Charlotte Symphony to Blend Art and Literature with Music this Weekend at CPAC

Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" first swept me away at a very young age. I initially heard the whirling piece during the Disney film Fantasia where demons danced to it in the dark, and I continue to be bewitched on every hearing.  The musical work in ten movements by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky was actually inspired by an art exhibition. Each of the movements was composed to create a tour of an exhibition of 10 drawings and watercolors created by a friend of Mussorgsky.Fittingly, it's to be paired with ten works by artists from the Visual Arts Center for Sunday night's Charlotte Symphony Orchestra's concert.

The art works will be on display at the concert for concertgoers to view before, during the intermission of, or after the performance.  In addition, prior to the concert, audience members will be able to learn more about the artist's process in creating their works and engage with them during a pre-performance lecture.

Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is the literary inspiration of the Literature component of the concert. Charlotte Symphony Orchestra Maestro Carlo Ponti has chosen Profokiev's  "Romeo and Juliet," Suite No,. 2 to capture both  the "beauty of love" between the star-crossed lovers and discord between their families, the Capulets and Montagues.

You can also read more about the process of juxtapostioning  the works of VAC artists with Mussorgsky's piece at Nanette"s New Life http://nanettesnewlife.blogspot.com/2014/01/symphony-at-exhibition-part-1.html .

Concert Details 

January 12, 2014 - 7:30 pm

Charlotte Performing Arts Center
701 Carmalita Street - Punta Gorda, FL 33950

Serge Prokofiev / Romeo and Juliet: Suite No. 2
Modest Mussorgsky / Pictures at an Exhibition

Free pre-concert lecture at 6:30 pm