The Quincy Symphony Orchestra will present the Symphonie Fantastique Concert as the finale to their Passions & Reveries season at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 29 in the QJHS Morrison Theater.
Music director Dr. Bruce Briney and the QSO will perform “Ignite!” a new composition by Missourian Stephanie Berg that was commissioned by the Quincy Symphony Orchestra Association. Berg has been heralded as a “promising new compositional voice” by the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Ms. Berg will attend the performance.
“I’m excited to conduct the premiere performance of Stephanie Berg’s “Ignite!” which was composed for the QSO,” Dr. Briney said. “Our season finale program balances this new experience with “Symphonie Fantastique,” one of the most significant programmatic works of the 19th century.”
Dr. Dylan Marney is the featured guest artist on Prokofiev’s “Piano Concerto No. 1.” Marney is Chairperson of the Division of Fine, Applied & Literary Arts and Assistant Professor of Music at Culver-Stockton College. He is a frequent soloist and performs annually as Artist-in-residence at the Lake Chelan Bach Fest in Washington State. His efforts resulted in the creation of a new Bachelor of Science in Music Technology degree at C-SC. Marney received his DMA from the University of Arizona, majoring in Piano Performance, with a minor in Music Theory. He received both his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance at Central Washington University.
The concert ends with the epic “Symphonie Fantastique” by Hector Berlioz. Through its movements, “Symphonie Fantastique” tells the story of an artist’s self-destructive passion for a young woman. The music follows him through bouts of euphoria, obsession, jealousy and despair. Each movement depicts a ‘scene’ in the lovers’ tumultuous relationship. Adding to the piece’s originality is the orchestration. Berlioz employs four bassoons, four types of clarinets, double harps, tubas and timpani, large bells and cornets as well as trumpets to lend this score a unique sound. Symphonie Fantastique is a masterpiece like no other.
Hannibal artist Brenda Beck Fisher will host an exhibit of her work before the concert and during intermission. Beck Fisher’s work is featured on the QSOA Passion & Reveries season programs and brochures.
The Grand Prize Drawing for the 12th Annual QSOA Raffle will be held at the conclusion of the intermission. Raffle proceeds support the many programs of the QSOA, including the youth orchestra and youth chorus, as well as in-school concerts for over 3500 students. The grand prize of $1,000, second place prize of two Cape Air round trip tickets and third place prize of two QSOA season tickets will be awarded. Raffle tickets are on sale for $10 each or 12/$100, and may be purchased at the concert, in advance from any orchestra, chorus, Encore! or Symphony Board member, or by calling the Symphony office at 222-2856.
Tickets for Symphonie Fantastique will be available at the door or in advance at Quincy HyVee stores, Sturhahn Jewelers or the symphony office. Tickets are $15 for seniors and $18 for adults. Thanks in part to support from the Tracy Family Foundation, children 18 and under are admitted free to all QSO concerts. Current students, faculty and staff of John Wood Community College, Quincy University, Western Illinois University, Truman State and Culver-Stockton College are admitted free by showing their school identification.
The Golden Baton Season Sponsors are the Knapheide Manufacturing Company and Blessing Health System. The concert is made possible in part by Concert Sponsor Mercantile Bank, Music Sponsors Ayerco and Schmiedeskamp, Robertson, Neu & Mitchell, Media Sponsor WGEM and the Irwin Family Foundation through the Community Foundation of the Quincy Area.
