|
BY KAREN BOSSICK Get ready for “Star Wars” as done by the Sun Valley Summer Symphony. Luke Skywalker and a Wookiee will join forces with a Jedi Knight on the screen as the Sun Valley Summer Symphony becomes one of the first orchestras in the country to present “Star Wars: A New Hope” in concert. The symphony will perform the iconic movie score by Oscar-winning composer John Williams during its Pops night on Aug. 19 while the motion picture is shown on big screens on the Pavilion stage and lawn.
|
|
The Symphony will present John Williams’ musical score for “Star Wars: A New Hope” live to the film on Aug. 19.
|
|
|
The symphony will also pay tribute to Leonard Bernstein in celebration of his 100th birthday with a “West Side Story” number during its 34th season. And it will perform Ravel’s “Dapnis et Chloe” brought to life in an immersive new multimedia production designed by award-winning film director and projection designer David Murakami. The piece was commissioned by the symphony. “From the magic of ‘Star Wars’ to the mystery of Sibelius; from the drama of Shostakovich to the sensuality of Ravel; from the miracle of Mozart to the irresistible swing of ‘West Side Story,’ there’s something for just about everyone in the 2018 Festival,” said Music Director Alasdair Neale. “All of my colleagues join me in eager anticipation of what is certain to be another memory making season.” The symphony’s 34th season will open with four In Focus Series concerts showcasing the mastery of Mozart through intimate ensembles and small chamber orchestras in a program titled “Mozart Forever! A Brief Survey of Masterpieces for His Time and Ours.”
|
|
Violinist Benjamin Beilman will make his Sun Valley debut on Aug. 12 as he performs Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor.
|
|
|
Brief discussions each evening will tell the story behind such works as Piano Sonata No. 11 in A Major. Pianist David Fung will perform Piano Concert No. 23, K. 433 on July 31. Soprano Celine Byrne and Baritone Hugh Russell will perform an evening of Mozart’s greatest opera overtures and arias from “The Marriage of Figaro,” “Don Giovanni” and “The Magic Flute” on Aug. 2. The final In Focus concert on Aug. 3 will highlight Mozart’s superior symphonic writing with a performance of his Jupiter Symphony. The Orchestra Festival will kick off on Aug. 5 with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 in F Minor and conclude on Aug. 23 with Ravel’s “Daphnis et Chloe.” Pianist Yefim Bronfman, one of today’s most acclaimed pianists, will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 on Aug. 8. Young phenom violinist Benjamin Beilman will play the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto on Aug. 12, the same night the orchestra performs Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from “West Side Story.” Cellist Amos Yang will perform Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in B Minor on Aug. 16.
|
|
Yefim Bronfman will return to Sun Valley for its Aug. 8 performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4.
|
|
|
R.L. Rowsey will narrate the Family Concert on Aug. 11, which will include Hedwig’s Theme from “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” “Flight of the Bumble Bee,” “The Waltzing Cat” and “Behold the Bold Unbrellaphant.” The In Focus Series concerts start at 6 p.m. and the Orchestra Festival concerts at 6:30 p.m. The exceptions are “Star Wars: A New Hope,” which will start at 5:30 p.m., and “Daphnis et Chloe,” which will start at 8 p.m. The star for the Gala performance on Aug. 6 will be unveiled on Feb. 28. Visit www.svsummersymphony.org for more information.
|