bainbridge
symphony orchestra

2007–2008 35th Anniversary season

MARCH 8 & 9 , 2008

In Nature's Realm ~ Works inspired by the beauty of the natural world

Tickets:
$15 for adults, and $10 for seniors, military, and youth

Performances:
Saturday @ 7:30 p.m. & Sunday @ 3:00 p.m.

Pre-Concert Chats:
45-minutes ahead of downbeat: Saturday @ 6:45 p.m. & Sunday @ 2:15 p.m.

2007 - 2008 Season Media Sponsor: Bainbridge Island Review
Season Presenting Sponsor: Rainier Investment Management

 Download and print the POSTER

While contemplating programming for the Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra’s 35th Anniversary Season, Music Director & Conductor David Upham was inspired to celebrate the many beautiful things about the symphony and Bainbridge Island itself. The program this March celebrates the beauty of nature and borrows a title from a concert overture by Antonín Dvorák.

The concert begins with a Concerto for String Orchestra by Antonio Vivaldi subtitled, “Alla Rustica.” Vigorous and full of his customary fire, the “red priest’s” work provides the ideal opening for the concert. Alexander Borodin’s In the Steppes of Central Asia follows. It was composed as a contribution to a theatrical production celebrating the reign of Czar Alexander II. To honor the Czar’s conquering of Turkestan, Borodin wrote music portraying a caravan passing through the dry countryside, escorted by Russian soldiers.

The first half of the program concludes with a return to the United States and two works by Aaron Copland. The roots of Down a Country Lane lay in a film score Copland composed called “The Cummington Story.” It traced the gradual integration of Eastern European immigrants into the town of Cummington, Massachusetts. Copland summarized the spirit of the music and film by saying “Strangeness between people breaks down when they live and work and meet together as neighbors.” This touchingly simple piece will be followed by the famous Variations on a Shaker Melody, extracted from Copland’s Pulitzer Prize-winning ballet, Appalachian Spring.

The Eighth Symphony of Antonín Dvorák constitutes the second half of the program. Dvorak’s reputation as a composer of folk-like melodies and dances is obvious in this work, written in the key of G Major. The symphony’s opening moments foreshadow the later movements when a dark and striving cello theme begins in G minor instead of the expected G major and the tension that characterizes the symphony is set. Soon, however, the clouds lift and listeners hear the first of many bird-like melodies sung by the flute. Vacillation between dark and light continues throughout the work, from the deep night-song of the second movement to the waltz of the third movement, resolving in the raucous country dance of the finale.

Each concert includes one 15 minute intermission and is suitable for music lovers of all ages.