ASO Season Opener - 11 November 2023 (3:30 PM)

Concert Program:

Handel G major Concerto Grosso (Op.6 #1)

Tchaikovsky’s Symphony #2 (The Ukrainian)

Arias performed by Nicole Jenkins:

• Je veux vivre - Gounod's Romeo et Juliette
• Porgi, amor - Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro
• Saper vorreste - Verdi's Un ballo in maschera
• Ave Maria - Verdi's Otello
• Si. Mi chiamano Mimi - Puccini's La Boheme
• mio babbino caro - Puccini's Gianni Schicchi

FULL DESCRIPTION

The concert opens with concerto grosso op. 6 no. 1 by George Frideric Handel which showcases the string section of the orchestra. It is an elegant piece with great energy and character from a baroque master. Next you will be treated to a selection of some of the most beautiful and beloved music from operatic repertoire. Soprano Nicole Jenkins, a doctoral candidate and voice instructor at James Madison University, has chosen some of opera’s “greatest hits” to delight us all. Her selections include arias from Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and La Bohème, Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, Berlioz’s Roméo et Juliette, Verdi’s Otello and more.

We will conclude with a true masterwork and one of the most ambitious undertakings so far by our orchestra, Tchaikovsky’s epic Symphony no. 2 in C minor, Op. 17. Popular from the outset, the symphony incorporates several Ukrainian folk tunes and was thus nicknamed “Little Russian” by a contemporary Moscow critic. Although the moniker was deemed affectionate at the time, it is nowadays considered inappropriate and modern performances have adopted the subtitle “The Ukrainian.” We offer the performance in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and in admiration of one of the greatest composers of all time.

Admission is free but we encourage you to rsvp at our website to help with our planning. Also, please note the new time; many audience members have suggested that an earlier start would be greatly beneficial for those who have difficulty driving at night and for others who would love to bring younger children to performances. We hope the afternoon concert will allow more of you to attend and to bring your friends and family along, whatever their ages.

Please note our new concert time of 3:30PM. We will also have a small reception after the concert.