Chamber orchestra to share the musical ‘colors’ of spring

Fred Chu thinks a spring concert should be like a trip to New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art — full of different musical “colors.”

“I always picture the paintings when I program the concert,” said Chu, artistic director of the Pacifica Chamber Orchestra. “It has to be colorful, not just one color.”

This philosophy is evident in his selections for the group’s spring concert Sunday in Everett, from Puccini’s “Chrysanthemum” to “Wind Quintet” by Robert Stark.

“Spring has lots of colors, so the music is very colorful — different emotions,” he said.

Puccini’s “Chrysanthemum” is just one movement, yet very emotional, Chu said. Consider the source — written by Puccini, an operatic master.

Stark is not a well-known composer. But he is well-regarded for his compositions for the oboe, including “Wind Quintet.”

It just adds a different color to the concert,” Chu said.

John Corigliano, who wrote “Voyage for String Orchestra,” is one of the nation’s leading composers, Chu said. He is well known in Hollywood for his movie scores, including the music for “Red Violin,” released in 1998.

The concert spot for something “light, funny and very French” is filled by Francis Poulenc’s “Novelette For Wind Quintet in C Major.” The French composer is one of the best-known of the 20th century. “It’s kind of easy listening, relaxing and fun, soothing to the ears,” Chu said.

“Danzas de Panama for Strings” is a dance theme, slow and energetic, composed by one of the most famous African-American composers, William Grant Still. “This piece is so fun, energetic, and with that rhythmic Latin dance style,” Chu said.

The Pacifica Chamber Orchestra specializes in works by 20th and 21st-century composers. Its next concert, scheduled for June 2, will be the last of the current season.

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

If you go

The Pacifica Chamber Orchestra’s spring concert is scheduled at 3 p.m. April 7 at First Presbyterian Church, 2936 Rockefeller Ave., Everett. Tickets are $20 general admission and $15 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased online at tinyurl.com/pacificaspring. Go to www.pacificachamberorchestra.org for more information.