On Saturday, November 7, the Cañon City Chamber Orchestra presents Music by the Masters, a free afternoon concert of favorites from four of the greatest composers in history. Led by Conductor and Music Director Gerald Willis, the program moves from the bold spark of Beethoven to the holiday magic of Tchaikovsky. Join us at 2:00 PM at the Steeple Events Center in Cañon City. Here is a look at what you will hear.
Beethoven: Symphony No. 1
Ludwig van Beethoven was 29 years old when his First Symphony premiered in Vienna in 1800. He was already famous as a pianist, but this was his first big statement as a symphony composer. You can hear the influence of his teacher, Joseph Haydn, in its clear and graceful style. You can also hear Beethoven starting to bend the rules. The symphony opens on a chord that seems to be in the "wrong" key, a small surprise that told listeners something new was coming. The third movement is called a minuet, but it races along so fast it feels more like a playful dash. This is the young Beethoven, confident and full of energy, just before he changed music forever.
Mozart: Overture to The Marriage of Figaro
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro opened in Vienna in 1786. It is still one of the most performed operas in the world. The story is a comedy about clever servants who outsmart their boss over one very busy day. The overture captures that spirit in about four minutes. It begins with a quiet, quick rush in the strings, then bursts into the full orchestra. It never slows down. Mozart did not borrow tunes from the opera for this piece. Instead, he wrote pure fun and forward motion to set the mood for the chaos to come. It is a perfect concert opener and a crowd favorite for good reason.
Vaughan Williams: Prelude on Rhosymedre
Ralph Vaughan Williams was one of England's most beloved composers. He loved folk songs and hymns, and he spent years collecting and arranging them. Rhosymedre is a Welsh hymn tune from the 1800s. Vaughan Williams wrote this prelude on it in 1920 as one of three short pieces for organ, and it has since become a favorite in versions for orchestra. The hymn melody sits in the middle of the music while a flowing line weaves around it. The result is calm, warm, and deeply peaceful. It is a moment to breathe in the middle of the program.
Tchaikovsky: Selections from The Nutcracker
No composer says "the holidays are coming" quite like Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The Nutcracker ballet premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1892. It tells the story of a young girl named Clara, a toy nutcracker that comes to life, and a magical trip to the Land of Sweets. Tchaikovsky filled the score with short, colorful dances, and many of them are now some of the most famous music ever written. Listen for the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Tchaikovsky used a then-new instrument called the celesta to give it a sparkling, bell-like sound. It is a fitting way to end the afternoon and welcome the season.
Music by the Masters is free and open to the public. This concert is made possible by local music lovers and businesses, including the American Federation of Musicians, Ecologix Environmental Systems, and the Rotary Club of Cañon City. Bring your family and friends and spend a Saturday afternoon with the masters at the Steeple Events Center, 701 Macon Avenue, Cañon City.
We will see you there!