Youngstown Symphony Orchestra Opens Season Sept. 17
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Masterworks series this year of the Youngstown Symphony begins at 8 p.m. Sept. 17 with works by eastern European composers, music that reflects the heritage of immigrants who settled in the Mahoning Valley.
Music director Randall Craig Fleischer will direct two Russians’ work, Peter Tchaikovsky’s “Mozartiana” and Alexander Borodin’s “Polovtsian Dances” from his opera, “Prince Igor.”
Polish composer Frederic Chopin’s “Polonaise” is on the program as is Bohemian composer Antonin Dvorak’s “Slavonic Dances.” The concert is rounded out by Hungarian Franz Liszt’s “Les Preludes” and the Czech Bedfich Smetena’s “The Moldau” from his paean to his homeland, “Ma Vlast” (“My Country”).
The second classical concert will feature music written by Italians and the third about the British Empire and African-Americans.
George D. Beelen, professor of history emeritus at Youngstown State University and president of the Ohio Cultural Alliance, wrote the liner notes in the programs handed each person who attends these concerts. Before each, he will deliver a two-minute introduction about the ethnic groups whose music is featured in that evening’s program, where they settled in the Mahoning Valley and contributions to their new home.
This year’s series is the 90th season of the Youngstown Symphony. As is tradition, the evening will begin with the orchestra playing “The Star Spangled Banner” following the presentation of the colors by the color guard of the Civil Air Patrol of the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary.
On Sept. 17, Mayor John A. McNally will “make a special presentation” to Fleischer, says symphony President and CEO Patricia Syak.
The concert is underwritten in part by the Home Savings Charitable Foundation, the Sen. Maurice and Florence Lipscher Charitable Trust and the Youngstown Symphony Society.
All Masterworks concerts are performed in the DeYor Center for the Performing Arts, 260 W. Federal St.
For tickets, call 330 744 0264 or visit youngstownsympony.com.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
