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Tuesday, January 14, 2015, McAllen —The Valley Symphony Orchestra presents its Pops Concert, “From Broadway to Hollywood” on Saturday January 31st, 2015, at the McAllen Civic Center Auditorium from 8:00 to 10:00pm. The Symphony will perform memorable tunes from the stage and the screen, as well as the beautiful Butterfly Lovers Concerto by guest artist and Concert Master, Geoffrey Wong.
The famous whistling tune from the movie “Bridge on the River Kwai,” also known as “Colonel Bogey March” is widely known, even for those not familiar with the movie. The catchy and gleeful march will open the concert. Goeffrey Wong, will follow this lighthearted performance with the beautiful and passionate Butterfly Lovers Concerto.
This piece, composed in collaboration by Chinese composers Cheng Gang and He Zhanhao, is based on the Eastern legend by the same name. In this Chinese Romeo-and-Juliet tragedy, Zhu disguises herself as a boy so that she can receive an education (back then, reserved only for boys). At school she meets and falls in love with Liang. Who comes to love her as a “brother.” After some time, when Zhu’s identity is revealed, Liang realizes he’s in love with Zhu, but her upcoming wedding (arranged by her parents) present’s an obstacle. Liang’s health deteriorates and he dies. Zhu visits his grave and throws herself in it. Both lovers emerge from the grave in the form of butterflies, never to be separated again. The violin concerto features many features of Chinese music, including melodic scales, and instrumental techniques. Concert Master Geoffrey Wong will perform the violin solos of this intensely beautiful and passionate piece.
After intermission the orchestra will greet the audience with a suite of Hollywood blockbuster soundtracks by the famous American composer, James Horner. Horner has composed some of the most memorable movie scores in recent movie history, including Bravehart, Apollo 13, Start Trek II and III, Cocoon, Legends of the Fall, The Mask of Zorro, Avatar, and The Amazing Spiderman. Among his famous compositions, none remains as popular as Titanic, the best selling orchestral film soundtrack of all time. These excerpts – from movie music, will be followed by two composers who wrote music for the stage. The orchestra will favor us with music from Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Phantom of the Opera, and Leonard Bernstein’s Prelude, Riff, and Fugue.
Fittingly, Benjamin Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra will close this concert. Britten was among the composers of the 20th century that were most concerned with youth, and music education. His piece is perhaps as well known, or better known that Francis Poulenc’s The Story of Babar the Elephant, and Sergei Prokofiev Peter and the Woolf. Certainly, most students of music appreciation in high school and college encounter the Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. Incorporating a tune from British composer Henry Purcell, Britten, introduces the instruments of the symphony orchestra by families, in different combinations, and in a dramatic tutti that will close this concert of popular music with excitement.
Tickets start at $25 for Back House, $35 for Front House and $45 for Orchestra Level tickets. To buy your tickets, go to the McAllen Convention Center Box Office located on the eastern-side of the building in the corner of Exp. 83 & Ware Rd. (open Mon-Fri from 10am – 5pm) weekdays or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Facility fees are applicable. Senior, student and group discounts are available by calling the VSO Box Office at (956) 661-1615 two weeks prior to concert for special accommodations.
