In Illinois, the Rockford Symphony Orchestra has announced details of its 2014-15 season, which features music evoking World War I and II. The first of six classical concerts will take place in September and celebrate the International Day of Peace; the program will feature Andrzej Panufnik’s Procession for Peace, Raymond Horton’s Make Gentle the Life of This World, Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4 (“The Inextinguishable”), and Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1, with soloist Bella Hristova. Highlights of the RSO’s other five classical programs include Jake Runestad’s Dreams of the Fallen, a co-commission of the RSO, with pianist Jeffrey Biegel and the Rockford-based Mendelssohn Chorale; “The Genius of John Williams”; an all-American program featuring Morton Gould’s American Salute, Copland’s Symphony No. 3, and Steve Heitzeg and Amy Scurria’s We Are Met at Gettysburg. The RSO’s February program will feature Robert Kurka’s Suite from The Good Soldier Schweik, Barber’s Knoxville, Summer of 1915, Sousa’s In Flanders Fields, Glière’s Concerto for Coloratura Soprano and Orchestra, and Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin. The RSO also will perform pops programs in October, December, and March, as well as its annual presentation of the Nutcracker ballet with the Rockford Dance Company. Steven Larsen is the orchestra’s music director.
Posted August 6, 2014
