By Kristin Beauchamp-Butt
As the mountains and parks around Cedar City color with the glory of fall, the Orchestra of Southern Utah presents Natural Legacy on Nov. 10. The concert, filled with the imagery of powerful storms, peaceful streams, and beautiful landscapes, features music themed around the great outdoors. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Heritage Theater and is conducted by Adam Lambert. A special pre-concert lecture, presented by Jim Harrison beginning at 7 p.m.
Nature has long inspired the works of artists the world over. Beethoven enjoyed walks in the countryside and immortalized his experiences with his Sixth Symphony. The challenging piece is performed in its entirety, allowing the listener to stroll alongside as the mood shifts from the cheerful enthusiasm of entering the fresh air of the country, to the restful pause of a moment beside a brook, to the exuberance of a dance that is ended by a thunderstorm, and finally to thankful relief with the passing of the storm.
With consistent request from audience members, Vivaldi’s highly popular “Autumn” from “The Four Seasons” will be performed. “The Four Seasons” is Vivaldi’s most successful composition and, at time of publication, included poems to be presented alongside the music. The poems assist the audience in visualizing the elements of each season that Vivaldi sought to convey. Heather Wilhelm performs the violin solo. Wilhelm is an active performer with the group Wilhelm, serves as the Orchestra of Southern Utah’s concertmistress, and teaches a large studio of violin students.
The beautiful “Flower Duet” by Léo Delibes captures one of the loveliest melodies of the Romantic era. The piece originates from his opera “Lakmé” and is performed as two women collect flowers along a riverbank. Jackie Jackson and Terri Metcalf Petersen sing the familiar duet. Both are active vocal soloists and teachers. Jackson teaches at SUU and DSU in addition to directing In Jubilo and the Chorale for the Orchestra of Southern Utah. Petersen teaches voice at DSU and has been a soloist with the orchestra in previous concerts.
Tickets are available at the Heritage Center box office by calling (435) 865-2882 or online at heritagectr.org. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students, and $30 for groups up to 6. Because evening concerts are recorded, it is requested that babies and children under the age of six not attend. Children over the age of six are welcome at all concerts with adult supervision. For more information, please visit myosu.org, call the Orchestra of Southern Utah at (435) 233-8213, or email osucedarcity@gmail.com.
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