Sat. April 20, 2024 | 7:30 PM |QJHS
To mark the end of its 76th season, the Quincy Symphony Orchestra, Chorus, and Youth Chorus join creative forces with choirs from Quincy University, Culver-Stockton College, and John Wood Community College, to present the epic Carmina Burana at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 20 in Quincy Junior High. Soloists Alfonzo Cooper, tenor, Gina Galati, soprano, and Ricardo Herrera, baritone, accompany the ensemble to sing this homage to springtime and earthly pleasure. Music Director Bruce Briney will lead over 100 singers on stage, along with the symphony orchestra, in this spectacular concert.
Immediately recognizable within the first notes, Carmina Burana is a scenic cantata by Carl Orff. Often irreverent and satirical, the work is based on 24 poems from a medieval collection. The piece is famous for its opening and closing movement, “O Fortuna,” which has been used in many films and commercials.
“This will be a truly unforgettable performance! When you have the collective talent of so many musicians to perform a work on this scale, it’s a thrilling production,” Briney said.
The QSOA is committed to the creation of new music and Briney’s tenure has seen the commission of more than 20 new works. This continues with the premiere of “Maracaibo” an overture composed by Venezuelan Victor Marquez-Barrios.
Maracaibo is the second largest city in Venezuela, and like so many other Latin American cities its size encompasses many charms mixed with drastic challenges. Despite being the center of the country’s oil industry, the region struggles with pollution, crime, and extreme poverty. The city is located on the shores of the largest lake in South America, Lake Maracaibo, which has inspired countless poets and musicians for centuries and continues to do so today even though it has deteriorated as a result of excessive oil exploitation and heavy pollution.
Marquez-Barrios was born and raised in this unique place, a city as magical as it is chaotic, and tried to capture some of its stark contrasts in this piece. The composer holds an extended catalog of works for a variety of ensembles, mixed choir, electronics, concert band, and symphony orchestra. Since 2015, Marquez-Barrios has taught music theory and composition as part of the faculty at Truman State University, where he is also the founding director of “Uncommon Practice,” the University’s contemporary music ensemble.
Single ticket prices for Carmina Burana are $18 for adults and $15 for seniors. Thanks to support from the Community Foundation and the Tracy Family Foundation, children 18 and under are admitted free to all concerts and are encouraged to attend. Tickets are available now at Quincy HyVee, Sturhahn Jewelers and at qsoa.org.
The $1,000 Grand Prize Drawing for the annual QSOA Raffle will be held at the conclusion of the concert intermission. Raffle proceeds support the orchestra, chorus, youth orchestra, and youth chorus, as well as the annual in-school symphony concerts for thousands of children. The $1000 grand prize, 2nd prize of a Symphony Getaway Package, and 3rd prize of two QSOA season tickets will be awarded. Raffle tickets are $10 each or 12 for $100 and may be purchased at the concert, in advance from any orchestra, chorus, Encore! or Symphony Board member, or by visiting the website at www.qsoa.org. The raffle is sponsored by HomeBank.
The Concert Sponsor is Mercantile Bank, Music Sponsor is Schmiedeskamp, Robertson, Neu & Mitchell, Media Sponsor is WGEM. The 2023-24 Season Sponsors are Blessing Hospital and The Knapheide Manufacturing Company. In-depth information, including program notes and soloist biographies are available at the QSOA website, www.qsoa.org. Call 217-222-2856 for more details or a brochure.
