Published: Friday, September 24, 2010
Everett Philharmonic ready to rise from the ashes
The newly formed Everett Philharmonic is hoping to spark its inaugural season with some Stravinsky, a little symbolism and the baton of conductor Paul-Elliott Cobbs.
“Ignite the Season,” the Everett Philharmonic’s first concert at Everett Civic Auditorium, includes Wagner’s “Prelude to the Meistersinger,” followed by Rachmaninoff’s second piano concerto — played by international pianist John Pickett — and concluding with Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite.”
The Everett Philharmonic was formed earlier this year with the goal of keeping symphonic music alive in Snohomish County after the Everett Symphony canceled its season early and currently has no other classical concerts planned.
With a roster of 85 musicians, conductor Cobbs said the philharmonic’s story mirrors that from the “Firebird Suite.”
“In Stravinsky’s piece, the Firebird dies in the fight with the ogre to save the princess,” Cobbs said. “However, after the death, the Firebird is reborn and is even more beautiful than before. The Firebird is the philharmonic.”
As for the politics behind why the musicians split off from the Everett Symphony to form the Everett Philharmonic, Cobbs said musicians simply wanted to play music and the audience simply wants to hear music.
“There are no politics. No drama,” Cobbs said. “The drama is in the music.”
Cobbs promised he will begin this concert as he always had when he conducted for the Everett Symphony and that is with a pre-concert chat.
At 6 p.m., Cobbs will be at the front of the civic auditorium stage talking about the in and outs of each piece, what was going on with the composer at the time the piece was written and what people should listen for, along with anecdotes.
“They can also share what pieces they would like to hear at some point,” Cobbs said. “We have created a culture, but we want to take this same culture and bring it down to the main floor and involve everybody in it.”
‘Ignite the Season’
Stageside chat at 6 p.m. followed by the concert at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Everett Civic Auditorium, 2415 Colby Ave., Everett. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for students and seniors. Call 206-270-9729 or go to www.everettphil.org.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
“Ignite the Season,” the Everett Philharmonic’s first concert at Everett Civic Auditorium, includes Wagner’s “Prelude to the Meistersinger,” followed by Rachmaninoff’s second piano concerto — played by international pianist John Pickett — and concluding with Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite.”
The Everett Philharmonic was formed earlier this year with the goal of keeping symphonic music alive in Snohomish County after the Everett Symphony canceled its season early and currently has no other classical concerts planned.
With a roster of 85 musicians, conductor Cobbs said the philharmonic’s story mirrors that from the “Firebird Suite.”
“In Stravinsky’s piece, the Firebird dies in the fight with the ogre to save the princess,” Cobbs said. “However, after the death, the Firebird is reborn and is even more beautiful than before. The Firebird is the philharmonic.”
As for the politics behind why the musicians split off from the Everett Symphony to form the Everett Philharmonic, Cobbs said musicians simply wanted to play music and the audience simply wants to hear music.
“There are no politics. No drama,” Cobbs said. “The drama is in the music.”
Cobbs promised he will begin this concert as he always had when he conducted for the Everett Symphony and that is with a pre-concert chat.
At 6 p.m., Cobbs will be at the front of the civic auditorium stage talking about the in and outs of each piece, what was going on with the composer at the time the piece was written and what people should listen for, along with anecdotes.
“They can also share what pieces they would like to hear at some point,” Cobbs said. “We have created a culture, but we want to take this same culture and bring it down to the main floor and involve everybody in it.”
‘Ignite the Season’
Stageside chat at 6 p.m. followed by the concert at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Everett Civic Auditorium, 2415 Colby Ave., Everett. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for students and seniors. Call 206-270-9729 or go to www.everettphil.org.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
Comments
(