Sunday, May 3, 7:30 pm
East Weymouth Congregational Church, 1320 Commercial Street, Weymouth
Tickets: Price and purchase link TBA
Michael Bednarsky, Conductor
Join Southeastern Philharmonic Orchestra as it celebrates the birthday of one of France’s most celebrated composers, Maurice Ravel, in a concert that highlights both his work and the broader tapestry of French music. This special evening will showcase a rich program of iconic compositions that span several centuries, filled with passion, elegance, and evocative storytelling.
The concert opens with Hector Berlioz’s dramatic “Rákóczy March” from “La damnation de Faust,” a stirring and powerful piece that sets the stage for the evening’s musical journey. Next, on to Ravel’s “Pavane pour une infante défunte,” an elegant depiction of a Spanish princess from a bygone era. Ravel’s haunting and hypnotic “Boléro,” one of the most famous orchestral pieces in the world, known for its mesmerizing, repetitive melody. Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Symphony No. 2, Movement I,” delivers energy and lyrical beauty with its sweeping melodies and bold orchestrations.
Post-intermission, the orchestra performs Georges Bizet’s “L’Arlésienne Suite 1,” evoking Southern France’s landscape through vibrant, folk-inspired music. American expatriate George Gershwin lends an arrangement of “An American in Paris,” capturing the excitement and charm of the City of Lights in jazzy rhythms and lush orchestral color.
A stirring selection from Claude-Michel Schönberg’s “Les Misérables,” arranged by Bob Lowden, concludes the evening with the unforgettable melodies of this beloved musical in an orchestral setting. The Whitman performance of this program benefits Whitman Food Pantry.
Program:
Hector BERLIOZ Rákóczy March, from La damnation de Faust
Maurice RAVEL Pavane pour une infante défunte
Maurice RAVEL Bolero
Camille SAINT-SAENS Symphony No.2, movement I
~ Intermission ~
Georges BIZET L’Arlesienne Suite 1
George GERSHWIN An American in Paris Suite
Arr. John Whitney
Claude-Michel SCHÖNBERG Selections from Les Misérables
Arr. Bob Lowden
Considered the oldest continual civic orchestra in the country, Southeastern Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1914 as the Whitman Orchestral Club. The orchestra’s mission is to provide fun and experience for musicians and audiences of all ages and levels of accomplishment.
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