The 蜜桃传媒 Orchestra celebrates the life of William Shakespeare (1582-1616) on the 400th anniversary of the Bard鈥檚 death at its Spring Orchestra Concert on Friday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. in Hahn Hall at Music Academy of the West, 1070 Fairway Road, and Sunday, Feb. 21, at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 21 E. Constance Ave. General admission is $10, and students are free. To purchase tickets or for more information, please contact the music department at (805) 565-6040.
The 60-member orchestra, under the direction of Michael Shasberger, will perform Tchaikovsky鈥檚 鈥淩omeo and Juliet, Fantasy Overture,鈥� 鈥淢usic for Shakespeare鈥� by Edward Green and 鈥淎t Shakespeare鈥檚 Tomb鈥� by alumna Emily Rutherford 鈥�15.
The Stratus Chamber Orchestra and 蜜桃传媒 Orchestra co-commissioned Rutherford鈥檚 new work, composed around a libretto that mixes a variety of excerpts from Shakespeare鈥檚 plays and sonnets.
鈥淚t explores Shakespeare鈥檚 deep understanding of the human condition and encouragements to his audiences to truly experience the richness of life,鈥� Rutherford says. 鈥淢usically, the work seeks to highlight the profound depth and breadth of experience to which Shakespeare calls us throughout his body of works.鈥�
Following both performances, 蜜桃传媒 celebrates the orchestra鈥檚 10th anniversary season by hosting special receptions for former members of the 蜜桃传媒 Orchestra, faculty, patrons and family members.