Maybe we can’t get our share of real sunshine in January so how about some musical sunshine?
The Pacifica Chamber Orchestra will present a “Sunshine Concert” on Sunday with some bright music to lighten a winter’s afternoon, the orchestra’s artistic director and conductor Fred Chu said.
“We created the title of ‘Sunshine Concert’ for the purpose of boosting peoples’ spirits during the rainy and snowy month of January,” Chu said. “Regardless of the weather outdoors, a sunny day from the music we perform indoors is always guaranteed.”
One of the most exciting pieces in this performance is the popular “Ziguenerweisen” or “Gypsy Airs” for solo violin by Sarasate. Violin virtuoso Chu will perform this piece as the soloist.
Also on the bill is a piece by Eugene Ysaye, “Harmonies du Soir.” The work was written for string orchestra and string quartet and features the Bella Sala Quartet, a local group.
There is also a premiere composition of “Sunshine Music,” which was dedicated to Pacifica Chamber Orchestra by Seattle composer Greg Bartholomew.
Other works include “Theme and Variations” by Glazunov, a piece by Laurischkus and “Danza de los Cuatro Huesos” by Salvador Martinez Garcia.
“Sunshine Concert” is at 3 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, 2936 Rockefeller Ave., Everett.
Tickets are $10 to $15. Call 425-743-0255 or go to www.pacificachamberorchestra.org.
“Rachmaninoff’s Second”: Cascade Symphony Orchestra continues its 50th Anniversary Season with the concert “Rachmaninoff’s Second.”
The program will begin with the popular “Valse Triste” by Sibelius, followed by “La Boutique Fantasque” by Rossini-Respighi.
Also featured will be selections from Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess.”
The program concludes with internationally known pianist Anastasia Solomatina, who will perform Rachmaninoff’s well-known Piano Concerto No. 2, according to a press release.
Solomatina graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music in 2003, received her master’s degree in music in 2005 from Kazan State Conservatory of Music in Russia.
In 2009 she joined the studio of Professor Awadagin Pratt in pursuit of a doctorate in piano performance at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, according to her biography.
Rachmaninoff’s Second is at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 Fourth Ave. N, Edmonds.
Tickets are $25, $20, $15 and $10. Call 425-275-9595 or go to www.ec4arts.org. For more information go to www.cascadesymphony.org. The concert will be preceded by a pre-concert lecture at 6:30 p.m. by Dave Beck of KUOW (94.9 FM).
“From Russia With Love”: Whidbey Island’s Saratoga Chamber Orchestra will present the concerts “From Russia With Love,” showcasing prominent Russian composers.
The Saratoga Chamber Orchestra, in its fifth year under the artistic direction of conductor Legh W. Burns, will feature Lara Lewison, 13, of Mukilteo. Lara is a SCO Young Artists Competition winner and will perform Sergei Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor.
The program includes Tchaikovsky’s “Cossack Dance” from the ballet “Mazeppa” and Rachmaninov’s “Vocalise” and concludes with the orchestral masterpiece, “Capriccio Espagnol” by Rimsky-Korsakov, according to a press release.
“From Russia With Love” will be presented at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at Oak Harbor High School, 950 Northwest Second Ave., Oak Harbor, and at 7 p.m. Jan. 30 at South Whidbey High School, 5675 S Maxwelton Road, Langley.
Tickets at the door are $20 and $18. Students 18 and under are admitted free. For more information go to www.saratogachamberorchestra.org.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
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