The Fort Collins Symphony (FCS) will present “Escape to Reflection,” the fourth Signature Concert of the 2022-2023 season at 7:30 PM on Saturday, March 4, 2023, in-person at the Lincoln Center and via live-stream. The performance includes music written in memory of beloved teachers, lands, and those we lost to COVID-19. Music Director Maestro Wes Kenney will lead the orchestra in a concert of music composed by Antonio Vivaldi, Benjamin Britten, Chief “Fela” Sowande, and Grammy Award-winning composer Aaron Jay Kernis.
Music Director Wes Kenney
This performance features Nigerian composer Chief Olufela Obafunmilayo “Fela” Sowande’s nostalgic “African Suite.” Living American composer Aaron Jay Kernis’ “Elegy” (for those we lost) was written in memory of the victims of Covid-19. In 1937, Benjamin Britten’s “Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge” was written as a character portrait of his revered teacher. Antonio Vivaldi’s bold “Concerto Grosso, Op. 3, No. 11” is a virtuoso work for three string players and orchestra. Featured Violinist will be Evan De Long, FCS Concertmaster finalist.
Chief “Fela” Sowande’s African Suite is a spirited and nostalgic suite of music inspired by West African songs and scenes. The five movements include Nigerian folk tunes and influences of jazz, gospel, and popular music. Written in 1944, it is one of the earliest and most important examples of a composer incorporating African musical styles into a traditional orchestral composition.
Tickets are $25-$67 for adults, $10 for children/students, and $25 for live-stream, available Additional paragrphsat LCTix.com/signature-4-escape-to-reflection.
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Benjamin Britten’s Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge is a tour de force of musical creativity and innovation. Composed in 1937 at the age of 24, this work showcases the young composer’s skill and unique musical voice. Starting with a theme by his teacher, Frank Bridge, Britten creates a series of imaginative and engaging variations that span the gamut of orchestral styles. From the playful opening to the haunting final variation, this work is a triumph of musical artistry and a must-hear for fans of classical music.
Living American composer Aaron Jay Kernis’ Elegy (for those we lost) was written in memory of the victims of Covid-19. It is dedicated “to the families of loved ones who passed away from the coronavirus and to the doctors, nurses, and other health-care professionals who worked so tirelessly to save those loved ones.”
Nigerian composer Fela Sowande is considered the father of Nigerian art music. His African Suite celebrates music from West Africa, including traditional and popular dances and songs. Written in 1944, it is one of the earliest and most important examples of a composer incorporating African musical styles into a traditional orchestral composition.
According to the Center for Disease Control in February 2020, 31 Americans had succumbed to COVID-19. By May, that number mushroomed to 112,084 and by year end, when Pfizer’s first vaccines were approved and became available to medical providers, the older population, and those with underlying conditions, more than 380,000 people had died in the U.S. of the disease. As of February 2023, that number has topped more than one million, an astonishing figure for sure, but one far better than what the human toll might have been if stay-at-home orders were not issued and had an immunization for public use not been formulated so quickly.