Espresso no. 2 features rarely played Masterwork by Stravinksy
November 8, 2017
Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra continues its 2017-2018 “Espresso” chamber concert series Friday, November 17, with French Press. Tickets are $26 each and can be purchased by telephone — (864) 542-2787 — or in person at Chapman’s box office Monday–Friday afternoons. Tickets are also available anytime online at SpartanburgPhilharmonic.org/Es
Doors open to the Chapman Cultural Center at 5:30pm for a happy hour reception that will include coffee sponsored by Mozza Coffee, beer by Ciclops Cidery and Brewery, wine by the Marriott, and appetizers by Select Restaurant. Ticketholders will also be treated to a limited-edition stemless wine glass or pint glass to take home. After the show, the audience is invited to both neighboring establishments, the Marriott and the Hub City Tap House, for special deals on food and drink.
French Press will feature 10 members of the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra in various ensembles playing music by French composers such as Debussy, Koechlin, Satie and others. Igor Stravinsky is the exception although the Russian composer spent a lot of his time in France.
When putting together this program, Peter B. Kay, General Manager and Composer in Residence, said that the SPO musicians were eager to play Stravinksy’s Octet for Wind Instruments and that is what drove the rest of the program. From Françaix’s bluesy “Pin-up Girls” from L’heure du Berger to Satie’s well-known Gymnopedies no.1, this program offers something for everyone.
Several ensembles will play throughout the night including an octet for a world premier piece by Nolan Stolz, Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Music
at the University of South Carolina, Upstate. Stolz describes his piece as “a reflection of the Stravinsky Octet for Winds with clear references to the piece using techniques similar to French composers of the last 40-or-so years.” The night concludes with Stravinsky’s masterwork played by flute, clarinet, 2 bassoons, 2 trumpets, tenor and bass trombone.
About Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra
The Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra’s mission is to enrich, inspire and educate the Spartanburg community through live performances of high quality music. Founded in 1948, the SPO is comprised of professional musicians from diverse backgrounds who form an ensemble capable of performing a variety of musical styles and repertoire. www.spartanburgphi
