A concert showcasing
the virtuosity of the MCO

This orchestral concert features three towering works of the repertoire for chamber orchestra, including one that started out as a quartet!

Anne Manson says, “the Shostakovich is the foundation of this concert; arranged and orchestrated by Barshai from a string quartet, this is like a big new Shostakovich symphony that we’ve never heard before. It’s an amazing showpiece for the orchestra, — both for the strings and for the four solo woodwind instruments — it really shows the virtuosity of the MCO.”

Aaron copland’s ‘Appalachian Spring’

A true twentieth century masterpiece, Copland’s Pulitzer Prize-winning ballet score had an interesting genesis. “The fate of pieces is really rather curious… you can’t always figure out in advance exactly what’s going to happen to them,” Copland told National Public Radio.

Copland readily admitted that the pastoral beauty of Appalachia wasn’t on his mind when he wrote the score: “I gave voice to that region without knowing I was giving voice to it.” It was dancer Martha Graham who chose the title (she had been commissioned to choreograph the ballet and danced the leading role).

Pre-concert event

Sisler High School Choral Ensemble, Carolyn Boyes, director; 6:45 pm

Repertoire

Ralph Vaughan Williams
Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis,
for double stringed orchestra

Aaron Copland
Appalachian Spring

Dmitri Shostakovich
String quartet, no. 3, in F major, op. 73 (arr. Barshai)

Concert sponsor

 

 

Anne Manson / Music Director and Conductor

MCO's 2010/11 season is sponsored by The Great-West Life Assurance Company.
Support has been received from Media sponsors The Winnipeg Free Press, CBC Radio One 990,
CBC Radio 2 98.3, Espace musique 89,9 and Golden West Radio. Heartstrings gala sponsor:
Mann Financial Assurance Limited. Sponsor of open dress rehearsals: Canadian Bridge Federation.
Arts Accessibility Program: Sun Life Financial.

© 2010 Manitoba Chamber Orchestra