Under the baton of Maestro Wes Kenney, the Fort Collins Symphony opens Season 69 on Saturday, October 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Center, with an all-Leonard Bernstein retrospective for its first Masterworks performance: Hollywood to the Big Apple. Marking the 100th anniversary of his birth, this live orchestral experience will celebrate the broad contributions of one of American’s greatest and most prolific composers.
Bernstein was a rare genius whose talents enabled him to excel as a pianist, conductor, teacher, mentor, and composer of both popular musical theater and serious orchestral works. The Fort Collins Symphony will journey through 35 years of his influence on the American soundscape: from his Latin and jazz-influenced Broadway hit (“Symphonic Dances” from West Side Story) and gritty Hollywood film score (On the Waterfront: “Symphonic Suite”) to the lesser known works of his raucous Slava! A Political Overture and gripping Symphony No. 1, “Jeremiah.” Jeremiah’s Lamentations movement features guest artist mezzo-soprano Buffy Baggott.
The Fort Collins Symphony’s season begins with a Friends of the Symphony co-sponsored composer talk by Dr. Dawn Grapes at noon on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at Old Town Library. A free Open Rehearsal on Thursday, October 4, 2018 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.at the Lincoln Center offers the opportunity to watch the orchestra prepare for the concert. A pre-concert lecture will be led by Maestro Wes Kenney at 6:30 p.m. in the Lincoln Center Performance Hall. For additional details and information, please visit www.fcsymphony.org or call 970.482.4823. For tickets, call 970.221.6730 or LCtix.com.
The Fort Collins Symphony 69th Season is sponsored by the City of Fort Collins Fort Fund and Dr. Peter Springberg. Masterworks 1 is sponsored by Dr. Michael Hobaugh and Alexandra Lee Hobaugh. Additional concert sponsors are The Elizabeth Hotel, Café Vino, Paul Wood Florist, and Justin Holcomb Piano Tuning.
PHOTOS: Guest Artist Buffy Baggott and The Fort Collins Symphony