Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra Presents Colors

There are two short, newer works on this program that are noteworthy. The first is Spun by Molly Herron. Herron has described her compositions “as a collision between old compositional ideas (such as those of Vivaldi and Haydn) and my contemporary ears.” This work was inspired by the poems of Jean Gallagher, who shares a similar artistic sensibility. The second is by Wisconsin-native Michael Torke. Oracle has a distinctly dignified character, but clearly highlights Torke’s inventiveness of instrument combinations and harmonies, eliciting a kaleidoscope of sonic colors.

The major works for this concert are the Sibelius Violin Concerto and Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite.

The Sibelius concerto is by turns emotionally turbulent and ecstatic. The soloist must not only possess prodigious technical command of the instrument, but also must be able to simply and purely “sing” the soaring melodic lines. Our guest artist, Grace Park, is that very sort of musician, and we are indeed fortunate to have her joining us in Sheboygan.

Stravinsky’s score to the ballet The Firebird was originally composed for the 1910 season of the Ballet Russes, under the direction of Sergei Diaghilev. Its immediate success led to international fame for Stravinsky, and then two subsequent ballet productions, Petrushka and Rite of Spring. Music from all three ballets is now in the standard repertory for stand-alone orchestra concerts - and for very good reason. The music is emotionally dramatic, the orchestration brilliant in its use of the orchestra, and organized as a composition in strikingly different ways than the Germanic school. Stravinsky created three concert suites of the music from The Firebird. The 1919 version will be performed here. A new animated feature entitled Frozen Forest will accompany the orchestra’s performance.