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

Burnt Store Presbyterian Church in Punta Gorda -- Winter Concert Series

The Burnt Store Presbyterian Church holds a Winter Concert Series each year from January to March  featuring  nationally known artists.  Here is the lineup for the 2011 season: 

January 24, 2011

The Marlins • Presenting Favorites for all Ages
The Marlins' repertoire covers the entire musical spectrum including country, rock, big band, pop, classical, jazz, and bluegrass.  Marlin concerts include music from such diverse artists as Glen Miller, Willie Nelson, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Liberace, Neil Diamond, Sinatra, Elvis, and Andrew Lloyd Weber.  The four brothers - GARY, JACE, RICK and ROBERT- have been performing together for over 25 years for conventions, fairs, festivals, and corporate events in the U.S. and Canada.   They have shared the stage with such luminaries as Lee Greenwood, The Smothers Brothers, Randy Travis, The Association, Merv Griffin, and others.
 

February 21, 2011

The Harry James Orchestra • Big Band Swing Fred Radke and the Harry James Orchestra have entertained folks of all ages, at all types of venues, including intimate private parties, weddings, conventions, cruise ships, formal concerts, and international tours. The group, along with the talented and beautiful vocalist Gina Funes features show-tunes, standards, love songs, and music from the golden age of swing.


March 14, 2011
Barbary Coast Dixieland Show Band 

The Barbary Coast Dixieland Band has been together since 1967. Elected to the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame in 2001 and rated among the finest entertainers in the Midwest, the band has played everywhere from the Mississippi paddlewheel boats and the Minnesota State Fair, to Nagasaki, Japan. The band is made up of six talented musicians who play 18 instruments. This group of versatile musicians, who occasionally swap instruments on stage without missing a note, will have your feet tappin' from their very first set!