March 3, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … Shakespeare’s immortal tale of star-crossed love is explored through drama and music in an Oregon Symphony RBC Dain Rauscher Front Row Center concert led by Music Director Carlos Kalmar featuring music of Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Bernstein and Berlioz on Friday, March 31, at 7:30 p.m. at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Further support is provided by American Airlines.
The story of Romeo and Juliet has proven irresistible to composers. Tchaikovsky’s version of “Romeo and Juliet” is perhaps the best known, along with Prokofiev’s powerful and evocative rendering. The Queen Mab Scherzo from Berlioz’ grand seven-movement symphony on “Romeo and Juliet” is also featured, along with Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from “West Side Story,” which updates the story and sets it in the gang-infested streets of New York City. Actors will perform the roles of Romeo and Juliet, as well as other roles, as they present dramatic excerpts from the play. Kalmar will discuss the various ways in which Shakespeare’s play has inspired these composers, explore the literary and musical underpinnings of their works and explain how the music was created.
Soirée, the Oregon Symphony’s group for young professionals interested in arts and culture, hosts its final events of the 2005-06 season with a series of pre- and post-concert parties in conjunction with this performance. For ticket and other information, visit the Symphony’s website at www.orsymphony.org/soiree.
The RBC Dain Rauscher Front Row Center series was designed to introduce new audiences to symphonic music, utilizing dramatic and visual elements to make the story and the music come alive. Each of this season’s concerts focused on the intersection of music and literature.
This performance is scheduled for Friday, March 31, at 7:30 p.m. at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Tickets range in price from $15 to $55 and may be purchased at the Oregon Symphony Customer Service Office (923 S.W. Washington), Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or charged by phone at (503) 228-1353, (800) 228-7343 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Discounted tickets for groups of eight or more are available through the Group Sales hotline at (503) 416-6380. Tickets also may be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets (503-790-ARTS) or through Ticketmaster Online, via the Symphony’s Web site at www.orsymphony.org. Service fees may apply.
