The West Virginia University Symphony Orchestra, nationally recognized in 2013 for excellence, will be joined by faculty soprano Mandy Spivak as it opens its new season at the Creative Arts Center, Thursday, Sept. 26.
The concert begins at 7:30 p.m., in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre. For tickets and information, call 304-293-SHOW.
The orchestra, conducted by Mitchell Arnold, will perform Richard Wagner’s “Dawn and Siegfried’s Rhine Journey” from the opera “Twilight of the Gods” and “Prelude and Liebestod” from the opera “Tristan und Isolde.” Spivak will join the orchestra to sing Isolde’s “Liebestod.”
“Rarely has music of such intense passion ever been composed,” said Dr. Arnold, who is director of Orchestral Activities at WVU. “It is music that transfixes, and is captivating in its beauty and intensity.”
Following the Wagner portion of the program, and celebrating the 200th anniversary of the composer’s birth, the orchestra will perform the “Symphony No. 1 in C Major” by Ludwig van Beethoven.
“This is a work that sparkles with humor and dances off the page with fire. Our fine students perform it with energy, artistry and excitement, bringing out every tinge of color,” Arnold said.
Arnold received a doctorate in conducting from Northwestern University and has an extensive background in new music. Before coming to WVU, he was director of orchestras at Northern Illinois University and assistant director of orchestras at Northwestern University. He has also served on the faculties at Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory of Music. In March 2013 he made his guest conducting debut with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra in Charleston.
Program
Richard Wagner – “Dawn and Siegfried’s Rhine Journey” from “Twilight of the Gods”
Richard Wagner – “Prelude and Liebestod” from “Tristan und Isolde,” Mandy Spivak, soprano
Ludwig van Beethoven – “Symphony No. 1 in C Major”
Soprano Mandy Spivak, a native of Miami, Fla., has found success in concert as well as on the operatic stage. Most recently she portrayed Desdemona in the world premiere of “The Bride of the Moor” by Thomas Pasatieri with Opera Beaumont in Beaumont, Texas. Spivak has been a featured performer at the John Duffy Composer’s Institute associated with the Virginia Arts Festival for the last five summers in Norfolk, Va.
Spivak received a Bachelor of Music degree from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami and a Master of Music degree from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston. She also holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Miami. She is currently assistant professor of music at West Virginia Wesleyan College and adjunct professor of voice at WVU.
The WVU Symphony Orchestra was recognized in 2013 as one of the six best in the country by being named a finalist in The American Prize Competition.
In addition, the orchestra was one of two collegiate orchestras selected to perform at the annual conference of the College Orchestra Directors Association. This appearance will be in January 2014 in Fort Worth, Texas.
The WVU Symphony Orchestra is known for performing with precision and intense passion and these performances celebrate great music played by a young, vigorous and dedicated group of musicians.
For concert tickets and information, call the WVU Box Office at (304) 293-SHOW.
Check out the WVU Symphony Orchestra’s Facebook page and their website at http://wvuso.weebly.com/.
-WVU-
cl/09/25/13
CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu
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