Garland Symphony Orchestra continues its “Symphonic Kaleidoscope” Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Granville Arts Center, Brownlee Auditorium. The GSO will kick off 2019 with a concert featuring two popular works in the repertoire and two guest artists.
The concert will feature guitarist, Jacob Cordover performing Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez.” The Concierto is unquestionably the most popular work for solo guitar with orchestra. Its beautiful, haunting melodies make it an audience favorite. Concierto de Aranjuez was written in Paris, France in 1939, where Rodrigo lived to escape the Spanish Civil War. Perhaps reminiscing the beauty and sounds of Spain, the work embodies Spanish romanticism and evokes the sounds of the now-famous gardens of Aranjuez.
Currently residing in Barcelona and enjoying a truly international career, Jacob Cordover “impresses with his intuitive musicianship and impeccable technique” (Leicester Mercury, UK). His “consummate artistry” (Adelaide Advertiser, Australia) has enticed audiences in over a dozen countries across four continents and his performances have “demonstrated how much poetry and feeling can be obtained from
the guitar in the hands of master musicians such as Jacob Cordover.” (The Mercury, Australia). Mr. Cordover is also an active chamber musician, having released CDs and given performances for over a decade as a member of the Australian Guitar Duo, with Rupert Boyd and Zoco Duo – an oboe and guitar duo with Laura Karney – as well as a number of collaborations with instrumentalists and singers from around the world. Cordover previously performed with the GSO in March 2015 and we look forward to the return engagement.
Conducting this performance will be guest conductor, Pascual Osa of Spain. Originally from Valencia, he studied percussion, piano, composition and orchestra conducting at the Royal Conservatory of Music of Madrid. He also trained at the Musikhochschule in Berlin, in Siena with maestro Ferdinand Leitner, in Saluzzo (Italy) with maestro Aldo Ceccato, at the Bach-Akademie in Stuttgart with maestro Helmut Rilling and at the Tanglewood Music Center in Massachusetts with Seiji Ozawa and Bernard Haitink. Since 1985 he has been a full professor of the National Orchestra of Spain. He has conducted orchestras throughout Spain and elsewhere in Europe and Latin America.
In addition, the GSO will be performing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, also known as the “Eroica” Symphony. Arguably as influential a work as his more-well-known 5th Symphony, the 3rd helped establish the romantic era of classical music. Italian for “heroic,” the “Eroica” Symphony was originally dedicated to Napoleon as a champion of the people. However, when Napoleon declared himself Emperor of France, Beethoven angrily scratched out the dedication on the score’s cover and replaced it with a more general dedication to heroism. Starting the concert will be Rossini’s La scala di seta.
GSO credits Music Director Robert Carter Austin for its continued outstanding and diverse orchestral programming. Austin’s background encompasses over 30 years of professional music experience and includes degrees from MIT, Cambridge University and Stanford University. His musical experience includes conducting performances in countries including: Korea, Ukraine, Canada, Italy, Spain, China, France, Germany, Mexico, Bulgaria, Ecuador, Colombia, Philippines, Guatemala, Dominican Republic and the United States.
Season tickets are as low as $61! Single tickets are $17.50, $27.50 and $37.50. All are available by calling 972-926-0611, faxing 972-926-0811 or emailing info@garlandsymphony.org. Group discounts are available; call 972-926-0611 for information.
Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Granville Arts Center, Brownlee Auditorium, 300 North Fifth Street in downtown Garland. Visit www.garlandsymphony.org for more information