In Mukilteo, a classical concert full of ‘Moods and Emotions’

Published 1:30 am Thursday, October 31, 2019

The Mukilteo Community Orchestra kicks off its new season Sunday with a program themed “Moods and Emotions.”

And there may be no better way to help carry out that theme than with a performance of Ottorino Respighi’s “Roman Festivals” — challenging, dramatic, reflective and, yes, festive.

It’s the third of Respighi’s three thematically related compositions to be performed by the orchestra. “Fountains of Rome” was performed in 2017 and “Pines of Rome” in 2018, said Louise Stanton-Masten, a cellist and orchestra board member.

“I think we’re all looking forward to the Respighi because it’s such a significant piece of music,” she said. “It’s quite challenging.”

The piece will be performed during the second half of the concert following intermission.

The first half of the program includes three works by Claude Debussy — “Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune” (“The Afternoon of a Faun”) and “La Cathedrale Engloutie” (“The Sunken Cathedral”) are original compositions by Debussy.

The third, “Gymnopédies” (a Greek dance festival) was composed for the piano by Erik Satie and orchestrated by Debussy, Stanton-Masten said.

She said she’s particularly looking forward to playing “The Sunken Cathedral,” calling it an interesting piece of music that is very stirring.

The orchestra’s concerts are presented free through sponsorships by the city of Mukilteo and its parks and recreation department.

The orchestra is trying to let people know of the free performances, not only in Mukilteo but the greater Snohomish County area, she said.

They’re all-ages events where families are welcome to bring children, and residential communities bus seniors to the performances.

“It’s a very welcoming and inclusive opportunity for families for sure,” Stanton-Masten said.

The pre-concert talk by orchestra conductor Trevor Lutzenhiser “makes the music very approachable for everybody,” she said. “He does a wonderful conversation with the audience about the music they’ll be hearing.”

Rosehill Community Center, known for its excellent acoustics, also provides a panoramic view of Puget Sound. “It’s such a beautiful setting,” she said.

The orchestra’s 50 members first began rehearsals for its performance in early September. The group was founded in 1997.

The orchestra’s season includes four more performances: Nov. 3, Dec. 8, March 8 and May 17.

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.

If you go

The Mukilteo Community Orchestra will kick off the 2019-2020 season at 2 p.m. Nov. 3 at Rosehill Community Center, 304 Lincoln Ave., Mukilteo. The concerts are free. Orchestra conductor Trevor Lutzenhiser will give a pre-concert talk at 1:20 p.m.