PORTLAND — Portland Symphony Orchestra’s 84th season opens with two performances featuring music of three centuries on Sunday, Oct. 7, at 2:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 7:30 p.m. at Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St.
Music Director Robert Moody conducts the rousing opener featuring music from Mason Bates, Tchaikovsky and Aaron Copland, with guest pianist Andrew Russo.
A news release describes the season opener as follows:
The concert opens with “Mothership,” by Mason Bates, a piece that was recently commissioned by the YouTube Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas and has received almost 1.8 million views to date.
Following “Mothership” is a performance of Tchaikovsky’s much-loved Romantic Era piece, Piano Concerto No. 1. Aaron Copland’s Symphony No. 3 concludes the program with the famous “Fanfare for the Common Man” theme.
For more information on these pieces, including audio clips and performance extras, visit portlandsymphony.org.
PSO welcomes Russo to the stage for his rendition of Tchaikovsky’s classic concerto. The Syracuse, N.Y.-native has performed all over the world as a representative pianist for American composers, and is an active member of the nonprofit organization of his own creation, Music Journeys Inc., which supports musical education in his hometown public school district. He comes to Merrill Auditorium with more than 10 commercial recordings and a 2007 Grammy nomination.
Both performances are preceded by a “concert conversation” in the Rehearsal Hall at Merrill Auditorium with Moody and Russo 75 minutes prior to the concert, and are followed by a post concert Q&A on stage.
Tickets range from $26 to $64 and are available through PortTIX at 842-0800 or www.porttix.com. Phone and Internet orders are subject to per-ticket handling fees.
Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m. Special pricing for students, seniors and groups may be available. Subscriptions (up to 20 percent off single ticket prices) and Compose Your Own packages (10 percent off single ticket prices) are available all season long.
For complete season information, including artist biographies, program notes and Online Insights, visit www.portlandsymphony.org.
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