Ready for a Halloween-inspired, spine-tingling symphonic journey? Join us at Redmond's Robertson Performing Arts Center as guest conductor Leah Weitzsacker leads our talented musicians on an aural adventure of musical thrills and chills. You'll hear:
* "Ghost Train," by Eric Whitacre -- Described by this modern composer as, " … a supernatural machine that roars out of the night through forgotten towns and empty canyons," this torrid triptych's dynamic movements were composed in 1993-1995. Sit back and allow our talented musicians to take you on a haunting tour of unique sound effects that may inspire you to conjure your own phantom train ride home.
* "Unquiet Spirits," by John Mackey -- Commissioned by a consortium of student music organizations and premiered in May of 2013 by the University of Texas Wind Symphony, this whimsical waltz is full of spiritual longing and otherworldly sweetness.
* "Tam O'Shanter Overture," by Malcolm Arnold -- This musical story is based on the famous narrative poem by Scotland's Robbie Burns. While the hero, a hard-drinking farmer from Shanter, is in town one market-day, witches clip the tail of his horse. To explain the missing tail to his superstitious wife, he concocts a wild story.
* "Night on Bald Mountain," by Modeste Mussorgsky -- In this Halloween season classic (penned in 1867 and made famous by Disney's animated film "Fantasia,") Mussorgsky depicts a delightfully evil witches' sabbath. Enjoy his masterful use of all instruments to create expert depictions of mystical magic and intrigue.
* "Dancing at Stonehenge," by Athony Suter -- This piece invokes a festive tone, without any overt musical/thematic references to the title. Musical ideas have been borrowed from a variety of resources; I have taken cues from Brazilian music, American jazz, and Renaissance music. This pluralistic approach is suggested by the title, Stonehenge, on which construction began around 2950 BCE, and is thought to have been used throughout the ages for a myriad of purposes -- a burial site, an astronomical calendar, and a site of early pantheistic worship. From this unclear diversity, it seems natural that an assemblage of varied musical materials could collide. -- From the Composer
Don't miss your chance to join us for this captivating Halloween extravaganza that will leave you spellbound. Be sure to buy tickets in advance, or go to our website to reserve your comfortable seat in the Robertson Performing Arts Center at Redmond High School.
