minutes) | FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN (1732-1809)

I. Adagio

II. Allegro di molto

III. Menuet

IV. Presto

Arias from Die Zauberflöte (11 minutes) | WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (1756-1791)

No. 3 Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön

No. 20 Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen wünscht Papageno sich

No. 21 Pa- pa- pa-