William Shakespeare said: “If music be the food of love, play on.”
One of his most famous plays, “Romeo and Juliet,” will be the cornerstone of the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra’s tribute to love.
A special pre-Valentine’s Day concert will be presented at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, 450 Schoolhouse Road in Richland Township.
“Love – Passion – Excitement ... That’s Music!” under the direction of Maestro Istvan Jaray, is the fourth concert of the symphony’s 83rd season.
Two of the most famous “Romeo and Juliet” musical stories from different centuries will headline the performance.
Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet Suite No. 2,” from the 20th century, brings to aural life many of the scenes of Shakespeare’s story – the rigidity of the feuding families, Juliet’s gaiety, the dancing and even the tragic ending.
Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliette Fantasy Overture,” written in the 19th century, presents the vital elements of the story as moving, yet touching the listener with perhaps the magical side of the story.
“It promises to be a romantic afternoon,” said Jaray, who selected all the music for the concert. “When I put this program together, I wanted to feature Tchaikovsky’s overture because it is well-known and quite romantic.”
For added excitement during the concert, Jaray has chosen to feature the talents of symphony flutist Tara Yaney and harpist Christine Mazza.
The duo will perform Mozart’s “Flute and Harp Concerto in C major.”
Yaney is the principal piccolo player for the Johnstown and Westmoreland symphony orchestras.
Mazza is principal harpist with the Johnstown, West Virginia University, Fairmont and Huntington symphonies.
No instrument produces sounds to comfort the passionate heart more than strings.
“I believe the harp is second only to the violin when it comes to performing romantic music,” Jaray said. “This Mozart selection will be soothing to our audience and promises to be most enjoyable.”
Jaray brings the timeless love story forward with modern day musical love stories from “West Side Story,” a medley from the movie “Titanic” and the sensual “Adagio” from “Spartacus.”
The concert’s afternoon start is intended to entice those who may not be able to attend evening concerts and to encourage new listeners to come hear timeless stories told through music.
“The warmth and general feeling that we anticipate the music to arouse in our listeners will surely carry with them as they leave the concert hall,” said Pat Hofscher, symphony executive director. “We’d like to guarantee that the weather won’t be horrendous, but that’s part of the reason we’re experimenting with Sunday afternoon concerts again this year.”
Tickets are available at the arts center box office or by telephone at 269-7200. Tickets are $10, $20, $30 and $35.
Information: 535-6738.
Season tickets for the remaining concerts (pro-rated) of the season are available by calling 269-7200.
That’s amore
What: “Love – Passion – Excitement ... That’s Music!” by Johnstown Symphony Orchestra.
Where: Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, 450 Schoolhouse Road, Richland Township.
When: 2:30 p.m. Feb. 12.
Tickets: Available from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays at the box office or by calling 269-7200, (800) 846-2787 or visit www.upjarts.org.
Cost: $10, $20, $30 and $35.
Information: 535-6738.
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