Tag Archives: Philip Mann

Arkansas Symphony Orchestra – Beethoven, Schoenberg, Takei

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Actor and activist George Takei joins the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra this weekend in concerts at Robinson Center Music Hall to narrate Schoenberg’s A Survivor from Warsaw at a concert featuring a message of hope and unity with Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony also known as Ode to Joy.

The ASO MasterWorks concerts are tonight at 8pm and tomorrow at 3pm.

Takei’s appearance is sponsored by the Stella Boyle Smith Trust and he will take the stage as narrator during Schoenberg’s A Survivor from Warsaw. The narration that accompanies this piece depicts the story of a concentration camp survivor from the Warsaw ghetto during World War II. Takei, a Japanese American who as a child was interned at an internment camp in Rohwer, Arkansas during World War II, is a supporter of human right issues and community activist.  Takei is chairman emeritus and a trustee of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles and was appointed to the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission by former President Clinton.
Just after Schoenberg’s moving piece, Maestro Philip Mann and the ASO musicians will be joined by over 400 voices from the state of Arkansas for Beethoven’s prayer for hope and peace,Symphony No. 9, Ode to Joy. “This is perhaps the most recognizable work in the history of classical music, and for good reason,” said Mann. “Its message of triumph and victory through a shared brotherhood between peoples is an enduring, timeless, and transcendent declaration. Seen as a watershed movement in music history, the work has gained such significance and is now synonymous with important moments in world history—like its performance marking the re-unification of Germany and the fall of the Berlin Wall.”

Featuring:

George Takei, narrator
Schoenberg Chorus
River City Men’s Chorus
Beethoven Chorus
Arkansas State University
Harding University
Hendrix College
Lyon College
Ouachita Baptist University
Philander Smith College
Southern Arkansas University at Magnolia
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Arkansas at Monticello
Members of River City Men’s Chorus
Philip Mann, conductor
Arkansas Symphony Orchestra

Russian Winter (though outside it might as well be Spring)

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The warmth and passion of Russian composers are on the bill at the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra this weekend.  Under the baton of Music Director Philip Mann, the ASO performs works by Sergei Prokofiev, Dmitri Shostakovich and Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky.

The program begins with one of the greatest of neoclassical works, Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25 “Classical.” This presents the ASO in a masterwork full of youthful vitality. A virtuoso task for the orchestra, its vivacious charm has endeared it to musicians and audiences alike.

Legendary pianist, Dmitri Alexeev, follows with a special performance of Shostakovich’s Concerto for Piano No. 2 in F Major, Op. 102. Shostakovich created this work for his 19 year old son, Maxim, it is a lively and jolly work of light-hearted flair, interrupted by a soulful, romantic second movement which conjures colors and harmonies reminiscent of Rachmaninoff.

Tchaikovsky closes the program with his Symphony No. 2 in C Minor – “Little Russian Symphony.” The work is one of his most optimistic and jubilant works. It is a true masterpiece, successful from its premiere, and full of folk music and fire.

Performances are at Robinson Center Music Hall on Saturday, January 28 at 8pm and Sunday, January 29 at 3pm.

Holiday Music with the ASO

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For many Arkansans, the Christmas season is marked by attendance at the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra December pops concert.  This year, it is entitled simply “Happy Holidays” and the music is programmed to ensure that audience members leave happy and full of the holiday spirit.

Music Director Philip Mann will take the podium and lead the musicians of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Christmas and Hanukkah music both old and new.

Among the selections are: Tyzik: “The Skater’s Overture,” Styne: “Let It Snow,” Anderson: “Sleigh Ride,” Vivaldi: “The Four Seasons: Winter” (featuring violin solo work by co-concertmaster Kiril Laskarov), Gabrieli: “Canzon Noni Toni,” Richman: “Holiday Cheer!” Biegel: Hanukkah Fantasy,” Tchaikovsky: Selections from The Nutcracker,” Bob Hupp narrating “The Night Before Christmas,” Rimsky-Korsakov: “Snow Maiden Suite: Dance of the Clowns” Tyzik: Ave Maria,” “The Wonderful World of Christmas/Silver Bells” and Finnegin: “Christmas Singalong.”

In addition to Hupp, special guests include performances by the O’Donovan School of Irish Dance, Ballet Arkansas, Episcopal Collegiate School Steel Drum Band, baritone Darren Drone, Winter Pops Chorus, and Cathedral School Choristers.  And of course, St. Nicolas himself, that jolly old elf Santa Claus will be on hand.

The concert is sponsored by Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.  Performances began last night and continue tonight at 8pm and tomorrow at 3pm.  At 2pm on Sunday, a children’s fair with arts and crafts will take place.  Also on Sunday, because of the sponsorship of Entergy Arkansas, children from Kindergarten through 12th grade are admitted for free with a paying adult.

Beethoven, Blue Jeans, Brats and Beer

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Which of the words in the title doesn’t go with the other?  Trick question.  All go together this weekend at the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.

Under the direction of Music Director Philip Mann, the ASO brings back Beethoven and Blue Jeans this weekend. It is a mix of musical styles all united by a flair for entertainment.  The program includes Beethoven’s Lenore Overture No. 3, Op. 72b, Roumain’s Voodoo Violin Concerto No. 1, Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story and Beethoven’s Egmont: Overture.

Daniel Bernard Roumain aka DBR and his electric violin are the featured guest artist for this concert.

Prior to the concert, ticket-holders are encouraged to partake of FREE brats, $2 Diamond Bear Beer, and music by The Episcopal Collegiate School Steel Drum Band on Markham in front of Robinson before the concert!

Arts & Humanities Month: Arkansas Symphony Orchestra

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October is Arts & Humanities Month.  To celebrate this, the LR Culture Vulture will highlight a different arts, humanities, or cultural experience each day of the month.

To kick things off in the month, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra starts its season with a Masterworks concert on October 1 and 2 at Robinson Center Music Hall.

Music Director Philip Mann leads the ASO in Italian Vacation.  The program consists of Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 in A, Op. 90, Rossini’s, Overture to The Italian Girl in Algiers, Puccini’s Chrysanthemums and Respighi’s Pines of Rome.  In addition to the orchestra musicians, there will be an organ on stage for this concert.

The concert will be October 1 at 8pm at Robinson Center Music Hall and repeated again on Sunday, October 2 at 3pm.

For tickets and more information, visit the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra website.

Other ASO concerts this month include:

OCT 4 – Summer Vacation – Chamber Concert
Clinton Presidential Center
Debussy: String Quartet
Vivaldi: Concerto for 4 Violins

OCT 8-9 – Music of John Williams – Pops Concert
Robinson Center Music Hall
Music from Star Wars, Jaws, Superman, Indiana Jones, Schindler’s List, Harry Potter

OCT 22-23 – Fire & Light – Masterworks Concert
featuring Norman Krieger
Haydn: Symphony No. 59 “Fire”
Brahms: Concerto for Piano No. 1

OCT 25 – Norman Krieger – Chamber Concert
Clinton Presidential Center
Chopin: Selection for Solo Piano
Brahms: Piano Quintet