The Salisbury Symphony Orchestra opens its 47th season with a French accent.
Music by Dukas, Saint-Saens and Berlioz — all French composers — capture the idea of fantasy in a variety of ways.
The concert’s theme is “Fantastique!” and will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, right after an on-stage conversation with Music Director David Hagy, in Keppel Auditorium at Catawba College.
The “Fanfare” to Paul Dukas’ exotic ballet “La Peri” is a marvelous opening for a concert based on the theme of fantasy.
Dukas, who is probably best remembered for his symphonic poem “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” wrote the ballet in 1911, capturing the deep fascination of French Impressionist artists and composers with the exoticism of the orient.
Camille Saint-Saens was one of the most remarkable French musicians of the romantic era.
He introduced in France the symphonic poem and was one of the first major composers to write music for film.
Violin soloist Marjorie Bagley will perform his “Violin Concerto No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 61.”
Bagley has a varied, international career as a teacher and performer and is currently on the faculty of the University of North Carolina-Greensboro.
Her Lincoln Center concerto debut was in 1997 after beginning her performing career at the age of nine in her home state of North Carolina.
“Symphonie Fantastique,” by Hector Berlioz, was one of the most revolutionary masterpieces of symphonic literature of its day.
Subtitled “An Episode in the Life of an Artist,” it reflects the turbulent emotions, ardent mood swings, and quest for the unattainable that characterized the early Romantic artist.
Bill and Nancy Stanback are the concert’s sponsors, Betsy Rich is sponsoring the soloist and David Hagy is sponsored by Jim and Barbara Norman.
Season tickets may be purchased up until show time on Saturday.
Concert tickets may be purchased in advance at any of the Symphony’s ticket outlets, through PayPal by visiting the Symphony’s website at salisburysymphony.org or by calling the Symphony office at 704-637-4314. Ticket outlets include the following:
Salisbury — Belk, Sidewalk Deli and the Visitor’s Center
Rockwell — Crescent Pharmacy
Spencer — Green Goat Gallery
China Grove — Corriher Springs Florist
The box office will open an hour before the performance begins; Balcony For A Buck tickets may be purchased at that time.
For more information, visit salisburysymphony.org or call 704-637-4314.