Long Bay Symphony starts season ‘Through A Child’s Eyes’
Children will command the perspective for the opening concert of the Long Bay Symphony’s 28th season.
The ensemble, joined by the Long Bay Symphony Youth Orchestra for the final number, will perform with the theme “Through a Child’s Eyes,” at 4 p.m. Sunday at Myrtle Beach High School, on Robert Grissom Parkway, between 29th and 38th avenues North. Amanda Horton, soprano, will lend her voice to Mahler’s “Symphony No. 4,” in a program with Ravel’s “Suite from ‘Mother Goose,’” and Vaughn Williams’ “Concerto Grosso.”
Starting his 20th year as Long Bay’s music director and conductor, Charles Jones Evans said “everything fell in place with the nature of the children’s element” in this concert. This marks the first time in probably a decade that both orchestras will play together.
With “Concerto Grosso,” Evans said it seems so natural to welcome the youth players on stage to close the concert.
The first number, by Mahler, without trombones and tubas, shows “a completely different side” of the composer, with late Romantic period “moments,” Evans said, in contrast to the Austrian’s “Symphony No. 2 – Resurrection” and others by him that exceed an hour in length.
“The whole inspiration that Mahler had,” Evans said of the fourth symphony, “was a song he wrtoe based on German folk poetry, ‘The Heavenly Life.’”
Fitting Ravel into this concert, Evans said “Mother Goose” weaves in so naturally as well.
“He was just such as master composer,” Evans said of the Frenchman.
The Nov. 8 concert, “Regional Influences,” marks what Evans called “a crossover concert,” including Mozart’s “Abduction from the Seraglio, Overture,” with its Turkish percussion “made famous by Beethoven,” and Copland’s “Clarinet Concerto,” which Evans said was premiered by Benny Goodman.
The Long Bay Symphony has made room for special guests in many concerts through the years. The Carolina Master Chorale, about to begin its 33rd season, will take part in the “Musical Exaltation” afternoon on Jan. 24. Evans said in Dvorak’s “Carnival Overture,” for instance, “a wonderful, short piece” with a “regal” power in performance, “there’s nothing like a chorus to embody that.”
Come March 6, with “Beethoven & Blue Jeans,” Evans said Long Bay will serve up its annual “meat and potatoes program,” with such works as one of Tchaikovsky’s “Violin Concerto,” and Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 7.”
“It’s just a chance to hear great masterpieces,” Evans said, noting that they’re not recognized by title, concertgoers will say, “Oh, I know that one, and that one ... .”
Evans loves to educate listeners on stories behind the music, because “the whole idea of music is transporting you to another place,” with similarities he sees in visiting an art museum, to see pieces and get a special feeling “with a historical outline.”
“It primes you for everything to see,” he said, eager to “fill in historical gaps for people, and adding to things about history they know.”
Kim Williams, about to reach her one-year anniversary as Long Bay’s general manager, said the orchestra has more subscribers this year that in past years.
Encouraged by the increase in number of donors, she also said “more people are making the symphony a part of their philanthropy.”
“We sure have a varied subscriber base,” Williams said, “with people who like classical and pops, and everything in between.”
“Bravo Broadway” on Feb. 20, Long Bay’s eighth annual benefit for the Rotary Club of Myrtle Beach, will include special guests Melissa Errico, Capathia Jenkins nd Hugh Panaro, said Williams, reflecting long-term hopes of making these concerts a twice-a-year affair.
Also, a pops concert March 19 will serenade the dawn of spring, with “Some Enchanted Evening,”
Contact STEVE PALISIN at 843-444-1764.
If you go
WHO: Long Bay Symphony, in its 28th season
WHERE: Myrtle Beach High School, on Robert Grissom Parkway, between 29th and 38th avenues North
WHAT: “Through a Child’s Eyes,” featuring Amanda Horton, soprano, on Mahler’s “Symphony No. 4,” with Ravel’s “Suite from ‘Mother Goose,’” and Vaughn Williams’ “Concerto Grosso,” with Long Bay Symphony Youth Orchestra
WHEN: 4 p.m. Sunday
OTHER CONCERTS IN SERIES: Mostly starting at 4 p.m.
▪ Nov. 8 –“Regional Influences,” featuring Narek Arutyunian, clarinet – Mozart’s “Abduction from the Seraglio, Overture,” Dvorak’s “Slavonic Dances,” Copland’s “Clarinet Concerto,” Johann Strauss’ “Emperor” Waltzes, Debussy’s “Premiere rhapsodie,” and Falla’s “Three-Cornered Hat, Suite No. 1.”
▪ Jan. 24 – “Musical Exaltation,” featuring Carolina Master Chorale, 4 p.m. Jan. 24 – Dvorak’s “Carnival Overture,” Vaughan Williams’ “Serenade to Music,” Bruckner’s “Psalm 150,” Debussy’s “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun,” and Mendelssohn’s “Symphony No. 5: Reformation.”
▪ March 6 – “Beethoven & Blue Jeans,” featuring Hye-Jin Kim, violin – Handel’s “Overture to Music for the Royal Fireworks,” Tchaikovsky’s “Violin Concerto,” and Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 7.”
▪ 7 p.m. March 19 – Pops concert, “Some Enchanted Evening,” 7 p.m. March 19.
HOW MUCH:
▪ Each concert $25, $40, $45 or $50; and $10 students 21 and younger with ID.
▪ Season tickets – $128, $144 or $160 for the four classical concerts; and $160, $180 or $200 including pops concert.
▪ $40 “flex pass,” good for any one of the aforementioned concerts.
OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS:
▪ “Symphony Goes Vogue – Fashion Show and Luncheon” benefit by Long Bay Symphony Guild, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 10 at The Surf and Golf Beach Club, 1701 Springfield Lane, North Myrtle Beach. $35. Reservations at 843-503-2794.
▪ Chamber orchestra’s annual concert of Handel’s “Messiah,” 4 p.m. Dec. 5 at Trinity Church, 3000 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach. Free, but limited amount of tickets will be available. Details to come later this fall.
▪ “Bravo Broadway,” eighth annual benefit for Rotary Club of Myrtle Beach, 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at Myrtle Beach High School, with special guests Melissa Errico, Capathia Jenkins and Hugh Panaro. $40, $45 or $50.
▪ Youth Orchestra concerts, all 7:30 p.m.: Nov. 12 and April 27 at at Coastal Carolina University’s Wheelwright Auditorium, on main campus, off U.S. 501 and S.C. 544 in Conway; and Feb. 17 at Myrtle Beach High. Each $10 adults, $5 students.
▪ Other guild events: Winter Tea, Jan. 17; spring event, to be announced; and “Fiddler on the Green” golf tournament on June 4 – all with more details forthcoming.
INFORMATION: 843-448-8379 or longbaysymphony.com
ALSO: Carolina Master Chorale begins its 33rd season, themed “Hope, Love & Heroism,” with “Ein Deutsches Requiem,” 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at Coastal Carolina University’s Wheelwright Auditorium; and 4 p.m. Oct. 18 at Waccamaw High School, 2412 Kings River Road, Pawleys Island. $20 adults, $15 veterans and seniors, and $5 students through age 22, and free for ages 12 and younger with paying adult. Details at 843-444-5774 or www.carolinamasterchorale.com.
This story was originally published September 24, 2015 at 1:00 AM with the headline "Long Bay Symphony starts season ‘Through A Child’s Eyes’."