The Southeast Missouri Symphony, University Choir and Choral Union present “Marvelous Melodies” on Tuesday, Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall on the River Campus at Southeast Missouri State University.
The program will feature memorable, uplifting orchestral and choral music ranging from the Baroque era to music of today. Dr. Sara Edgerton, conductor of the Southeast Missouri Symphony, will conduct the first half of the program. Dr. Barbara Lamont, director of choral activities at Southeast, will conduct the second half of the program.
“For this program, Dr. Lamont and I felt that it would be intriguing and inspiring to design a program around the concept of beautiful, memorable melodies,” said Edgerton. “We selected a number of compositions for orchestra and for choir to showcase the rich tradition of glorious melodies created for symphonic orchestras and choirs. As our full symphony orchestra and full choirs take the stage, be ready to be moved and inspired by the sounds of live music!”
The first half of the concert will be presented by the Southeast Missouri Symphony. The full orchestra will open with the lively “Farandole” by Bizet, followed by the exuberant “Finale to Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2” and the deeply expressive “Nimrod” by Sir Edward Elgar. The orchestra will conclude the first half of the concert with the famous tone poem “Jupiter” from “The Planets” by Gustav Holst.
The Choral Union will open the second half of the concert with a series of inspired tunes and melodies, ranging from a movement of Benjamin Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols” to Gabriel Fauré’s “Cantique de Jean Racine.” Folk songs and carol arrangements, such as “Greensleeves,” will also be presented.
Selections of songs, carols and choral transcriptions will then be presented by the University Choir, including a setting of “Ave Maria,” Rutter’s “What Sweeter Music” and the rhythmic “Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day” by John Gardner. The concert will end with Samuel Barber’s “Agnus Dei,” a choral transcription of his famous “Adagio for Strings.”
Tickets
Tickets may be purchased by contacting the River Campus Box Office, located in the Cultural Arts Center, 518 S. Fountain St., weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., by calling (573) 651-2265, or online at RiverCampus.org.