‘Star Wars' and more movie music to light up Pops IV
Article published April 22, 2010
‘Star Wars' and more movie music to light up Pops IV
Trust the Force! The Toledo Symphony will perform familiar and new music by Oscar and Grammy Award-winning composer John Williams at its Pops IV concert at 8 p.m. Saturday in Stranahan Theater. Music from films old and new — Jaws, Star Wars, E.T., Jurassic Park, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone among them — will fill the program with drama and soaring melodies.
As a classical composer Williams also is a force to be reckoned with — his 1985 Concerto for Tuba will be performed by TSO principal tubist David Saltzman. Among the dozens of film scores, TV soundtracks, and Olympic fanfares, the versatile Williams also composed concerti for most of the instruments in the orchestra.
Saltzman has been principal tuba for the symphony since 2007, and is on the faculty of Bowling Green State University.
Guest conductor Michael Krajewski, who will lead the orchestra, is principal pops conductor of both the Houston and Jacksonville symphonies.
Tickets are $21-$60 at 419-246-8000 or toledosymphony.com.
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The popular Blade Chamber Series will present its final 2009-2010 performance at 7 p.m. May 2 in the Toledo Club. On the program will be the Aaron Copland Sextet for Piano, Clarinet, and Strings; the Franz Schubert Quartettsatz Op. 703 — the first movement of the composer's unfinished 12th string quartet — and Piano Quartet Op. 25 by Johannes Brahms.
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The Toledo Opera will close its 2009-2010 season with a production of Gaetano Donizetti's sparkling The Love Potion (L'elisir d'amore) May 1 and 7 at 7:30 p.m. and May 9 at 2 p.m. in the Valentine Theatre. Singers Heather Buck, Emily Ezzie, and Bryan Griffin, and stage director Jeffrey Marc Buchmann will make their Toledo debuts in this new version of the beloved 1830s opera. Thomas Conlin will conduct the Toledo Symphony. Tickets are $30-$95 at toledoopera.org or 419-255-7464.
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The United States Army Field Band and Soldiers' Chorus will perform at 7:30 p.m. April 30 in the University of Toledo Savage Arena. Patriotic music will share the program with operatic excerpts, classical works, and pop and jazz numbers by composers including John Philip Sousa, George Gershwin, W.A. Mozart, and Howard Hanson. Commander and conductor is Col. Thomas H. Palmatier. Jason Stumbo, director of bands at UT, will lead the visiting group in Joseph Willcox Jenkins' American Overture for Band. The concert is free but tickets are required. Mail orders should be sent to Tammy Reagan at The Blade, 541 North Superior St., Toledo, 43660.
The UT Symphony Orchestra is to perform at 8 p.m. Tuesday in Doermann Theatre of University Hall, 2801 West Bancroft St. The UT Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble will take the Doermann stage at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Both concerts are free to the public.
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Lourdes College will welcome the season with its annual Spring Concert at 7 p.m. May 2 in the Franciscan Center on campus. This year's free, public event is titled “In Glory and Honor” and pays tribute to American service men and women in sacred and secular music.
A variety of musical styles, including classical, folk, jazz, and contemporary, by composers such as Michael Haydn, Henry Purcell, Gilbert Martin, Andre Thomas, Robert Young, and Cy Colemen are on the program.
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The Requiem by Gabriel Faure will be performed during the 10 a.m. service on May 2 at First Presbyterian Church, 126 South Church St., Bowling Green. Music director Nancy Wolcott will direct and accompaniment will include strings, harp, and organ.
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Copies of the Kantorski-Pope Duo's new recording of the Brahms Hungarian Dances can be purchased at whalingcitysound.com.
Items for News of Music should be sent to svallongo@theblade.com at least two weeks before the performance.