Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Symphony Orchestra at Stephen F. Austin State University will present Ludwig van Beethoven’s Triple Concerto and other noted orchestral compositions when the student ensemble performs at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.
Conducted by Dr. Gregory Grabowski, director of orchestral activities at SFA, the orchestra will also perform Johannes Brahms’ “Academic Festival Overture” and Bedřich Smetana’s “The Moldau.” Guest artists performing with the students include music faculty members Jennifer Dalmas, violin; Evgeni Raychev, cello; and James Pitts, piano.
The main connection between all three works is that they are all classic Romantic era pieces, according to Grabowski.
“Brahms uses themes that are reminiscent of academia that he actually takes from college drinking songs,” Grabowski said. “‘The Moldau’ is a symphonic poem about the Vltava River from its source in the mountains of the Bohemian Forest, through the Czech countryside, to the city of Prague. ”
Grabowski explained that Beethoven, who “normally composed heroic brilliance with motivic development and transformation,” wrote the Triple Concerto quite differently.
“‘The Triple’ is more about lyric elaboration,” he said. “Beethoven uses beautiful themes that go between the three soloists individually and as an ensemble.”
Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. To purchase tickets, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit finearts.sfasu.edu. For additional information, contact the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602.