Rogue Valley Symphony Orchestra Performs Impressive “Masterworks III” Series

photo via rvsymphony.org
photo via rvsymphony.org

The Rogue Valley Symphony Orchestra will be performing at the SOU recital hall Friday, Jan. 17, at 7:30 p.m. The concert is part of this month’s “Masterworks III” series, an ambitious combination of two flavorful composers and an award-winning opera singer.  It looks to be an enlightening and enchanting evening of entertainment that is a great opportunity for enjoyment and education.

Music director Martin Majkut has pieced together a powerful set for this performance.  Gustav Mahler’s symphony 4 has been described as his most intimate symphony, using flutes and sleigh bells to create the image of a snowy day.  This is followed by a soprano soloist by Suzanne Vinnik that portrays a child’s vision of heaven.  Vinnik studied at the Opera Studio di Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, Italy, earned her bachelors in music in vocal performance from Texas Christian University, and has won countless awards.

Mahler uses “monumental statements that aim to reconcile seemingly contradictory goals: they are at the same time deeply personal confessions and universal declarations about the state of the world”, according to the Rogue Valley Symphony website.

Majkut combines Mahler’s massive orchestral forces with Hungarian composer Bela Bartok’s piece titled “Dance Suite”.  Written in 1923, he uses folk music idioms from Central Europe and Arabia that illustrate Arabic, Wallachian, and Hungarian melodies.  Bartok composed “Dance Suite” to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the union of the cities Buda and Pest, to form the Hungarian capital Budapest.

The Rogue Valley Symphony Orchestra will be preforming this concert all weekend. It will also be held Saturday, Jan. 18, at 7:30 p.m. at the Craterian Theatre in Medford, and Sunday, Jan. 19, at the Grants Pass High School performing arts center in Grants Pass at 3 p.m. Individual tickets in Ashland range from $33 to $50 and can be purchased online at www.rvsymphony.org or by calling the box office at (541) 552-6398. Student tickets are available for $5 for ages 6-24 with current student identification. Student tickets purchased online will be held at will call and can be picked up before the concert with identification.