Dramatic Notes to Fill out the SC Philharmonic Season
April 18, 2009
COLUMBIA, SC – April 20, 2009 – The South Carolina Philharmonic shines the spotlight on its own talented musicians during “Heroes & Legends,” a dramatic 7:30 p.m. season finale concert Saturday, May 2 at the Koger Center.
In closing both his debut season and the SCP’s 45th anniversary season, Music Director Morihiko Nakahara features the Philharmonic’s own musicians on a program that tests their skills and could drive the audience to ask for earplugs.
The evening of dramatic music opens with Verdi’s Overture to La forza del destino, an opera that debuted in Russia in 1862. The overture was not added in present form until 1869. Not as well-known as other Verdi operas such as Aida, La forza del destino is said to be cursed after American baritone Lee Warren suffered a fatal heart attack on stage as he was set to begin an aria while performing with the Metropolitan Opera in 1960. Famously superstitious tenor Luciano Pavarotti avoided performing in La forza del destino for this very reason.
The highlight of the program, however, has to be the Mahler First Symphony, Titan. Mahler symphonies have gained worldwide renown for their big sound, and the Titan symphony is no exception. The SCP will have more than 90 musicians on stage as music moves from a quiet, suspenseful opening to a rousing finale that closes out the orchestra’s 45th anniversary season.
“We will try not to blow the roof off at the Koger,” Nakahara said.
The evening’s program also contains two movements of Philip Glass’ Heroes symphony, based on the groundbreaking collaboration by rock legend David Bowie and Brian Eno that produced an album of the same name. The orchestra plays the “Abdul Majid” and “V2 Schneider” movements.
Nakahara presents the popular pre-concert lecture Classical Conversations at 6:30 and 6:50 p.m. in the Koger Center Large Rehearsal Room, offering ticket holders his unique insight into the evening’s program.
Available online at www.capitoltickets.com or by phone at 803.251.2222, tickets are $42, $34, $24, $16 and $12. Student and military discounts available. Southern Valet provides valet parking for just $6.
