Clemson University Symphony Orchestra to perform Mozart to music from film

Published: April 12, 2012

The Clemson University Symphony Orchestra will perform April 19. image by: Clemson University

CLEMSON — The Clemson University Symphony Orchestra’s spring concert combines Mozart with contemporary new pieces for a night of engaging music-making. The performance will be at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 19, at the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts.

The evening opens with "Cosi fan tutte," the overture of Mozart’s comic opera played by the smaller chamber orchestra. The next piece on the program is Mozart’s dramatic Piano Concerto in D Minor, K. 466, featuring soloist Derek Parsons.

Parsons is a Furman University piano professor who is best known in the Greenville area for his annual performance of Gershwin’s "Rhapsody in Blue" at Furman’s Concerts by the Lake series and as pianist at Clemson Presbyterian Church.

The second half of the concert features two new works, one written for film and the other by an award-winning film composer.

The first is an evocative work by Aaron Rothe that is the opening music to “The Mystery,” a modern day film-noir style adventure thriller that has spiritual and musical overtones.

The major work of the second half is entitled “Blue Chevrolet: A Station Wagon Symphony” by Washington, D.C., composer Charlie Barnett. The piece is drawn from the composer’s memories of family trips from Virginia to Maine in an old blue car.

Tickets for this performance are $8 for adults and $5 for students and can be purchased online, in person or by phone. Visit www.clemson.edu/Brooks or call the Box Office at 864-656-7787 from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday–Friday for more information.

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