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Vaughn Williams: Fantasia on a Theme
by Thomas Tallis
Blow: Venus and Adonis (Scenes)
Purcell: Dido and Aeneas (Scenes)
Tallis: When Rising from the Bed
of Death
Grill: Two Laments (World Premiere)
This common Valentine's Day worry is also the
concern of both Venus and Dido, central heroines of One World
Symphony's Valentine-themed concerts.
The program, compiled by conductor Sung Jin
Hong, also illustrates the importance of musical influence.
Vaughn Williams's "Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis" (1910)
is based on a psalm setting that Tallis wrote in 1567. Embellishing
Tallis's When Rising from the Bed of Death with layer
upon layer of invention, the Fantasia reaching glorious
climaxes in the broad chords for the divided strings. It
is a rare and highly effective example of a bond between
composers across the distance of four centuries.
Another such example is Purcell's Dido and
Aeneas, which, for all its inventiveness, was closely
modeled on Venus and Adonis, a work by Purcell's
teacher and colleague, John Blow. Both dramas are in three
acts, each recounts a doomed love affair between a domineering
woman and an ambitious man, and both end tragically with
the death of the protagonist. The enduring themes -- love,
hope, loss, and despair -- of these works give them a freshness
that belies their age.
True to its tradition of presenting new works
by rising composers, One World Symphony also showcases Stanley
Grill's world-premiere Two Laments, which are inspired
by poems of Yeats, one of the most "musical" of
English-language poets. Grill's composition is scored for
soprano solo and an orchestra of strings.
So, this Valentine's Day season, put your lovesick
worries aside and enjoy these compelling concerts by one
of New York's most exciting and exuberant musicians of One
World Symphony.
Thurs, February 10 at St. Luke's Church
Venus: Hayley Koblinsky
Adonis: Waundell
Saavedra
Huntsman: Jeff Mandelbaum
Dido: Amy Mitchell
Aeneas: Matthew Hume
Belinda: Elizabeth Eiel
Second Woman: Rita
Markova
Friday, February 11 at St. Ann and the Holy
Trinity
Venus: Courtney Taylor
Adonis: Steven Timoner
Huntsman: Jeff Mandelbaum
Dido: Rachel Calloway
Aeneas: Jeremy Bethea
Belinda: Ashleigh Rabbitt
Second Woman: Alison Cheeseman
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