EVERETT — The Philharmonic’s seventh season appropriately begins with a performance of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony.
The Everett Philharmonic Orchestra will perform the great work Saturday evening at Everett Civic Auditorium.
The second movement of Beethoven’s Seventh is especially well known to audiences, and in fact it is often performed by itself. In the beginning of the movement, the focus is on the viola, cello and second violin sections, an outstanding group of players in the Philharmonic. As the piece progresses, the various melodies in the movement are passed around among the orchestra.
Also on the program is Aaron Copland’s “Tender Land” Suite, which is the orchestral composite of Copland’s American opera of the same name. The suite features a love song, a lively square dance and the inspirational “Promise of Living” — all in Copland’s lyrical style.
The highlight of the concert likely will be the orchestra accompanying regionally renowned pianist John Pickett in his performance of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.”
The piece originally was composed in 1924 for solo piano and jazz band. A symphony orchestra score was first published in 1942, cementing George Gershwin’s place as a top American composer. “Rhapsody in Blue” begins with a clarinet trill and glissando. All of the themes of the piece are based on the “blues scale” with a mix of minor and major third chord progressions.
Pickett, who teaches at Central Washington University in Ellensburg has received critical acclaim for his performances in America, Europe and Asia. A graduate of the Julliard School and Indiana University, he received Central’s Distinguished Professor award in 2005. Pickett serves as the director of Central’s Sonatina Festival which annually brings more than 400 pianists from around the state to campus.
In June 2006 he performed “Rhapsody in Blue” at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Pickett has performed the final three piano sonatas of Beethoven throughout the Northwest and earlier this year he played them at Hunter College in New York.
If you go
Paul-Elliott Cobbs directs the Everett Philharmonic Orchestra at 7 p.m. Oct. 8 at Everett Civic Auditorium, 2415 Colby Ave. Stage-side chat with Cobbs starts at 6 p.m.
Tickets are $25 each, or $20 for seniors and active military and $10 for students with ID. Children are admitted free with an adult. Festival seating. Tickets are available online at www.everettphil.org or at the door. The rest of the season includes performances in November, February and two in April. Information is on the EPO website as is information about family discounts for the November “Imagination” concert.
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