The University of Wyoming Symphony Orchestra’s new season promises classics, but some of these favorites might be new to American ears. Case in point, the Butterfly Lovers Concerto is famous in China, but likely new to audiences here. (They’ll have to wait until May for that performance.)
The season opens with a late 20th Century piece that’s already a classic, Svoboda’s Overture of the Season. Then there’s Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante, where the orchestra backs up four faculty soloists. Director Michael Griffith says the form was all the rage in late 1700’s, before other styles took over.
“It’s the best of both worlds. It’s kind of like chamber music, but it’s chamber music accompanied by an orchestra.”
Also on the UW Symphony’s first program, an undisputed orchestral classic: Brahms’ Symphony Number 2. In his 25th season with the orchestra, Griffith says there’s something for everyone.
“You try to balance. You try to have some pieces that everybody knows, and you try to have some pieces that will be new to people.”
And, he says, it’s all great training for the 90 or so student musicians. The UW Symphony Orchestra’s opening night is October 3.