Masterworks Series 

Academic Festival

Saturday April 20 at 7:30pm

Old Cabell Hall

University of Virgnia

Sunday April 21 at 3:30pm

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Performing Arts Center

Sunday April 28 at 3:00pm

Capital One Hall

1680 Capital One Drive South, McLean, VA 22102

Benjamin Rous, conductor

Nicole Mitchell, flute

JoVia Armstrong, percussion

Free Bridge Quintet


[Click on the title for a preview]

BERNSTEIN  Overture to West Side Story (1957) 5′

D’EARTH  Concerto for Quintet and Orchestra (2006)

MITCHELL  Flight for Freedom (2011) 15′30″

Intermission

BURTNER  Threnody (2015) 7′

ARMSTRONG  “Creation”, “Embryo”, “Birth” (2021) 16′

RAVEL  Boléro, arr. Rous (1928/2024) 15′


ABOUT THE PROGRAM

West Side Story was inspired by William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.  The overture sets the stage for a timeless story of forbidden love and the rivalry between two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds, the Jets and the Sharks.

One of Ravel’s most colorful orchestral works, the hypnotic, ever-expanding theme builds to a volcanic climax.  Charlottesville Symphony Music Director Benjamin Rous has created a special arrangement for the full orchestra and all of the guest artists appearing on the program.

These audience favorites bookend works by four versatile UVA composers and teaching artists:  John D’earth’s Concerto for Quintet and Orchestra featuring the Free Bridge Quintet; Nicole Mitchell’s Flight for Freedom; Matthew Burtner’s Threnody; and Benjamin Rous’s orchestral arrangement of JoVia Armstrong’s “Creation”, “Embryo” and “Birth”.

About the April 28 concert, Gregory Fairchild, Dean and CEO of UVA Northern Virginia, states, “We are thrilled to host the Charlottesville Symphony in Northern Virginia. We hope this is just the beginning of a series of arts events that highlight the extraordinary creative work of UVA’s faculty and students and extends our reach into the Northern Virginia communities.”


TICKET INFORMATION

For information about seating sections and ticket policies, please click here.


GETTING THERE

For information about the venues, directions, parking and accessibility, click here.


“KNOW BEFORE YOU GO”

Never been to a Symphony concert before? Want to brush up on what to expect? We have answers to your questions here!

Back to all concerts