CSO Presents Myths, Legends, & Folk Tunes
COLUMBUS, GA - September 6th, 2022 - The Columbus Symphony Orchestra (CSO) kicks off the 2022-23 season on September 17th with “Myths, Legends, & Folk Tunes.” The concert showcases the largest orchestral setting offered in the last two years celebrating the legendary Firebird Suite by Stravinsky and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition as arranged by Ravel. The music on this concert is inspired by non-musical things: paintings and drawings, ancient fairy tales and legends, and beloved folk tunes. The concert will begin at 7:30 PM and will be performed in the Bill Heard Theatre at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts.
Music Director and Conductor, George Del Gobbo commented, “We are delighted to begin the CSO's 2022-23 season with a concert that features our talented orchestra. Offering works by Mussorgsky and Stravinsky, you will not only hear great music, thrill to the sound of a live orchestra, but also appreciate the amazing talent of the musicians who grace our stage and enrich our lives.”
Mily Balakirev combined traditional folk music and experimental classical music practices. He arranged and published collections of folk songs that would later serve as source material for other composers. His Overture on Three Russian Themes was composed in 1858. Themes from this piece were later used in Tchaikovsky’s fourth symphony and Stravinsky's Petrushka.
A group of impresarios turned to Igor Stravinsky to help create an innovative ballet that combined music, theater, and visual art. They settled upon the Russian folklore of the Firebird symbolizing rebirth, beauty, and magic. The story tells of a hero on a journey to free captives from an evil villain with the help of the magical Firebird. A condensed concert version of the ballet was written several years later known as The Firebird Suite (1919). This version will be performed by the CSO.
Modest Mussorgsky’s works were often inspired by Russian history, folklore, and other national themes. He earned a living as a clerk in civil service while receiving his musical training from his peer, Mily Balakirev. After the death of his dear friend and artist Viktor Hartmann, Mussorgsky composed a set of short piano pieces in 1874 titled Pictures at an Exhibition. The music was based on a memorial exhibition that honored the work of Hartmann. It depicts Mussorgsky’s experience of walking through the gallery and contemplating the significance of each painting. The piece contains a recurring theme heard in each of the Promenade sections that represents the viewer walking from one painting to the next. Maurice Ravel later went on to arrange the orchestral version that will be played by the CSO.
On Saturday, September 17, the CSO will present an Open Dress Rehearsal beginning at 12:30 PM. We encourage attendance from all members of the community, including those who are unable to attend the evening concert or looking for a “behind-the-scenes” look into the ensemble. It is a great way to introduce young children to a live musical experience in a sensory-friendly environment. Continuing the tradition, this informal and all-inclusive atmosphere is breaking the financial barrier by encouraging attendees to “pay what you want.” Audience members set their own prices to eliminate hesitation and allow new viewers to partake in the music being created by the CSO.
To enhance the concert experience, the CSO offers a pre-concert discussion with George Del Gobbo that gives insight into the composers and works being performed called Know the Score. Know the Score occurs at 6:30 PM in Studio Theatre directly before the concert and admission is included with the purchase of a concert ticket.
Tickets can be purchased online at csoga.org/tickets or in-person at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts located at 900 Broadway, Columbus, Ga. Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 5:30 PM (Broadway entrance). Single ticket prices range from $10-$40. Senior, military, educator, and student discounts are available.
###
About the Columbus Symphony Orchestra
The Columbus Symphony Orchestra, formed in 1855, is the second orchestra founded in the nation and the first founded in Georgia. The CSO, under the direction of George Del Gobbo, has long been considered one of the Southeast’s premier musical ensembles. The CSO’s performance venue at RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, Bill Heard Theatre, seats 2,000 patrons and provides a state-of-the-art visual and acoustic experience. For more information about the CSO, visit our website at csoga.org.