September 8, 2008
Contact: Sara Leonard
Concert and Production Manager
413/542-2195
AMHERST, Mass. – The Amherst Symphony Orchestra (formerly the Amherst College Orchestra) will present its gala season-opening concert on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 8 p.m. in Buckley Recital Hall in the Arms Music Center at Amherst College. The event celebrates and welcomes the Amherst College Class of 2012.
The performance will begin with Richard Strauss’ dazzling orchestral tour de force Dance of the Seven Veils from his opera Salome, which is based on the play by Oscar Wilde. Richard Wagner’s impassioned Prelude & Libestod (Love-Death) from his masterpiece Tristan and Isolde follows, featuring renowned soprano Janna Baty as soloist. The concert will conclude with the sunny and stormy Second Symphony of Johannes Brahms. Mark Lane Swanson, music director, and Daniel Curtis ’08 will conduct.
The theme of thwarted love will continue throughout the orchestra’s fall season, with the music of Romeo and Juliet on Oct. 24 at 8:30 p.m., Leonard Bernstein’s Broadway: A 90th Birthday Tribute on Nov. 8 at 9 p.m. and a concert performance of Giacomo Puccini’s opera La Boheme in celebration of the composer’s 150th birthday on Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are available to the general public for $8. Tickets for senior citizens and children under 13 are $4. There is no charge for Amherst College students. Tickets will be sold at the door and may be reserved in advance by e-mailing concerts@amherst.edu. For more information on the program, please e-mail Swanson at mlswanson@amherst.edu.