This Saturday: Pasadena Symphony Program Recalls Winter, Reveres Summer
Soprano Shana Blake Hill
Pasadena Symphony definitely believes in climate change, that is, the four seasonal changes. However, even though the concert is Saturday night, March 20, the first day of Spring, orchestra conductor, Jorge Mester, has opted to offer a concert program, which will be presented at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, that skips the traditional re-birth and renewal season and jumps from a deep winter cold directly to the warmth of a summer night.
Presented under the title “Eternal Mozart”, the orchestra will perform Hector Berlioz’ “Le Nuits d’ete” (“Summer Nights”) and Mozart’s Requiem in d-minor with guest artists Shana Blake Hill, soprano; Tracy Van Fleet, mezzo-soprano; Scott Ramsay, tenor; Alain Coulombe, bass; and the Pasadena Master Chorale, prepared by its Artistic Director, Jeffrey Bernstein.
Berlioz’ tome to summer nights is based on the poetry of Theophile Gautier and is an emotional outcry for a melancholy time. The six-part piece will be performed by orchestra with sensational soprano Shana Blake Hill. Hill, a North Carolina native, grew up musically in Southern California. She, even as a young college student, won praise early on in performances with the Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra. But now, her career is moving in wonderful directions. For instance, Naxos has released Bright Sheng’s “The Phoenix” featuring Hill with The Philadelphia Orchestra; she will play the role of Violetta in “La Traviata” with Dayton Opera. Her biography shows a list of performances ahead for this rising star.
Mozart’s Requiem is a paean to the sadness surrounding death of a loved one. Mester brings to the Civic Auditorium stage soprano Hill, mezzo soprano Van Fleet, tenor Ramsay, bass Coulombe and the Pasadena Master Chorale one of Western music’s finest compositions. This music, which appeared in the film “Amadeus” surrounded the composition with more drama than the real story allows. But, written at the end of Mozart’s life, and completed after his death by a student of his, Franz Xavier Sussmayr, the music carries all the genius and the power of Mozart’s works. The work will be performed by the Pasadena Symphony as a tribute to the life and work of Edith M. Roberts, who recently died. (See story on this website and in Beacon Media print editions, Thursday, March 4.)
Ticket prices range from $25 to $75 with many family-package opportunities and special student pricing. To order tickets please call the Pasadena Civic box office, (626) 449-7360.
By Bill Peters
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